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.
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Final score
Highlanders 25
Crusaders 17
The Highlanders are coming off a win against the Stormers and will line-up against a motivated Crusaders outfit who despite their loss to the Hurricanes last week, will field a strong team. Join The Roar for live scores from the match, starting from 5:30pm AEDT.
The Highlanders were rusty last week as they were coming off a bye. But boasting arguably the best backline in the business with the premier scrum-half in the world in Aaron Smith, they will be much stronger this week.
The Highlanders are top of the NZ conference after being undefeated this season and they would be hoping to get a crucial win against their neighbours.
The Highlanders love to play at a high tempo and Smith is their heartbeat. If Smith is at his best expect Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith and Lima Sopoaga to dominate the game.
The Crusaders will be without their mid-field supremo Ryan Crotty. The All-Black centre who is the glue that holds the backline together was ruled out due to a concussion which he suffered last week.
They do however get their captain Sam Whitelock back after being taken from the field early along with Crotty last Saturday, Crusaders were dismantled by the electrifying backline of the Hurricanes and this week does not get any easier.
If they are to come home with a win then they need grind down the Highlanders and counter the Highlanders blueprint of fast-paced rugby.
A lot will fall on the shoulders of Mitchell Hunt who came off second best against Beauden Barrett last week.
He comes up against another All-Black in Lima Sopoaga and whoever controls the game better will go a long way in ensuring their team wins.
Prediction
The loss of key players such as Mo’unga and Crotty will make it extremely difficult against this classy Highlanders unit.
Highlanders by 5.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match, starting from 5:30pm AEDT.
Highlander
Guest
Do like it when both defensive lines fly at each other, that was brutal
Old Bugger
Guest
Absolutely agree about Briant. And also, how straight does a Taylor lineout throw have to be to avoid being called against??? Always said NB was a plodder under the whistle but, he'll probably get away with this one because of the speed, the accuracy, the brutality and the physicality displayed, by both teams.
Old Bugger
Guest
Great win HL.......and the brutal tackling from your boys....incredible cos it wasn't once in a blue moon occurrence but nearly every second tackle. Luke W may not be everyone's cup of tea at No8 but gee, his tackles will certainly lift any player let alone the whole side, to greater heights when you see one of his bone-crushers. Just ask Taufua.....he felt it.
Old Bugger
Guest
Well, they certainly didn't miss having Marshall calling on TV. I've never heard so much bleating from him than what we experienced last night. Someone please, get rid of this chump from calling any further Sader's matches for fear that his rose-tinted glasses may crack, under the weight of his bleats. Oh and btw Faith, what game were you watching. This one was just brutal and physical and any match that contains those key ingredients, becomes a war not a running game. Me thinks you may be twinkling too many toes looking for a pirouette rather than putting in a bit of shoulder and grunt.
Dave
Guest
Really. Since half the team are injured, bit of a silly statement.
Faith
Guest
Good but not a classic by any means at least not in attack and game flow. The Landers only got their game going when the Saders tired in the last 20 mins. Crotty and Whitelock really missed by the Saders ...
Highlander
Guest
he was good eh playing for an offshore contract next year I think good to see him back at top form
Sylvester
Guest
I agree that both teams were smashing each other. More experienced Crusaders sides usually absorb this pressure more effectively. A lot of plays seemed rushed and under thought. Hunt and Drummond both have weak kicking games so they really struggled to gain territory.
Machpants
Roar Guru
Or Elliott Dixon, he's back!
Lara
Guest
Great derby, Nice touches from both teams.
Machpants
Roar Guru
I had sympathy for the landers then and sympathy for the Saders here. I'm a canes fan, so not invested either way. It sucks when any team can't field at least a good proportion of their best
Highla
Guest
You’re a hard marker Sylvester Pressure at the gain line like we saw tonightwas immense, lots of those errors were forced - having a faceful of Luke Whitelock or Liam Squire will do that to most
Sylvester
Guest
The team of two games ago, you mean?
Sylvester
Guest
Yeah, I assume game plan wasn't drop a lot of ball, miss a lot of tackles and concede crucial penalties, but that's how it played out. They looked quite rudderless out there, which is the concern. Not unexpected given the players they have out, but they need to adapt to situation in a hurry.
Mike
Guest
Congrats to the Highlanders on a good win, even adding to the score with a man in the bin. As for the Crusaders, they no longer are the team of old.
Highlander
Guest
Sorry mate, no sympathy, when the Cru nicked this game off us at the end last year we had 15 injured. What a game though. Crusaders probably still favourites for the whole things.
moaman
Guest
Exciting game.The touchies could do with a visit to a reputable optometrist but all in all a great game to watch.
Machpants
Roar Guru
Intense, test match level game. Very enjoyable to watch. Landers deserved the win, Saders missing the direction of mo'unga and hard yakka of captain Whitelock. All their props and Read and Crotty .... And really the kicking from Drummond was so poor it cost them one try and a heap of field position - I can't see him starting again.
Highlander
Guest
Not a all, Razor came with an excellent game plan
Highlander
Guest
I hope this video wings it way to World Rugby super fast. In a game this quick Briant tried to the ref the new breakdown laws but give the pace of the game simply ignored ever other laws when the ball was on the ground, complete free for all, and a mess in short. But what a game, so quick, the Highlandergainlime D is outrageous. Must say I did enjoy Mitch Hunts little error at the end, This year, Farmlands Cup preseason, Bravehearts beat the Knights a couple of weeks ago ( haven’t heard today’s ) and now the big dogs come out on the top of the local derby, sooooooo gooooood.