Crusaders smash Waratahs' play-off hopes, 'Canes edge Highlanders

FRIDAY WRAP: Coach Dan McKellar has questioned his side’s commitment after watching the Waratahs’ finals hopes all but evaporate in a 33-48 Super Rugby Pacific loss to the Crusaders.

McKellar was unable to disguise his anguish as the Waratahs suffered a fourth-straight defeat – and second in a row at the Sydney Football Stadium, which had been the side’s fortress until last week – to remain anchored in eighth spot.

Friday’s must-win game was as good as over at half-time after the Crusaders piled on five tries to one to take a 31-7 lead into the break.

“A pretty passive defensive display,” McKellar told Stan Sport.

“[We] didn’t want to fold around the corner, guys [were] loping on the short side, losing collisions and they took advantage of it.

“We’ve just got to run hard, tackle hard and show that we actually care.”

McKellar’s half-time spray seemed to have worked, with loose forward Langi Gleeson grabbing his second try of the game and lock Miles Amatosero storming over in the space of eight minutes to pull the Waratahs back to within 10 points.

But the comeback was fleeting, with McKellar left furious in the coaches’ box when Gleeson knocked on from a restart shortly after the Waratahs had dragged themselves back into the contest.

All Black ace Sevu Reece wasted little time punishing the hosts for their error, running in the Crusaders’ sixth try of the night to join retired Hurricanes star TJ Perenara as Super Rugby Pacific’s all-time leading try-scorer.

A last-minute consolation try to wing Triston Reilly proved merely that after flank Tom Christie had run in the Crusaders’ seventh.

The Waratahs’ big loss came with superstar fullback Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sidelined with a broken jaw.

But McKellar won’t be using injuries as any excuse.

In one of the few positives for Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, veteran playmaker James O’Connor once again impressed during a 25-minute cameo off the bench for the Crusaders.

After revealing last week that O’Connor was on his radar for a call-up for Australia’s hosting of the British and Irish Lions, the 34-year-old set up Christie’s try and also saved one with a cover tackle on Reilly.

*In Friday’s early game, Cam Roigard was the hero for the Hurricanes, scoring a last-gasp try to steal a thrilling 24-20 win over the Highlanders in Wellington.

Some costly mistakes cost the visitors late in the contest, with the Canes stepping up when it counted.

Wearing a Captain America jersey, Roigard delivered a heroic moment even the Avengers would be proud of.

It’s a massive result for both teams, with the ‘Canes still having a chance of finishing in the top four at season’s end.

See below for Friday’s scores and scorers!

Hurricanes 24-20 Highlanders

The scorers:

For Hurricanes:
Tries: Roigard 2, Sullivan
Cons: Love 3
Pen: Love

For Highlanders:
Tries: Lowe 2
Cons: Robinson 2
Pens: Robinson 2

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor (co-captain), 12 Riley Higgins, 11 Ngatungane Punival, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Brad Shields (co-captain), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Zach Gallagher, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua (co-captain), 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Fatafehi Fineanganofo.

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Sean Withy, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Mitch Dunshea, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Michael Loft, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Cameron Millar, 23 Thomas Umaga-Jensen.

Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant referees: Fraser Hannon, Stu Curran
TMO: Glenn Newman

Waratahs 33-48 Crusaders

The scorers:

For Waratahs:
Tries: Gleeson 2, Amatosero, Lancaster, Reilly
Cons: Edmed 3, Bowen

For Crusaders:
Tries: McNicholl, Ennor, Moananu, Fihaki, Grace, Reece, Christie
Cons: Reihana 3, O’Connor 2
Pen: O’Connor

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Henry O’Donnell, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Hugh Sinclair, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 Lalakai Foketi.

Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Quinten Strange, 3 Kershawl Skyes-Martin, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 George Bower, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod.

Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant referees: Fraser Hannon, Stu Curran
TMO: Glenn Newman

Sources; AAP & @RugbyPass