Crusaders’ winless run continues as Blues claim famous win in Auckland

The Crusaders’ winless start to this year’s Super Rugby Pacific season has continued with the defending champions falling to fierce rivals the Blues 26-6 at Auckland’s Eden Park.

For the first time in team history, the Crusaders have started a Super Rugby campaign with five defeats from as many starts.

With both teams wearing their heritage jerseys in round five, the first-half may have been scrappy but it also oozed passion from both sides as they fought tirelessly for points.

The Blues took a slender lead into the sheds at the interval with the match hanging in the balance. In the end, the difference was how the Aucklanders started the second half.

Two tries in about three minutes saw the Blues race out to a 17-point lead that the Crusaders never looked like reeling back. It was all one-way traffic at the legendary rugby venue.

This was the Blues’ first win over the Crusaders at Eden Park since the third round of the 2014 season – the last time captain Patrick Tuipulotu, who played his 100^th Blues game tonight, beat them.

The Blues have improved their season record to four wins and one loss while the Crusaders will turn their focus to next Friday’s clash with the Chiefs in Christchurch.

“This is a statement performance… up against a Crusaders team whose backs were clearly up against the wall,” former All Black Jeff Wilson said on the Sky Sport broadcast.

With this blockbuster New Zealand derby getting underway at about 7:06 pm local time, it was quite fitting that milestone man Patrick Tuipulotu had the first opportunity to make an impact.

The Blues centurion caught the ball and immediately charged into a sea of red. Tuipulotu ran over hooker George Bell in what was a solid way to start a special night in Auckland.

Wing Caleb Clarke made a telling burst through a gap in the Crusaders’ defensive line to set up the first point-scoring opportunity of the night as the hosts charged up the field at Eden Park.

But after play broke down, fly-half Stephen Perofeta had a chance to open the scoring. Perofeta, who missed four shots at goal last week in the win over the Waratahs, looked composed over the kicking tee.

Perofeta made no mistake to give the Aucklanders an early three-nil advantage after just four minutes of play which were largely dominated by the Blues’ attacking aggression in attack.

But then the game slowed down in a big way.

Playing on a rainy night in Auckland, this clash between two great rivals was dominated by handling errors, penalties and crooked throws at the lineout during the opening 40 minutes.

Blues flanker Dalton Papali’i was sent to the sin bin after giving away a penalty close to his own line, and while the Crusaders looked threatening, Cullen Grace dropped the ball cold as one of multiple attacking opportunities were missed.

It was a scrappy first-half. Riley Hohepa and Perofeta a further two penalties each as the Blues went into the half-time with a slender three-point advantage over their traditional rivals.

But in what ended up being a key moment, former England halfback Willi Heinz was sent to the sin bin about a minute or so before half-time. That ended up costing the Crusaders.

With the Crusaders still looking for their first win of the season, their hopes and dreams of claiming a drought-breaking victory on the road were quickly dashed after the break.

All Blacks and Blues prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi crossed for the opening try of the evening in the 43^rd minute, and centre AJ Lam another to the hosts’ score shortly after.

Almost suddenly, the Blues led the Crusaders 23-6. Both of those scores happened with Heinz watching on from the sidelines and the Crusaders down to 14 men.

But then it got worse. Sevu Reece was shown a yellow card in the 52^nd minute which saw the wing effectively spot places with Heinz who came on after serving his 10 minute ban.

Wearing their heritage jersey, the Blues went with an old-school play by going for the quick tap five metres out from the Crusaders’ try line – but it didn’t work. Crisis averted for the time being.

But the Blues continued to press. The Crusaders’ discipline was tested time and time again and it led to points with Perofeta converting another penalty shot in the 63^rd minute.

The game was getting away from the Crusaders who desperately needed to score next. After a charge down, Levi Aumua was through for a certain try, but Caleb Clarke managed to dislodge the ball with a last-ditch defensive stop.

Knock-on, no try.

But the game was practically parked within the Blues’ 22 for quite a while after as the Crusaders refused to throw in the towel in a bid to claw their way back into the contest.

No points were scored, though. It was the Blues’ night as they celebrated Patrick Tuipulotu’s century of appearances for the club with a famous win in Auckland.