The Crusaders’ Super Rugby title defence has struck an early season speed bump after going down 25-17 to the Highlanders in a rollicking South Island derby.
The Highlanders made it three wins from three, all in Dunedin, to start their campaign while the Crusaders slump to a two win-two loss record.
Having only lost once on their way to an eighth title last year, questions will be asked about the depth of a Crusaders team who have lost twice on the trot and are missing a swag of their key All Blacks.
They couldn’t match the intensity of the hosts on Saturday, particularly a ferocious defensive line led by No.8 Luke Whitelock.
Slighty fortunate to be 14-10 up at halftime, the Highlanders were the better side in the second spell to maintain their perfect record under new coach Aaron Mauger.
Their winning trot under the Dunedin roof has stretched to 10 and if they can continue that, the Highlanders appear capable of mounting a serious title threat.
First five-eighth Lima Sopoaga scored one of their three tries and finished with 15 points while winger Tevita Li was a constant attacking threat.
The Crusaders hadn’t lost consecutive games for three years.
They were clearly missing captain Sam Whitelock and vice captain Ryan Crotty, who both suffered concussion early in last week’s loss to the Hurricanes.
Missing 29 tackles was a killer for the Crusaders, whose cause also wasn’t helped by rulings either side of halftime.
An apparent try to Jordan Taufua was ruled out following a replay which referee Glenn Newman says showed the ball being spilled forward earlier by Tim Bateman. The fuming Crusaders believe the ball had been stripped from his grasp by a defender.
After the break, Highlanders winger Waisake Naholo was shown a yellow card for a head high tackle on Heiden Bedwell-Curtis which was so blatant that it could have easily been red.
The hosts held firm during that 10-minute period and even created a try to reserve flanker Elliot Dixon to push them nine points clear.
Bryn Hall crossed for the Crusaders following a brilliant Manasa Mataele chip but two Sopoaga penalties were the remaining points.
Sopoaga and Liam Coltman crossed in the first half for the hosts after Crusaders winger George Bridge opened the scoring with a brilliantly-worked try.
Highlanders 25
Crusaders 17
Wazza
Guest
Can someone let me know why that first Crusaders try wasn't pulled back for the Highlanders' flyhalf being taken out by the Crusader's decoy runner ploughing into him. If it weren't for that, the Highlander's 10 would have made the tackle on the 11 Crusader who ran away to score the try through the resultant large gap it created. Seems a big miss by the TMO's, when the Highlander's 10 got taken out of the line. How does that work?
Stu B
Guest
Some of those Kiwi forward packs are, frightening,always 8 fit men playing as a unit, with backs so skilful and savvy. Good move by SANSAR to keep us apart until we have had some practise but I believe so many soft games may work against us towards the sharp end. Disagree with Good game Briant was hard on the Highlanders also rather confusing with ruck and maul rulings but the game was still the best rugby of the round.
cuw
Guest
Highlanders have always played the fast pace rugger - in the past they have run out of steam later on. maybe u remember the match when they scored like 3 trys in the last 5min, against a saffa team last season. and perhaps this fixture when Hunt dropped that goal !!
cuw
Guest
u mean Briant - right? dont know why he ignores players taken out at rucks - did it last match too. i have a huge issue with the reffing standards - in the sense that each ref has his pet peeves and pet likes. a penalty or foul in one match is fine in another match. and i have no idea how this new ruck law works -- much easier to see it in 7S ...
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
'Saders v 'Landers was a thriller. Made other games look like heart burn medication.
Good game
Guest
Pretty physical game. However Mike Brown let the Highlanders get away with dropped ball and obstructions. Not to mention defenders holding back players or even running in front of attacking support runners (let's not forgot the infamous Savea Rule of the Bledisloe Cup game). Whereas the Crusaders were dished out some rather harsh penalties, especially at scrum and ruck time. The odds pre game had both teams fairly even to win it and hats off to the Highlanders securing an unbeaten run so far this season! Good sign for the Kiwi conference!
Cynical Play
Guest
What a cracker. Switched over to Brumbies vs Sharks and felt like I’d been injected with some sedative. Never ceases to amaze me how the NZ teams see opportunities everywhere and play accordingly. Yet we Aussies hang back and wait. Brumbies congrats on the win. But ... it’s a different league.