The Crusaders have racked up their seventh consecutive win of the Super Rugby season with a comprehensive 50-3 triumph over the Sunwolves in Christchurch on Friday.
The hosts ran in eight tries, including a first-half hat-trick to winger Manasa Mataele, as they comprehensively outplayed the Japanese outfit – in their first match on New Zealand soil.
All Blacks skipper Kieran Read opened the scoring after 13 minutes, powering over from an attacking lineout in his first game of the Super Rugby season.
The Sunwolves lost influential No.8 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco to concussion soon after, further weakening their ability to compete at the set piece.
Hooker Ben Funnell added a second try on 24 minutes, the Crusaders building phases and keeping play tight in the greasy conditions to open a 14-0 lead.
They were down to 14 men four minutes later, wing Seta Tamanivalu binned for tackling Sunwolves fullback Kotaro Matsushima in the air as he gathered a high ball.
However, the visitors could only capitalise through a Yu Tamura penalty as the half-hour mark approached.
The Sunwolves continued to gift the Crusaders too much ball with poor tactical kicking, the hosts making the most of it with Mataele crossing three times in 10 minutes.
The first came courtesy of a miracle Pete Samu offload, the second after quick hands created an overlap out wide and the third finished off a scything counter attack.
Fresh from a bye and leading 29-3 at the break, the Crusaders continued to run in the tries for the first 20 minutes of the second spell.
Samu dived in between the posts in the 46th minute, replacement winger George Bridge and No.8 Whetu Douglas crossed in rapid succession as the Crusaders looked about to run riot.
The Sunwolves, who last week beat the Bulls 21-20 in Tokyo, struggled to get their hands on any ball and spent most of the second spell pinned inside their own half.
Although the Crusaders couldn’t add to their tally, spending the final 20 minutes scoreless, they remained untroubled as they extended their lead at the top of the standings.
lassitude
Guest
Good hit-out by the Cru after a bye. Got some players back and they got part of a match. Played pretty well in parts on a tricky ground with a wet ball and gave the bench some middle time. And got a bonus point. Dagg and Crotty back soon. Razor probably wasn't totally stoked about everything but still - result.
cuw
Guest
the ground was waterlogged, which made it harder for the wolves. NZ are used to playing in blizzards but the Japs usually play on dry grounds , even if there is no hot sun. but then had the conditions been better the Crusaders may have scored close to 100 !!!
Andy
Guest
Plenty of sides from Australia and South Africa getting beaten by that margin even the hurricanes were beaten by that much in round 1 last year. Sun wolves are improving and increase potential television audience, not to mention the crowd and atmosphere at last weeks game!
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
They basically tried the same tactics they used against Bulls. I can see why that tactics makes sense playing against a big, tired and very slow team like Bulls, but against Saders?
Lara
Guest
Sunwolves were always going to be monstered by the Saders , just lack of firepower up front , plain and simple. Sunwolves did not do themselves any favours by kicking the little ball they did have during the game back to the Saders .
timber
Guest
As opposed to the Rebels being thrashed 65 points by the Hurricanes? Looks much of a muchness to me, except this is the Sunwolves second season while the Rebels are in their seventh. Australia are losing a team because of their own poor performances, nothing to do with the Sunwolves.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Huge one! You're a real patriotic Aussie' rugby fan no doubt about that! What a stupid thing to say! The Sunwolves are woeful and should never be in the Competition and it seems as if game after game it will be a simple case of how much the Sunwolves get beaten by, that does the Competition no good and it causes one of our Current Super teams to get the axe because of it. Once again it's an obvious money driven exercise as the Japanese and Asian sporting market is there to pluck and this mickey mouse SANZAAR outfit who couldn't organise a bun fight of the Ladies junior rugby club, has decreed that it's the way to go! It's a slur on the ability of our own players when this happens and the Sunwolves have possibly more Kiwis. Islanders, Australians and heaven only knows who else, than Japanese players. If you want to see a thrashing each weekend 0f a fourth grade quality team, just watch the Sunwolves, but most won't.
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
So we dump Force or Rebels but keep Sunwolves.
Hugo
Guest
Still rather see them there than a couple of weak Aussie sides... just better beating someone different.
Blackfish
Roar Rookie
Should have been 12 tries to nil or more, Crusaders tanked in the last 20 for some reason. Probably feeling sorry fot the Japanese tourists. Sunwolves are pathetic and should not be in the Super Rugby.