VIDEO: Crusaders blow Hurricanes away
SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA: The Crusaders put on a ruthless display to pick up a bonus point 33-16 victory over the Hurricanes to maintain their winning start to Super Rugby Aotearoa at Christchurch Stadium.
The match had been moved from Saturday in the hope coronavirus restrictions would be lifted to allow a crowd for the reigning champions’ first home match of the season.
Fans saw a game that pivoted on Ardie Savea’s first-half yellow card, with the Crusaders scoring three converted tries to take a commanding lead while the forward was off the field.
Scott Robertson’s team notched up the win after opening their campaign with victory over the Highlanders in last week’s first round.
The Hurricanes were dominant during the opening 15 minutes, taking a 6-0 lead through a pair of penalties from Jordie Barrett and the Wellington side were narrowly denied a try when Jackson Garden-Bashop was stopped millimetres from the tryline.
Crusaders started to push deeper into the Hurricanes territory and the pressure paid off when Ardie Savea earned a yellow card and a spell in the sin bin for collapsing a maul.
Savea’s time on the sidelines was to prove the turning point in the game as Crusaders scored three converted tries against the short-handed visitors to take a commanding lead.
Codie Taylor ran a quick penalty from five metres out over the line and Richie Mounga converted to give the home side the lead in the 22nd minute.
Mo’unga then crossed the line three minutes later to extend the lead before kicking his own conversion, and Ethan Blackadder added a third ahead of another successful Mo’unga kick.
Scott Barrett touched down for an unconverted try as the Crusaders took a 26-6 lead into the break.
Taylor scored his second try of the game seven minutes into the second half when he capitalised on an overthrown line-out ball from substitute Rickey Riccitelli.
Riccitelli redeemed himself when he powered over the line at the other end and Peter Umaga-Jensen reduced the deficit further in the dying seconds to earn the Hurricanes some consolation.
Man of the match: Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor gets the award after a fantastic performance. Taylor scored two tries and he also played a big role in Richie Mo’unga’s score after a powerful run down the middle of the park
The scorers:
For Crusaders:
Tries: Taylor 2, Mo’unga, Blackadder, Barrett
Cons: Mo’unga 4
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Riccitelli, Umaga-Jensen
Pens: Barrett 2
Yellow card: Ardie Savea (Hurricanes, 19 – collapsing maul)
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Sione Havili Talitui, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Will Jordan.
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Fraser Armstrong.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Liam Mitchell, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Luke Campbell, 22 Billy Proctor, 23 Salesi Rayasi.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser & James Doleman
TMO: Brendon Pickerill
