Mo'unga massive in 'Saders victory

MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders have bounced back from last week’s loss to the Chiefs in resounding fashion by thumping the Highlanders 52-15 in the opening game of the Melbourne Super Round.

All Blacks first five-eighth Richie Mo’unga set up the try of the match, scored by fullback Fergus Burke in the 31st minute.

Mo’unga scooped up a poor kick by the Highlanders English five-eighth Freddie Burns and stepped in and around the defence in a 40m burst before off-loading to halfback Mitchell Drummond, who found Burke on the fly.

A successful conversion by Mo’unga opened the scoreline up to 17-3 after an earlier try by winger Sevu Reece.

“It was awesome to get the win and more importantly play some footy as the Chiefs played all the footy last weekend,” Mo’unga told Stan Sport.

“We wanted to come out and impose ourselves against the Highlanders and I think we did a good job.

“I was pretty disappointed in myself as the driver last week, not putting us in the right areas of the field so today is very satisfying.”

The Crusaders made it 24-3 by the break with prop Joe Moody coming up trumps at the 40 minute mark as the men from Christchurch mauled the ball over the line.

The Highlanders couldn’t have got off to a worse start in the second half when Mo’unga pounced on a perfectly-weighted kick by centre David Havili into the in-goal.

Things started to get really ugly with the Crusaders making easy inroads through their forwards, before their backs collected the spoils with Havili himself next across in the 47th minute.

Big winger Leicester Fainga’anuku then barrelled across the line for the scoreboard to tick past the 50-point mark.

Highlanders fans could cheer two late tries, both scored by Josh Timu off kicks.

Folau Fakatava put through the first before Thomas Umaga-Jensen, among the Highlanders’ best, delivered the second for his centre partner.

However with this result coming after an opening 60-20 loss to the Blues, their season already looks in a shaky state.

The scorers:

For Crusaders:
Tries: Reece, Burke, Taylor 2, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’nuku.
Cons: Mo’unga 7
Pen: Mo’unga

For Highlanders
Tries: Timu 2
Pen: Gilbert

Crusaders: 15 Fergus Burke, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 David Havili, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tamaiti Williams, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Reserves: 16 Brodie McAlister ,17 George Bower, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Zach Gallagher, 20 Sione Havili Talitui, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Braydon Ennor, 23 Macca Springer.

Highlanders: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Josh Timu, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 11 Connor Garden-Bachop, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Sean Withy, 6 Billy Harmon (captain), 5.Will Tucker, 4 Paripari Parkinson, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Ayden Johnstone
Reserves: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Mau, 19 Max Hicks, 20 James Lentjes, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Mitch Hunt, 23 Mosese Dawai

Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe, Angus Mabey