Crusaders pile the misery on Chiefs
NEW ROUND-UP ZEALAND
SCOTT Robertson’s Crusaders extended their lead at the top of Super Rugby Aotearoa with a bonus point 39-17 thrashing at home to winless Chiefs.
Despite a promising start Chiefs’ misery continued as they suffered their 11th-straight loss to equal the Highlanders’ 2013-14 record for most consecutive losses by a New Zealand Super Rugby side.
Reigning champions Crusaders dominant pack was in full force and was a key difference between the two sides as they earned four penalties at scrum time to Chiefs’ none.
However, Chiefs made a dream start to this daunting encounter with an early try by All Black Damian McKenzie, who impressively converted his own score from out wide.
McKenzie extended his side’s early lead with a long-range penalty, underlining Chiefs dominance.
However, Leicester Fainga’anuku responded by scoring the try of the tournament so far with an acrobatic grounding out wide after a devastating line break from David Havili.
Two penalties from Crusaders fly-half Richie Mo’unga overturned the deficit going into half time.
And controversy struck as Crusaders enhanced their lead with a penalty try and a yellow card to Brad Weber, after the Chiefs scrum half was offside while preventing the home side from going over.
But despite a captain’s challenge and replays showing that Mo’unga had apparently knocked on in the build-up, the try stood.
Crusaders took advantage of the extra man as Will Jordan crossed after a devastating decoy from Mo’unga threw off Chiefs’ tiring defence and his neat offload picked out Jordan for a converted score.
Converted tries from Whetu Douglas and Mitchell Dunshea sealed the bonus point win, before Chiefs winger Etene Nanai-Seturo crossed late on for a consolation converted score.
In today’s game last year’s runners up Blues host the Highlanders at a packed Eden Park after Auckland returned to Level One Covid status on Friday after the city had been in lockdown the past two weeks.
Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu said: “It’s a different atmosphere when we have a crowd at Eden park and to have it first up, it’s pretty good.”
Highlanders forwards coach Clarke Dermody engaged in some mid-week media jousting ahead of this mouth-watering clash, by suggesting that Blues’ heavy pack makes them vulnerable if his side can move the ball around.
Blues assistant coach Tom Coventry responded: “We are big, but I don’t think we’re as immobile as was implied. We can still run and move around the field, as well as anyone.
“We are a big pack, and I get the implication, but I like to think we are more than a side that does one thing well.”