Highlights: Crusaders restore Kiwi pride
REPORT: The Crusaders have restored Super Rugby order in Christchurch, running in six tries to beat an erratic Queensland Reds side 43-19.
Les Kiss’s men ended a 12-year losing streak in the New Zealand city last year and returned confident of improving to 3-0 in this campaign.
But they were made to pay for overplaying their hand, often while attempting to run out of their own defence, as the hosts punished them with six tries inside 42 minutes on Sunday.
“Incredibly disappointing; some really good patches out there but too many times … our own worst enemies,” co-captain Tate McDermott said.
“We have to own that but it’s not the end of the world, there’s not much in it.”
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The Reds will attempt to return to Brisbane on Monday, having been away from home while the region received heavy winds and ongoing rain that’s left parts of the city flooded courtesy of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.
Weather permitting, their next assignment will be the unbeaten NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
McDermott said Queensland’s ball security and decision making needed to improve.
“I know there’s a lot on the scoreboard, but a couple of breakaway tries are easy fixes for us,” he said.
“Plenty of times were were in a good position and would chance our hand with a 50-50 offload and find ourselves back down the other end.”
Crusader Sevu Reece also scored a first-half double while Cullen Grace opened the scoring with a clever raid straight through the centre of the ruck as the home side improved to 2-1 after a round-three bye.
There were flashes of brilliance when forwards Josh Canham and Alex Hodgman found open space and set up tries that kept the Reds in the hunt.
But they were offset by errors and cheap turnovers, as Crusaders fullback Will Jordan scored twice in four minutes before halftime to open a 29-7 lead.
Harry Wilson’s try before the break was cause for optimism but it was erased immediately after the restart.
Reds No.10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips’s clearance kick was smothered and Christian Lio-Willie showed good hands to grab a loose ball and spin over for a 36-14 lead that all but shut out the Reds.
Reds winger Lachie Anderson scored down the right edge after setting up the play with a deft chip and chasing down the left flank.
The visitors had a chance to edge closer but there was no way through the Crusaders’ defence, with Levi Aumua icing the performance with an 80th-minute try converted by former Reds playmaker James O’Connor.
“The way the game’s being refereed and played … high tempo, there’s a lot of back and forth, turnovers, big efforts required,” Jordan said.
“I love playing open, free-flowing footy. The standard so far, the competition among the team’s been great, it’s great to be a part of it.”
The scorers:
For Crusaders:
Tries: Reece 2, Jordan 2, Grace, Lio-Willie, Aumua
Cons: Kemara 3, O’Connor
For Reds:
Tries: Daugunu, Wilson, Anderson
Cons: McLaughlin-Phillips 2
Teams:
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Dallas McLeod, 12 David Havili, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Kyle Preston, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Atonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 George Bower, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Mitch Drummond, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Levi Aumua
Reds: 15 Heremaia Murray, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Dre Pakeho, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Massimo De Lutiis, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Alex Hodgman,.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Frankie Goldsbrough
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Markey, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Glenn Newman
Source: SuperRugby
