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Crusaders record big win over Moana Pasifika
By AAP
The Christchurch-based Crusaders fielded an understrength team but still took a vital bonus point from a 41-7 win over Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific.
A week after losing 71-22 to the Wellington-based Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika conceded six tries in losing their last home match of the season at Mt Smart Stadium.
For the Crusaders, the win hoisted them to second place at the start of the 13th round.
The Crusaders were able to rest many of their front-line players but still get the job done, keeping up with their rivals in the contest for top-four places.
Four of the Crusaders' tries came in the first half after which they led 29-0.
They managed only two tries to one in a second half which was much more evenly contested.
"Our focus was to start well, especially playing into a stiff breeze that required us forwards to set the play," Crusaders captain Scott Barrett said.
"I thought we did that quite well to start with.
"Moana showed a bit of physicality towards the end there.
"I'm just pleased with how this group went.
"There were quite a lot of young boys here and they rolled their sleeves up tonight with a lot of effort."
Moana Pasifika defended more effectively in the second half and the Crusaders had to go to their lineout drive to score again through hooker Brodie McAlister.
Tima Fainga'anuku put Moana Pasifika on the board with a try in the 53rd minute but Scott Barrett added a final try for the Crusaders who were bruised by a physical encounter.
The Crusaders now are four points behind the first-place Chiefs at the start of the second round, but with all of the other top-five teams still to play.
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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