Hurricanes vs Crusaders: Super Rugby live scores, blog

Roar Guru

10th March, 2018

When: Saturday 8th March 2018, 5:30 pm AEDT
Where: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
TV: Channel 505/Fox Sports
Betting: Hurricanes $1.81, Crusaders $2.00

Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Chris Eves.

Reserves: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Vince Aso.

Crusaders
1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 4 Scott Barrett, 5 Sam Whitelock (C), 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 7 Matt Todd (VC), 8 Jordan Taufua, 9 Bryn Hall, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 11 George Bridge, 12 Ryan Crotty (VC), 13 Jack Goodhue, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 15 David Havili.

Reserves: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Chris King, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Billy Harmon, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mike Delany, 23 Manasa Mataele.

Referee
Brendan Pickerill

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Alex Fidow of Hurricanes is tackled by Sebastian Cancelliere of Jaguares during a match between Jaguares and Hurricanes as part of third round of Super Rugby at Jose Amalfitani Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images)

Shakti Gounden

Roar Guru

10th March, 2018

Match result:

The Hurricanes have enhanced their reputation as the Crusaders’ Super Rugby bogey team with a 29-19 win in Wellington.

» Click here to read the full match report

Final score
Hurricanes 29
Crusaders 19

Match preview:

It is the battle of two New Zealand heavyweights when 2016 champions the Hurricanes take on the table-topping defending champions the Crusaders in a mouth-watering clash at Westpac Stadium this Saturday. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:30pm AEDT.

The Hurricanes were the only team to beat the impressive Crusaders in last year’s competition.

After a narrow loss to the Bulls in the opening round, the Hurricanes put in a dominant performance against the Jaguares. They ran in five tries in a strong 34-9 win away from home.

Mercurial fly-half Beauden Barrett will line-up against his former team and in the process making his 100th appearance for the Hurricanes.

He joins the stellar club including Tana Umaga, Conrad Smith and Rodney So’oailo among those who have achieved the landmark. Coach Chris Boyd has named an unchanged starting 15 from last week.

For the Hurricanes to continue their impressive record at home against their opponents, they need Barrett to dictate the pace and lead his forwards across the park.

The Crusaders have been winless in the capital since 2012. However, scoring 90 points in two matches and a five-match unbeaten run in Super Rugby, it is no surprise that they are the favourites to go back to back.

Young five-eighth Richie Mo’unga will be replaced by Mitchell Hunt after fracturing his jaw in the clash with the Stormers.

Flankers Heiden Bedwell-Curtis and Matt Todd will also return to the starting line-up. Jack Goodhue made his first All-Black appearance last year and expect the young outside centre to impress further this year.

The former New Zealand sevens international is strong and intelligent beyond his years and will definitely be one of the stars of the Crusaders outstanding backline.

Prediction
Even without Mo’unga expect the Crusaders to continue their winning run and win for the first time in 6 years at Wellington.

Crusaders by 12.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:30pm AEDT.

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