Classy Crusaders cement finals credentials with crucial Blues victory

The Crusaders have kept their perfect record at One NZ Stadium with a 36-20 win over the Blues.

Flanker Leicester Fainga’anuku was devastating, setting up multiple tries as the hosts stay in touch with the top three.

They rallied despite two late cards to down the Blues, whose minor premiership hopes have taken a major hit.

The Crusaders came out bolting like wild horses, fitting as they graced the One NZ Stadium grounds for the first time since the stadium opened.

It was the Fainga’anuku show in the opening quarter as the converted flanker set up a special opening try. He delivered a perfect inside ball to centurion George Bower off a trick line-out play, giving the prop his first try in Super Rugby in his 100th game.

The powerful back-rower showed he’s still got the skills of a winger as he chipped ahead shortly after being held up, with second-rower Jamie Hannah pouncing on the loose ball for a 12-3 lead.

With all the running, the Crusaders looked set to run away with the first half before a sudden double strike by the visitors gave them the surprise lead.

It started in the 31st minute when the Blues turned the Crusaders over inside their own 22, with AJ Lam running close to 70 metres for a superb counter-attacking try.

A pinpoint kick in-behind before the break gave them a five-metre scrum, with Sam Nock scoring 90 seconds later for a one-point advantage at the break.

But the Crusaders were quick to restore the lead after half-time as Rivez Reihana juked his way through the defence to score under the posts.

Kyle Preston made an immediate impact off the bench, delivering a big strike after starting the counter with slick hands, the scrumhalf diving for the line down the blindside to find the line.

Fainga’anuku looked to have sealed the win after putting in the grubber for his former winger partner Sevu Reece, giving them a 31-13 lead.

However, they were forced into a late scramble after they were reduced to 13, most notably winger Kurtis MacDonald red-carded for a dangerous contest on Stephen Perofeta.

Hoskins Sotutu reduced the lead after Jack Sexton was sin-binned for a deliberate foul.

In the end, the Blues’ ill-discipline cost them any chance of a comeback, with George Bell defying the numbers to claim the bonus point try.

Crusaders 36 (Tries: Bower, Hannah, Reihana, Reece, Bell, Preston; Cons: Reihana 3) def Blues 20 (Tries: Lam, Nock, Sotutu; Cons: Barrett; Pens: Perofeta)

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Dallas McLeod, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Macca Springer, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Leciester Fainga’anuku, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Cooper Grant, 23 Kurtis Macdonald

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Kade Banks, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Malachi Wrampling, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Sam Matenga, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Flyn Yates, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Xavi Taele

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper