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Watch: Blues winger Mark Telea scores 'outstanding' try vs Crusaders
By Finn Morton
Mark Telea just can’t be stopped when he’s in this kind of form. The Blues winger has scored one of the individual tries of the season with an “outstanding” effort against the Crusaders.
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The in-form speedster beat a number of tackle attempts en route to the tryline, including defensive efforts from All Blacks Braydon Ennor, Ethan Blackadder and Richie Mo’unga.
Telea was brought to a standstill after getting the ball, but wasn’t going to throw in the towel just yet.
Far from it, in fact.
The 26-year-old ended up making a 60 metre burst through the heart of the Crusaders’ defence, and beat at least four tackle attempts on his way to the tryline.
Mark Telea! You are kidding MATE!#BLUvCRU #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/whJ7xKAI7D
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 18, 2023
Sky Sport commentator Tony Johnson said it best, having described Telea’s try as “outstanding.”
“Oh what a try,” Johnson said. “Outstanding!”
The Blues started their season with a big win over the Highlanders in Dunedin, but were handed an early season wakeup call by the Brumbies in Super Round.
But the Auckland-based outfit bounced back with a thrilling win over New Zealand rivals the Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend, which set up a mouth-watering blockbuster against the Crusaders.
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The Blues had returned to winning ways at the right time, as they looked to avenge their defeat in last year’s Super Rugby Pacific final against the Crusaders.
Ahead of the rematch, the Blues made a handful of changes to their starting XV, including the return of a Test star on the right wing.
All Blacks winger Mark Telea was named to return for the Blues after missing the trip to the capital due to a concussion.
This match needed no introduction, as it promised so much in terms of a rugby spectacle.
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Winger Telea set the tone early with his try in the 8th minute, but the Crusaders hit back shortly after through Fergus Burke.
It was a back-and-forth first half, with the Crusaders taking a hard-fought three-point lead into the sheds.
