Super Rugby Pacific round-up
The Crusaders suffered back-to-back defeats to begin their title defence after the impressive Waratahs secured a stunning 37-24 upset victory.
All six games in Round 2 were played at AAMI Park in Melbourne as part of the ‘Super Round’, Darren Coleman was thrilled his side could inflict the Crusaders’ biggest defeat outside of New Zealand since 2016.
“I’m really happy for the boys,” Coleman said. “We didn’t trial well in preseason and then we were well-beaten last week. It’s the beauty of sport, isn’t it? No-one backed us to even go close tonight, so that’s what I enjoyed about it.
“The boys care. Sometimes we’re not good, but we work hard. We hadn’t got the fruits of our labour until tonight really.”
Backed by a formidable scrummaging performance by Wallaby prop Angus Bell, the New South Wales franchise scored four tries though Hugh Sinclair, Harry Wilson, Triston Reilly and Jake Gordon.
The five-time champions Crusaders, who are missing a host of stars taking a sabbatical in Japan, looked toothless without playmaker Richie Mo’unga as new No.10 Rivez Reihana was off the pace on a miserable night for the Christchurch side.
Macca Springer, Sevu Reece (2) and Christian Lio-Willie touched down for the Kiwis, but their Super Rugby dynasty looks to be threatened more than ever this term.
“We just lacked a bit of execution,” said Crusaders captain Scott Barrett. “When you’re not clinical and you’re gifting freebies to the ‘Tahs, they’ll punish you and that’s what they did tonight.”
The Crusaders are also without All Blacks winger Will Jordan, who is sidelined for the entire season after shoulder surgery, while British and Irish Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny is out with a torn pectoral muscle.
“We’ve had a few injuries, but we’ve got to move forward as a squad and really back the next guy in,” Barrett said.
“We’ve had a bit of a slow start to this competition and we’re hurting at the moment. We’ll reflect on tonight and where we need to be better.”
Moana Pasifika held on with 13 players to beat Fijian Drua 39-36 in the battle of the two Pacific Island teams.
A red card to Nigel Ah Wong for a no-arms tackle and a yellow card to former Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu for a professional foul left Moana Pasifika with only 13 men.
They entered the final 10 minutes with a 39-22 lead courtesy of tries by Tevita Mafileo, Fine Inisi, Henry Taefu, Sam Moli and Abraham Pole, while the Drua had scored through Elia Canakaivata’s brace and Selestino Ravutaumada.
The Drua scored two late tries through Epeli Momo and Iliesa Ratuva but it wasn’t enough to take the match from Moana Pasifika, who secured just one win last season.
Melbourne Rebels put their nightmare financial issues to one side as they produced an incredible comeback to defeat the Western Force 48-34.
Kevin Foote’s side, who are on the brink of extinction after entering administration due to debts of over $20 million, scored 29 unanswered points to stun the Force, who looked home and dry when Michael Wells’ try gave them a 15-point lead.
Western Force were ahead 34-19 on 50 minutes as tries by Chase Tiatia, Tom Horton, Max Burey and Michael Wells appeared to have put the Perth side in control. However, unanswered touchdowns by Jake Kemeny, Carter Gordon and Filipo Daugunu (2) overturned the deficit and put the home crowd in high spirits.
“Let’s start with the fans – that’s important,” said Foote. “We want to play in front of a great crowd in Melbourne and we want to play a great brand of rugby, so when you see fans that have been coming for 14 years, we want to thank them and we want to play good rugby for them.”
No.8 Hoskins Sotutu scored a hat-trick as the Blues continued their unbeaten start to the season and stretched the Highlanders’ misery against their Kiwi rivals with a 37-29 victory.
Mark Telea also touched down for the Blues, with Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell one of their stars producing audacious offloads and clever grubber kicks to feed his new Highlanders teammates.
Highlanders scored through Timoci Tavatavanawai and debutant Ajay Faleafaga late on, however the Dunedin franchise remain off the pace compared to their Kiwi rivals.
This morning sees more Super Rugby action as four sides who were all victorious in the previous round enter the fray.
Last year’s finalists the Chiefs meet Australian side the Brumbies before another Trans-Tasman encounter ensues between the Hurricanes and Queensland Reds.
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