Crusaders survive Highlanders scare as Reece breaks record; Hurricanes deny Reds

WRAP: The Crusaders temporarily returned to the top of the Super Rugby table following a tight 15-12 win over the Highlanders whilst the Hurricanes upset the Reds in Brisbane.

Winger Sevu Reece has also become the all-time try-scoring record holder in Super Rugby, surpassing the previous record held by All Black TJ Perenara (65).

Reece etched himself into the Super Rugby history books for his 66th try in the first quarter as the hosts took a 10-0 lead.

The Highlanders fought back and took the lead late in the match before the hosts regained their advantage.

Replacement flyhalf Cameron Millar had the chance to send the game to extra time. However, his penalty kick faded to the left to ensure the Crusaders vault into top spot for the time being.

Reece crossed for the opening try in the 14th minute in unique circumstances, with the winger planting the ball down at the side of the ruck amid confusion.

It took the interjection of the TMO for the play to be checked, which showed enough evidence after minutes of checking to award Reece the try and top spot on the Super Rugby try-scoring table ahead of Hurricanes legend TJ Perenara.

This gave the Crusaders a 10-0 lead, with the Highlanders struggling to break the hosts’ line.

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Taine Robinson’s penalty hit the upright on the half-hour mark before a clutch tackle from Macca Springer stopped Jonah Lowe and won the penalty amid protests from the visitors of playing Lowe off his feet.

Another break from the Highlanders was stopped by a desperate Crusaders defence but it was a turnover of the hosts’ own that presented the chance for Lowe to cross for a late first half try.

A slip cost Robinson a penalty goal but two minutes later, the flyhalf slipped through the line as the Highlanders took a 12-10 lead at the start of the second half.

The Crusaders hunted for the winner as the visitors defended fearlessly with their season on the line.

Prop Tamaiti Williams eventually powered his way over with nine minutes left, and the Crusaders were back in front.

The Highlanders gave themselves a late chance to win the game when they forced a turnover from the Crusaders, but the hosts survived.

There was one last twist in regular time after a penalty allowed Millar the chance to send the game into Super (extra) Time.

However, the kick faded to the right and the hosts’ minor premiership hopes are still alive.

As for the Highlanders, they are out of finals contention and stay at the bottom of the ladder.

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Following the drama in Christchurch, the Reds have coughed up fourth spot to the Hurricanes, who extended their winning streak to 10 games and 12 years in a 31-27 Super Rugby Pacific battle in Brisbane.

Hurricanes loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi was immovable at the breakdown, helping the Reds slide to a two to four record from their past six games after leading the competition less than two months ago.

It was the Hurricanes’ 10th consecutive win against the Reds since 2013.

Victory jumped them from fifth, shunting Les Kiss’s side out of the top four by one point ahead of the new six-team finals format.

Fourth place is significant, given the highest-placed loser after week one of the finals will still go through to the semifinal.

The Reds at least collected a bonus point in the loss, but will need to beat Fijian Drua in Brisbane next week and have other results go their way to regain a top-four berth.

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Hurricanes No.10 Ruben Love scored in the first minute when a deflected grubber fell into his path, only for the Reds to reply through Tate McDermott two minutes later.

A pair of successful Tom Lynagh penalty kicks – incredibly the first attempted by the Reds all season – looked to have steadied the hosts.

But three tries in 10 minutes gave the Hurricanes an 11-point buffer at the break, including scrumhalf Cam Roigard chipping and regathering for a brilliant solo effort.

The Reds came out of the gates well, with Jock Campbell busting through to set up Tate McDermott’s second try and make it a six-point game.

The Reds then went ahead by one after going 20 phases off their own tryline for a brilliant try, finished when Joe Brial carried three men over the line.

But knock-ons from Harry Wilson and Hunter Paisami, the latter with two men free on his outside shoulder, proved costly.

Fehi Fineanganofo planted his second try of the game as the visitors reclaimed a four-point lead with 15 minutes to play.

Kirifi came to the fore, disrupting another surging Reds charge when he won a penalty at the breakdown to kill off the Reds’ last-gasp effort.

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Scorers:

For the Crusaders:
Tries: Reece, Williams
Cons: Reihana
Pens: Reihana

For the Highlanders:
Tries: Lowe, Robinson
Cons: Robinson

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Macca Springer, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Mitch Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Kershawl Skyes-Martih, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Lewis Ponini, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod.

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Taniela Filimone, 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 Tai Cribb, 20 Will Stodart, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Cameron Millar, 23 Thomas Umaga-Jensen.

Referee: Todd Petrie
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Richard Kelly

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Scorers

For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Fineanganofo 2, Love, Proctor, Roigard
Cons: Love 3

For the Reds:
Tries: McDermott 2, Brial
Cons: Lynagh 3
Pens: Lynagh 2

Teams:

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Dre Paheko, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Joe Brial, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Sef Fa’agase.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Trevor King, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 John Bryant, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Tim Ryan.

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Daniel Sinkinson, 13 Billy Proctor (co-captain), 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Brad Shields (co-captain), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Zach Gallagher, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua (co-captain),1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Hugo Plummer, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Bailyn Sullivan.

Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Mike Winter
TMO: Brett Cronan

Image credit: @GettyImages