Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Crusaders make a statement in pre-season dismantling of Hurricanes

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Christopher Reive / NZ Herald

ADVERTISEMENT

With Super Rugby starting at the end of the month, plenty of questions will be raised over the coming weeks as the teams grow accustomed to playing on hard, dry surfaces in the heat of summer.

None of those early questions will be directed towards whether the new-look Crusaders can cope with the loss of veteran players.

The reigning champions provided plenty of early indications they’ll be more than ready to compete for an unprecedented fourth title in a row, with a 42-19 demolition of the Hurricanes in Ashburton on Saturday afternoon.

The Crusaders were slow out of the blocks. A sluggish start saw the Hurricanes break out to a 10-0 lead through tries to loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi and midfielder Vince Aso.

Soon after Aso’s try, Crusaders midfielder Brayden Ennor burst through a couple of attempted tackles to scoot away for a try of his own, sparking the Crusaders attack.

Continue reading below…

Video Spacer

There was plenty of free-running football on display, which will likely be the case in the coming months as teams look to tired one another out in the heat.

ADVERTISEMENT

The opening 10 minutes were really all the Hurricanes had to write home about, as they faced a 28-12 deficit at half-time.

Both sides fielding fresh teams for the second half didn’t change things, although the Hurricanes did stem the flow from the opening 19 minutes of the half.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7evKFPAj4n/

After winger Fa’asiu Fuatai crashed over for the Crusaders in the 59th minute, the lead was near insurmountable. A late try to Hurricanes new recruit Kobus van Wyk gave the Hurricanes a faint hope, but the Crusaders proved to be too good, with a try to Sione Havili at the buzzer sealing an emphatic win.

Despite the result, there were some positives to take out of it for the Hurricanes. Vaea Fifita was damaging on defence in a first-half cameo, while the forward pack showed a solid display and their defence of the lineout drive was strong.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Crusaders will have another pre-season hit out next week, travelling to Wanaka to face the highlanders, while the Hurricanes face the Blues next week.

This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.

Schalk Brits spoke to RugbyPass about his experiences bringing the William Webb Ellis trophy back to South Africa:

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

France v New Zealand | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

England v Wales | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Tattoos & Rugby: Why are tattoos so popular with sportspeople? | Amber Schonert | Rugby Rising Locker Room Season 2

Lions Share | Episode 3

Zimbabwe vs Kenya | Rugby Africa Cup Semi Final | Full Match Replay

USA vs Spain | Men's International | Full Match Replay

Portugal vs Ireland | Men's International | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

C
CO 25 minutes ago
Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

Some Bok supporters might argue in vain but Vaa’i is the model that superseded the previous model known as the Pieter-Steph du Toit.


Hansen's pack got beaten to a pulp in 2019 by the English pack and it would've made zero difference who started at six.


Believing that Scooter starting at six was because they lost that semifinal ignores the reality that Hansen had overstayed his welcome as head coach and having effectively lost the Lions tour and become besotted with SBW should've been fired in 2017 and replaced with any one of Rennie, Schmidt or Joseph.


Both Nonu and Kaino should've been in that 2019 squad. Proven world cup final starters.


Frizzell is never getting the six jersey, he had a shocker of a world cup final and is yesterday's man dining out on one good performance against the Bok B team at Mt Smart. Frizzell is a myth.


The Allblacks current pack needs to bulk up due to it having a lot of small back rowers and no, Finau is not good enough to start, he's not direct enough or punishing enough.


The Allblacks need to stop anointing Sititi as the greatest thing since sliced bread, he's done very little this year, Christian is looking very solid at eight and seven is Saveas best spot to keep Christian starting.


Rassie is using loosies at hooker and so should the Allblacks. Playing Vaa’i at six isn't three locks, it's ensuring size to counter the other tier one packs and Vaa'i is fantastic at six.


Kirifi is okay but again hasn't done much and is too little, Lakai and Kirifi shouldn't be in the squad together.

123 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Huwipulotu get nod in centre as Lions name team for first Test Huwipulotu get nod in centre as Lions name first Test team