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Crusaders make a statement with shutout win over Melbourne Rebels

26 Apr 2024

The Crusaders celebrate a try scored by Johnny McNicholl during the round ten Super Rugby Pacific match between Crusaders and Melbourne Rebels at Apollo Projects Stadium, on April 26, 2024, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The Melbourne Rebels have been handed a massive Super Rugby Pacific reality check, kept scoreless and brutalised by the Crusaders in a 39-0 humbling.

In Christchurch, the visitors were never in the contest and were absolutely monstered up front by a side that came into Friday’s fixture on the bottom of the ladder.

The fourth-ranked Rebels had won their previous three games to insert themselves in the finals frame, but were well and truly reminded about the difficulties of winning games in New Zealand.

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Crusaders No.8 Christian Lio-Wllie and flanker Cullen Grace put them 10-0 clear in 17 minutes, but the floodgates really opened late with three second-half tries against a broken Rebels outfit.

Match Summary

Penalty Goals

Tries

Conversions

Drop Goals

127

Carries

Line Breaks

Turnovers Lost

Turnovers Won

Their scrum was completely decimated in the first half, to the point that coach Kevin Foote replaced the entire front row before the break.

Matt Gibbon, Alex Mafi and Sam Talakai were hooked on the half-hour after a shift that saw them concede three penalties and lose multiple scrums against their own feed, including one where the Crusaders drove them back into their own in-goal.

The bench group – including Wallabies talents Taniela Tupou and Jordan Uelese – solidified things in the short term, but were eventually worn down by the hosts’ power.

Perhaps things could have been different if Rebels forward Josh Kemeny had grounded a short-range effort on the stroke of halftime, but he lost control of the ball diving for the line in what was a chance to pull them to within a single score while trailing 10-0.

Instead the Crusaders resumed their dominance after the break, Lio-Willie powering over for a second before Rivez Reihana knocked over a penalty to put them 18-0 clear on 50 minutes.

Owen Franks, Sevu Reece and Johnny McNicholl cashed in late when the Rebels threw in the towel.

It was just the Crusaders’ second win of the campaign, but they immediately jumped into ninth spot to remain a competition factor.

The Rebels have another difficult task next weekend, hosting the Blues at AAMI Park.

Comments

6 Comments

JH 473 days ago

Now if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on.

And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.

Jen 473 days ago

Ugh yeah, that’s fricking annoying.

Utiku Old Boy 474 days ago

Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!

GP 474 days ago

Great summary. Johnny McNicoll was outstanding for the Crusaders. Fletcher Newell and the whole tight five did step, aided big time by the return of Scott Barrett. Great to see Owen Franks get a try , straight after coming on the field.

GP 474 days ago

Christian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.

SC 472 days ago

The Crusader backrow finally had its 3 most physical loose forwards each playing in their best position- 6 Cullen Grace, 7 Ethan Blackadder, and 8 Christian Lio-Willie.

Tom Christie works his ass off tackling but he does not tackle with the power of Cullen or Blackadder and is a mediocre ball carrier to be honest. Great jackler though but so is Blackadder. Christie would be most effective off the bench in last quarter of match.

Cullen made the All Blacks as a blindside in 2020 while Blackadder missed the season injured. Then 2021-24 was shifted to 8 hoping he would be another Kieran Read and to accommodate Blackadder at 6. However Grace does not have quite the athleticism and explosiveness a test 8 requires. However at 193 cm and a former NZ U20 lock, he is an outstanding line-out jumper, cleans ruck with sting, and is the hardest hitting tackler on the team according to Scott Barrett.

I like Blackadder but feel his best Tests for the All Blacks in 2022 have been playing openside where his workaholic play is most effective. He is a very big Test openside.

Christian Lio-Willie is by far the most explosive and dynamic ball carrier of the Crusaders loose forwards and is the best choice at 8

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