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Crusaders come up short against Munster after final kick jeered by crowd
By Ben Smith
In a battle between the two hemisphere club champions, the Crusaders have gone down to Munster 21-19 after a missed conversion from a late try failed to level proceedings at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork.
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The first Crusaders game without Scott Robertson in eight years, the Crusaders went within a whisker of a draw when lock Jamie Hannah crashed over after a lineout maul three minutes into extra time.
Young flyhalf Rivez Reihana had the chance to snatch a draw with the conversion but his attempt sailed across the face of the posts from the right sideline, much to the delight of the home crowd. Whistles and jeers were sent towards Reihana as he moved in to strike the ball.
Both sides were missing a number of top line stars, Munster through injury and Six Nations duty, while the Crusaders opted to rest seven All Blacks including Codie Taylor, David Havili, Scott Barrett, Ethan Blackadder, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan and Joe Moody.
Former Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny made his Crusaders debut at fullback, while former All Black centre Ryan Crotty made his return to his old club.
Munster jumped out to a 14-0 lead early on the back of two tries to lock Gavin Coombes crashing over from close range, both converted by Kiwi-born flyhalf Joey Carbery.
Captain Quinten Strange was sin-binned after one too many team indiscretions when he went off feet at a ruck, leading to the possession for Coombes’ second try scored in similar fashion to his first.
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The Crusaders struck just before half-time after a left-side break by Springer was finished inside by veteran Mitch Drummond. Kemara’s conversion kept the visitors within seven.
Last year’s capped All Black Dallas McLeod exploded in the final quarter with a brilliant solo run, scything through two defenders before using his strength to hold off the fullback and score with an acrobatic finish in the corner.
Reserve flyhalf Rivez Reihana slotted the sideline conversion to bring scores level at 14-all.
With 10 minutes remaining Munster hit again with their third pick-and-go try of the night through hooker Scott Buckley and Carbery nailed the extras.
The Crusaders looked dead before a final possession well into injury time saw Hannah find a try, but the crowd was successful in throwing Reihana off his final kick.
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Bula Pecos you Can’terbury meatball
MEATBALL (noun): sports fan who irrationally supports a chosen team. characterized by short sighted thinking and frequent overreaction.
Bula vanaka
Pecos Can’terbury lost
Could the headline not be any more bitter from the self proclaimed moral authority of Rugby? This rubbish article is the worst load of crap, after a great few days of having the Crusaders in Cork and a great evening of rugby and enjoyment.
Mentioning Cadbury as Kiwi born trying to imply he went through the NZ system and not born to Irish parents and grew up in Ireland and went through the Irish/Leinster system. Classic
Easy to see the clowns writing this clap trap didn’t attend the game anyway. There was a minimal amount of booing. If that’s enough to put off a professional rugby player then get off the field. But it’s prob a shock to alot of Nz player to get more than 2
30k at a club match.
His run up, technique and everything was dreadful. In short he bottled a conversion in front of the posts. Something nz like to throw at Irish teams.
Do Kiwis do nothing but always complain about referees?
Both sides were missing most of their team. Munster were without all players currently in the Irish squad (ie current in form players) and many also rested. Very few on that team would start an important URC match (munster are not doing well in URC).
Ccrusaders missing all blacks players (who might make an AB squad again). They also took an opportunity to blood new players.
Look at this for what it is, a game for new players to bond and get a great experience. Not to always take a biased pot shot at referees. It’s getting so tired on this platform. Have Kiwis ever had a good referee ??
Ahhh the noble and honourable Munster crowds we hear so much poppycock about. Hope they enjoyed wasting their money on a pointless match
Another poor SH showing - as always. Amazing what happens when the refs aren’t incompetent - the better team wins!
Enjoy the moaning by the bitter Kiwis though. A day of sunshine.
What a great way to blood new players, bond a squad, & play in front of a great crowd.
And who cares if some in the crowd “jeered” the kick, Reihana blew this easy kick all by himself. As long as he learns. So calm down. It was a preseason hitout, nothing more, nothing less.
I hope this becomes an annual thing tbh.
was a terrible game the ref was trash hense why hes not a world rugby ref highly biased urc team mid way through their season could only beat a team not even started yet with zero internationals new coach and not even a winning coach too that just shows how terrible the urc is