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Highlanders vs Crusaders: Jordan is Cullen-esque, another Test bolter

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens of the Highlanders charges forward during the round 11 Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on April 26, 2025, in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The Crusaders have reaffirmed their credentials as one of the title favourites this season with a dominant 43-10 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin. After losing first five-eighth Taha Kemara early on, the Crusaders recovered in a one-sided southern derby.

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Will Jordan got the party started with two tries in four minutes, which put the Crusaders in a strong position midway through the first half. Another try from Codie Taylor extended the visitors’ advantage, who scored 24 unanswered to open the contest.

Jonah Lowe eventually broke the deadlock for the Highlanders with a five-pointer in the 61st minute, but it’s not as if the Crusaders were ever in danger of losing the match. Here are some takeaways from the round 11 clash.

Match Summary

0
Penalty Goals
1
2
Tries
6
0
Conversions
5
0
Drop Goals
0
193
Carries
105
2
Line Breaks
10
16
Turnovers Lost
11
2
Turnovers Won
11

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Will Jordan is Cullen-esque

There are shades of Christian Cullen in the way Will Jordan plays the game.

Jordan is able to change direction without losing any pace, and that’s served Tasman in the NPC, the Crusaders and All Blacks well over the years. It’s an undeniable fact that Jordan is a world-class option both on the wing and at fullback for New Zealand.

It was a nervy start to the match on Saturday, with the Crusaders losing first-choice No. 10 Taha Kemara to injury. But Jordan starred as the visitors took control, with the fullback slicing through the Highlanders’ defence line on two occasions to score.

Fans may have experienced some déjà vu as Jordan scored two tries that were fairly similar in the ninth and 13th minutes. Highlanders defenders struggled to even get a hand on the fullback who continues to make it look far too easy out there.

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Jordan continued to threaten the Highlanders’ defensive line form there, showcasing skill and rugby IQ with strong running, kicking and playmaking games. In the 52nd minute, the 62-game Crusader was within a metre or so of securing a 50/22.

“They’ve got players that can hurt you from all parts of the field and this guy nearly got a 50/22 out of it,” commentator Justin Marshall said on Sky Sport.

That’s X-factor.

That’s Cullen-esque.

Comparisons between Jordan and Cullen are fair; they’re warranted.

Let’s all just hope All Blacks selectors don’t do anything wild like move Jordan to centre.

Highlander has All Blacks potential

There’s been a lot of talk this season about Caleb Tangitau and Timoci Tavatavanawai.

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Those two men from the Highlanders are uncapped at Test level, but among the fan favourites to play for the All Blacks in 2025. Tangitau has been a shining light since making the move south from the Blues, while Tavatavanawai is force capable of playing wing or in the midfield.

Fabian Holland is another candidate to debut for the All Blacks, but there’s another Highlander who deserves to be in that same conversation. Fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens hasn’t skipped a beat since returning from injury in round nine against the Fijian Drua.

Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens also played 80-minutes in a loss to the Chiefs in round 10, and the No. 15 was once again prolific in Saturday’s loss. For most of the first-half, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens was equal-first for both carries, metres run, and line breaks.

With a strong running and kicking games, and also solid defence, there’s a lot to like about Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens’s game and that’s likely an opinion many would agree with.

While Will Jordan and Ruben Love are clear options to play fullback for New Zealand, it really does seem that Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is an All Black-in-waiting. It’s a matter of when, not if, the Highlander will enter the Test arena for the first time.

James O’Connor is one of the Crusaders’ most important players

Unfortunately for Taha Kemara, the young first five-eighth was helped from the field less than six minutes into the southern derby. Kemara twisted awkwardly in a tackle and suffered what appeared to be a knee injury, which prompted a forced change in the backline.

James O’Connor dominated rugby’s headlines last week as fans called for Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt to recall the experienced playmaker for the British & Irish Lions Series. ‘JOC’ nailed a last-gasp match-winner to sink the Blues in Christchurch in round 10.

But Crusaders boss Rob Penney didn’t select O’Connor to face the Highlanders. Instead, Rivez Reihana was given an opportunity to build on 13 minutes of playing time all season – a chance which came earlier in this match than many expected.

Reihana played well against the Landers, while team captain David Havili also stepped up as a playmaking option for the Crusaders. But with the Super Rugby playoffs a month or so away, who Peney selected in the No. 10 jersey will be key.

With the injury of Kemara, O’Connor has become one of the Crusaders’ most important players ahead of the finals. O’Connor’s influence will remain incredibly valuable to the team, even if Reihana is chosen to start upcoming fixtures.

Now that Kemara is likely out, if O’Connor can continue to have a positive impact by helping steer the Crusaders the title, then by all means, Joe Schmidt should select the fly-half to face the Lions. Only time will tell.

What’s most impressive about the 2025 Crusaders

Ever since Super Rugby began, there’s been this long-held belief that a team needs a Test star at fly-half to challenge for the title. Dan Carter, Richie Mo’unga and Morne Steyn have proved that true in their own right, but there’s an exception to every rule.

The 2025 Crusaders have shown that the game has changed

Kemara started a majority of matches this season, while former Wallaby James O’Connor has been called upon to come off the bench. Against the Highlanders, Rivez Reihana played 75 minutes with less than 20 games of Super Rugby experience behind him.

With Kemara going down after five minutes, that would’ve been a cause for concern for a lot of teams, with first five-eighth still the most important position in rugby on attack. But the Crusaders recovered, showing just how much of a unit they really are.

Forwards like Codie Taylor and Christian Lio-Willie did the damage up front, and backs such as Will Jordan reaped the rewards. It’ll either be O’Connor, who hasn’t played a Test in three years, or Reihana wearing the No. 10 moving forward, and the Crusaders will be okay either way.

They’re still one of the strongest contenders for the title, if not the favourites.

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Comments

24 Comments
B
BH 25 days ago

There is no clear “favourite” team so far this year. The Chiefs, Crusaders, Brumbies, and Reds all have the capability to beat each other, while other teams like the Waratahs, Force and Hurricanes could upset any of them at any point.


Let’s not forget that the Crusaders were absolutely embarrassed by the Chiefs and Moana Pasifika earlier this year and won games they shouldn’t have (Hurricanes and Blues), so they’re not quite as invincible as previous Crusaders outfits. And the Chiefs lost games against the Waratahs and Drua. The Chiefs have the superior bench however and have found their mojo again.

G
GP 25 days ago

Great article. In listing 10’s , Super and international of the past. Andrew Mehrtens was left out. He was the key driver in our first 3 titles ‘98, ‘99 and 2000. He was part of 2 other title winning teams, 2002 went through unbeaten.Mehrts was a great.

S
SadersMan 26 days ago

Crowning a favourite five weeks out is madness. The Crusaders are still building. The only thing they’re favoured to do atm is to get better.


If Taha’s out, then imo Rivez should take the reins & JOC retain the bench role. Rivez’s effort at 10 was seamless, drama-free & professional. Kicks goals too. Well done.


Jordan has been great for weeks now, without scoring tries. Perhaps now all those amateur “selectors” will quit putting him back on the wing. He’s Razor’s 15. End of!

G
GP 25 days ago

Well said regarding the 10 position at the Crusaders. Rivez Reihana seamlessly slotted in when he came on in Dunedin. Made goalkicking look easy.We know James O’Connor’s worth , that is not just because of his winning kick last week against the Blues.

J
JW 26 days ago

It was some really excellent passing, and reasonable, well excecuted kicking, like he’s getting more comfortable as a playmaker. Actually what I mean to say is he seems to be decided between passing, kicking, and when to pin his ears back like normal, more seemlessly/faster.


We might just be projecting though because we know Razor wants him to be a bit of a 15 that can play tactically from the back or up in the line too? Maybe he’s the same as normal when in form.

A
Andrew Nichols 26 days ago

Was at the game…Some individual brilliance from Jordan notwithstanding, it was a dull slow game between Saders B and a willing but limited Landers side. Saders did what was necessary abd no more. The following Canes and Brumbies game had far more skill and enterprise on display

B
BH 25 days ago

Finally a level-headed comment from someone other than GP or anyone with “Saders” in their name.

J
JW 26 days ago

Was at the game

Feel sorry for you.


No it was a nice remembrance and the crowd looked big?

G
GP 26 days ago

Will Jordan is the best fullback in theworld. Proved it for the Crusaders in win in Dunedin. First try , genius. Rivez Reihana was all class coming in for Taha Kemara , who played well. Rivez didnot miss a kick and was smooth. Tom Christie , King of the break down. Christian Lio-Willie, aAB certainty. Well done beating a tough Highlanders team, Crusaders are back , big time.Corey Kellow, what a try and another standout game. Codie Taylor , 2 tries, what a hooker, leader.

B
BH 25 days ago

Oh look it’s Graham Peterson dribbling on and on about the Crusaders again…

H
Head high tackle 25 days ago

Haha what a one dimentional post… They played the Highlanders mate. Didnt the Chiefs beat them by more last week? So for all the 10 Crusaders you have nominated Ill just say that the Chiefs must have been better so therefore deserve to be ABs ahead of the Saders players. Is that the logic we are using? Are the Highlanders, in 10th, the benchmark?

Saders played well, and its great to see that after the disaster of last year, but just settle down mate.

M
MM 25 days ago

GP, your posts are beyond biased about the Saders and getting a tad tiresome!

For once in your life, please have something to say about the OTHER TEAMS in the competition!!

C
Cantab 25 days ago

Yes the Crusaders are certainly back and after establishing an early 21- 0 lead had the luxury of coasting for most of the remainder of the match until the Highlanders finally breached a stubborn defence which saw them wake up again to post a further 3 tries. Jordan is a definite as ABs 15 and is possibly our best ever in that position. Look forward to seeing Crusaders really cutting loose come playoff time as I don’t think we have yet seen ALL that they are capable of.

J
JW 26 days ago

I not sure they’ve shown they can challenge for the title like that yet Finn but Kemara is out now regardless. Actually whether it’s him or Reihana those names of the past did it in their youth as newbies as well, and Reihana did look good, though behind a dominant pack.


Jacob is a tricky fella to tackle isn’t he, I’d love to see those skills on the international stage as well. Big Jim showed he’s a must as well, especially over his opposition tonight. Jordan, Reihana, Hotham, Springer, Soifoloi, all too good for a ragged Highlanders group. Imagine all their bad luck, and on top of it the oppositions best playmaker gets onto the field some 60 minutes before he’s supposed to. Bugger.

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