VIDEO: All Blacks steer Crusaders, Reds end four-year wait against Fijian Drua
SATURDAY WRAP: The Crusaders spoiled Moana Pasifika’s Round 6 homecoming, running out 50-21 winners at North Harbour Stadium.
Moana fought hard in the opening half despite losing Julian Savea after just four minutes – they trailed 17-14 at oranges before the defending champions shifted gears.
Rob Penney’s side were ruthless in the second 40, scoring five tries to ensure a bonus point result and their first back-to-back wins of 2026.
All Blacks tighthead prop Fletcher Newell was immense in his 50th Crusaders appearance while Sevu Reece extended his lead atop the all-time Super Rugby tries list.
It took just four minutes for Braydon Ennor to open the scoring with a sharp put-down inside the corner post, Reece scoring his 68th competition try shortly after to put the visitors ahead 12-0.
Moana hit back through Tevita Latu, who busted the Crusaders open to lay a platform for Miracle Faiilagi to put Tevita Ofa over untouched after 20 minutes.
Halfback Joel Lam was next to strike, cashing in on a Lalomilo Lalomilo break with Patrick Pelligrini’s conversion handing Moana an unlikely 14-12 lead.
That was to be their last scoring play for almost an hour.
Rookie flyhalf Cooper Grant’s cross kick found an unmarked Chay Fihaki to restore the Crusaders’ lead before half time and the floodgates opened when Leicester Fainga’anuku stormed over with 30 to play.
He was the first of a four-try blitz that included a George Bell double and debutant Kurtis Macdonald dotting down as the margin blew out to 45-12 after 63 minutes.
Moana’s defence stiffened from there, but by then the damage was done, Fihaki busting through after 32 phases inside the hosts’ 22m.
The North Harbour crowd went up late as NPC fan favourite Siaosi Nginingini bagged a consolation intercept try, Crusaders, holding out for a comfortable 29-point win.
*Article continues below….
*The Queensland Reds have shut out the Drua to end their Fiji drought emphatically.
The visitors kept the Drua try-less in Saturday’s bonus point 21-6 win in Lautoka, securing their first win in four visits and a fourth-straight victory for the first time in four years.
The Reds’ (4-1) defence snuffed out a Fijian (2-3) attack that uncharacteristically battled for fluency as they chased three-straight wins for the first time in their history.
The Reds’ rampaging Fijian duo Filipo Daugunu and Seru Uru were fantastic on both sides of the ball as the usually buoyant home crowd were silenced.
Captain Harry Wilson, standing in for the rested Fraser McReight, set the tone with some good reads in defence and bullocking runs while No.10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips scored a try and controlled proceedings with in-form flyhalf Carter Gordon also left at home.
Kalani Thomas also impressed in his first start at No.9 this season, creating and scoring the first try with a clever chip kick and smart support play.
*The Blues trailed 20-8 early in the second half against the Waratahs in Sydney but two tries from centre AJ Lam and further scores from winger Cody Vai and replacement back Torian Barnes gave them a comfortable 35-20 win.
The scores and scorers:
Fiji Drua 6-21 Reds
The scorers:
For Fijian Drua:
Pens: Armstrong-Ravula 2
For Queensland Reds:
Tries: Thomas, McLaughlin-Phillips, Asiata;
Cons: McLaughlin-Phillips 3
Drua: 15 Iliasia Droasese, 14 Joji Nasova, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Isikeli Rabitu, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani (captain), 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Sairusi Ravudi, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Vilive Miramira, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Motikiai Murray, 22 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 23 Inia Tabuavoa
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Isaac Henry, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 John Bryant, 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Nick Bloomfield, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Treyvon Pritchard
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referees: Marcus Playle, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Glenn Newman
Moana Pasifika 21-50 Crusaders
The scorers:
For Moana Pasifika:
Tries: Lam, Ofa, Nginingini
Cons: Pellegrini 3
For Crusaders:
Tries: Bell 2, Fihaki 2, Reece, Macdonald, Fainga’anuku
Cons: Fihaki 4, Grant
Moana: 15 William Havili, 14 Tevita Latu, 13 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 12 Julian Savea, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Joel Lam, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Veikoso Poloniati, 20 Dominic Ropeti, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Tevita Ofa
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan (captain), 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Cooper Grant, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Johnny Lee, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Tahlor Cahill, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 George Bell, 1 Finlay Brewis
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 George Bower, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Antonio Shalfoon, 20 Xavier Saifoloi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 23 Kurtis MacDonald
Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams, Mike Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Waratahs 20-35 Blues
For Waratahs:
Tries: Debreczini, Lambert
Cons: Harvey 2
Pens: Harvey 2
For Blues
Tries: Lam 2, Christie, Vai, Barnes
Cons: Barrett 2
Pens: Barrett 2
Waratahs: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Triston Reilly, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Jamie Adamson, 6 Clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Lawson Creighton, 23 George Poolman
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Codemeru Vai, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Malachi Wrampling, 7 Dalton Papali’i (captain), 6 Anton Segner, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Sam Matenga, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Che Clark, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Xavi Taele, 23 Payton Spencer
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant Referees: Damon Muprhy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
Super Rugby
