Patrick McKendry: Why I still have high hopes for Spark’s RWC
Much of the talk before this match-up of Super Rugby’s finalists of the past two years centred on how the Crusaders could leave out a talent like Will Jordan. From now on, it could be about whether they dare do without Sevu Reece.
There has been a growing buzz in the south about the potential of the
22-year-old in his first season at this level and it will grow louder after a performance that mixed strength with subtlety and a workrate any loose forward would be proud of.
Reece was involved in both Crusaders’ first-half tries in his team’s bonus-point victory at Christchurch Stadium last night.
The first, he laid on for Braydon Ennor, and the second, he scored himself in the right corner, a fivepointer which will live long in highlight reels for the way he bumped Lions No 8 Kwagga Smith into next week.
Wings aren’t supposed to do that sort of thing but the Waikato player appears to care little for the reputations of senior internationals, or their physical well-being.
He plays with a fearlessness backed by pace and an apparent possession of dynamite in each shoulder.
His second try once the Crusaders had this game well wrapped up following two touchdowns in five minutes by returning wing George Bridge was something that might work only a few times on a training pitch.
Reece was under pressure when he received a good pass from Jordan Taufua 22m out from the Lions line, but in a split-second, he simply dropped the ball on to his right foot and won the race to the line.
So Reece was the major success story as the Crusaders extended their streak of home wins to 25 matches.
They got to 26 wins in a row back in
2004-07, and unfortunately for the rest of the competition, it’s difficult to see them being beaten at their fortress this season because with Bridge also excelling, along with Ennor, one of the competition’s quickest centres, coach Scott Robertson has firepower aplenty in his Rugby Park armoury.
They were without Owen Franks, Scott Barrett, Matt Todd and Jack Goodhue but made a bit of a mockery of the fifth-best team in the competition who beat the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend.
No 10 Richie Mo’unga, who will warm the hearts of those in red-andblack country even further after announcing he is staying there for the next three years at least, was tidy but not mistake free.
But such is the confidence and quality running through this outfit, even allowing for any rust from their bye week, they can smooth over just about any wrinkle.
Crusaders midfielder Ryan Crotty left the field late in the first half for a head injury assessment, which he apparently passed, but he played no further part in the match.
Given the All Black’s recent problem with concussions and the fact the Crusaders were hardly troubled in going out to a 17-3 lead, the cautious approach was no surprise.
The only other niggle for Super Rugby’s pace-setters will be the slightly frantic way they finished the match after a scoreless final quarter.
Still, there will be plenty for Robertson and company to celebrate, not least the performance of their No 14, a man who is surely a star in the making.
Crusaders 36 (Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece 2, George Bridge 2 tries; Richie Mo’unga 4 cons, pen)
Lions 10 (Ruan Combrinck try; Elton Jantjies con, pen)
Halftime: 17-3.