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Comeback kings Crusaders and Chiefs stay perfect

Crusaders celebrate a try against Blues

Crusaders enhanced their reputation as Super Rugby’s comeback kings and maintained their 100 per cent record in 2017 with a 33-24 victory over Blues on Friday.

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In their previous two games, Crusaders had overturned a 27-6 deficit to beat Highlanders before coming from 17-0 down to triumph against Queensland Reds.

And a familiar theme was repeated in Christchurch as the hosts triumphed despite having trailed 24-5 with half an hour to play.

George Moala scored two of Blues’ three first-half tries, with Manasa Mataele’s score the only response for Crusaders.

When Piers Francis added a 48th-minute penalty to his trio of conversions, Blues were in command, but Peter Samu, Ben Funnell and Mitch Hunt all went over in a superb fightback.

Mitchell Drummond then added a fifth Crusaders touchdown in the last minute to rub salt in the visitors’ wounds.

“It’d be quite nice if we started before half-time, but a win’s a win,” said Crusaders skipper Sam Whitelock.

Marika Koroibete scored his first Super Rugby try in Friday’s other match, but it was not enough to prevent Melbourne Rebels suffering a 27-14 defeat to Chiefs, who are also unbeaten and top the New Zealand Conference.

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The eventual margin of victory flattered Chiefs, who trailed for much of the second half before late tries from Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane and Shaun Stevenson sealed victory.

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Nickers 38 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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