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Crusaders hold on for tight South Island derby win over Highlanders

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The Crusaders have held on through a scoreless second half and with 14 men for the last three minutes to beat the Highlanders 17-14 in Super Rugby Pacific.

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Both teams scored two tries in a first half of tit-for-tat scoring and a penalty by All Blacks flyhalf Richie Mo’unga in the 26th minute proved unexpectedly decisive in Christchurch on Friday night.

The winless Highlanders spent much of the second half and almost all of the final quarter on attack.

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    But they were unable to break down the resolute Crusaders’ defence which refused to yield even when replacement hooker Shilo Klein was shown a red card in 77th minute for a shoulder charge which struck the head of Highlanders prop Ethan de Groot.

    The Crusaders showed a remarkable ability to hold out under concerted pressure and to win crucial turnovers at the tackled ball through players such as flanker Ethan Blackadder and winger Sevu Reece.

     

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    “It was a heck of a battle,” Crusaders captain Scott Barrett said. “The conditions forced both teams into playing that pressure game and it was a real see-saw right to the final whistle.”

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    The first half had all the action the second half lacked. The Highlanders twice were in front and on both occasions the Crusaders were able to reply.

    Highlanders hooker Andrew Makalio scored the first converted try of the match in the seventh minute from a clever lineout move worked with backrower Shannon Frizell.

    The Crusaders replied in the 13th with a try to prop Fletcher Newell, created by centre David Havili who recovered his own kick on attack and quickly moved the ball to Mitchell Drummond, who fed Newell at pace.

    The Highlanders again went ahead in the 19th minute with a try to centre Scott Gregory, also converted by Ben Hunt.

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    Again the Crusaders responded, this time through a powerful run by centre Leicester Fainga’anuku.

    In the meantime Mo’unga kicked the penalty that proved the difference between the teams.

    “I was really proud of our effort,” Highlander s captain Aaron Smith said. “We were able to stay in the game for 80 minutes and put the best team in the competition under a lot of pressure.”

    The Highlanders remain without a win after six matches while the Crusaders have five wins from six games.

    Crusaders 17 (Tries to Fletcher Newell and Leicester Fainga’anuku; 2 conversions and penalty to Richie Mo’unga)

    Highlanders 14 (Tries to Andrew Makalio and Scott Gregory; 2 conversions to Mitch Hunt)

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    J
    JW 3 hours ago
    'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

    I have the selection opinion of ‘chuck them in the deep end, see if they swim’. Starting Mo’unga in the third test

    But you’re calling favoritism of Dmac based on common practice, thats the illogical mindset you have and which I’m pointing out.

    He isn’t Mo’unga which disproves your statement

    You’ve missed my point. Mo’unga is your fixation for ‘game manager’. Dmac is every bit the game manager even then, his boot has always been his best asset.

    At 10 I would’ve had: Cruden, B Barrett, and McKenzie

    Thats fine, but that statement you’re trying to defend is “I guess Hansen sold them the idea that McKenzie was the way forward at 10” with the implication that now, in 2023 they let Mo’unga go because Dmac he was selected there for one test in 2018.

    I brought it up as I it shows that Hansen and Foster would rather have a second 10

    I brought those facts up to as I believe that both Hansen and Foster didn’t really want Mo’unga at 10 and only used him at 10 when they ran out of other ideas (which they both did)

    And I have shown you the real facts, that they didn’t do that. They played MO’UNGA! The very next series after Dmac was asked to play 10 due to injury, with no experience (hence why he wanted more the next year), Mo’unga was used as the alternative 10 to Barrett, playing one game, WITH MCKENZIE AT 15, of the 6 Rugby Championships. The series after that was were opinion really shifted to Mo’unga having a better partnership with Dmac at the back than Barrett did.


    THOSE ARE THE ONLY RELEVANT FACTS!


    You can have your theories all you like Spew, but I’m telling you they are based on you own fallacy when it comes your picture of Dmac, and therefor any correlation with Mo’unga. They have always been great together.

    111 Go to comments
    W
    WilmaKiel 6 hours ago
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