Sevu Reece scored two tries as the Crusaders stamped their authority on the Super Rugby competition, defeating the Lions 36-10.
In cool conditions in Christchurch, the visiting Lions made five changes to the starting line-up that beat the Chiefs in Hamilton last week.
Robbie Coetzee, Marnus Schoeman and captain Kwagga Smith came into the forwards, while in the backs, Nic Groom replaced Ross Cronje at halfback and Shaun Reynolds came in at fly-half for Gianni Lombard.
The Crusaders also made five changes to their starting side from Round 9. Codie Taylor, Quinten Strange, Billy Harmon, Mitchell Drummond and George Bridge replaced Andrew Makalio, Scott Barrett, Matt Todd, Bryn Hall and Josh Goodhue respectively.
The Crusaders made their way into the Lions’ half early, courtesy of Lionel Mapoe conceding an offside penalty in the first minute.
Right winger Sevu Reece then played a pivotal role in Braydon Ennor securing the first points of the game.
Looking to execute an attacking line-out, the Crusaders handed the ball to Reece, who delivered an excellent pass over the head of his defender to put outside centre Ennor away for the first try of the match. Richie Mo’unga added the extras.
Another penalty by the Lions allowed Mo’unga to stretch the Crusaders’ lead to ten.
The Johannesburg men hit back nine minutes later, though, when two consecutive penalties conceded by the Crusaders let Elton Jantjies close the deficit.
The boot of Elton Jantjies helped keep the Lions in touch. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
The Lions showed some ticker as they survived a 27-phase onslaught from the hosts before a knock-on ended the sequence of play.
Both sides then traded penalties until five minutes before half-time.
Reece showed some incredible strength. The Crusaders were on the 22, attacking the Lions down the right wing, when Reece burst through.
He proceeded to barge through Kwagga Smith before sliding over the try line. Mo’unga knocked over the conversion and the home side went into the break up 17-3.
The second half started with the visitors repelling a strong Crusaders maul and turning the ball over inches from their own line. But the Canterbury outfit found a way and a double-strike from George Bridge left the Lions struggling 28 points behind.
Hooker Codie Taylor looped around the back of a line-out and a neat inside ball left a gaping hole for Bridge to stroll in for his first of the night.
His second try came just two minutes later when Ennor sparked a brilliant Saders counter-attack.
They broke down the left wing and Ennor made his way up to the 22 before his pass to Bridge handed the 24-year-old his second try of the match.
Mo’unga added both conversions as the Crusaders threatened to embarrass the Johannesburg side.
The Lions found a way to inspire some hope, though, when fullback Ruan Combrinck snagged an intercept pass from Richie Mo’unga and outpaced his opponents to give his team-mates a glimmer of hope.
But a second Reece try well and truly put the game to bed.
Winger Sevu Reece crossed for two tries in the Crusaders’ defeat of the Lions. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
Reece, who had already managed a try in the first half, showed his speed from 30 metres out to beat replacement No.9 Ross Cronje to his own grubber kick and dot down for the Crusaders’ fifth try of the match.
Mo’unga was unable to add the extras from the right touchline but the Crusaders’ had amounted an unassailable 26-point lead, recording a 36-10 victory in a rematch of the 2018 grand final.
Sevu Reece had an outstanding game with two tries, nine tackle busts and 104 run metres, helping his side to a fourth straight win.
The away side were unable to combat the irresistible force that was the Crusaders, and the loss sees them with just one win from their three-game overseas tour.
They have the bye in Round 12 before taking on the Waratahs at Ellis Park.
In Round 12, the Crusaders take on another South African side in the form of the Sharks before facing the Bulls and Stormers away from home then wrapping up the season back home in New Zealand.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Gee if you want 'down time' to your try watching American football.
CUW
Roar Rookie
nope - Sevu does not have danciing feet :)
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
Very similar to Nehe MS in 2015
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Thanks, RT. I must confess I did enjoy that. Winning breeds confidence and smiles. We’ve seen a few more smiles on the Blues players this year but everything seems a lot easier when you string victories together. You score lots of meat pies, you get that sparkle in the eyes. The Crusaders are enjoying their rugby and that reflects in their performances. When the pressure to win is not so acutely felt, you try things and they invariably come off.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Yes, fair enough, CUW. But they’re not Crusaders. ;)
CUW
Roar Rookie
@ Kia Kaha am sure simillar launches happened in recent past i recall Laumape sending an aussy ( was it Genia) and Nonu sending some one a couple of weeks back its all angles and physics :D
CUW
Roar Rookie
He is fast but not yet ready for test rugger. got to say he is very strong for a small wing - just like NOwell of England. needs to play bit more super rugger. dont forget - he plays for crusaders . put him in a weaker team and then see how he does. its like what Steven Hansen said about Mouanga - " he plays behind a Rolls Royce pack ! "
CUW
Roar Rookie
Read is playing different now - doing more of a tight 8 as opposed to his ranger days. I think he is fine - much better than last year. Addition of Whetu Douglas to the pack has reduced the work load for Read. Franks , Barrett , Todd, Goodhue missing and also 3rd choice props . they can only get better But the ethos of crusaders is what shines thru few months ago Reece lost a contract , noone wanted him in super rugger , stepped out of contention for MIter 10 player of the year. what he does is nothing new - he scored i think 14 trys in miter 10 before the problems.
CUW
Roar Rookie
He was 13 for under 20 in 2017 out of the line 4 are with Crusaders now :D Eri Enari Tiaan Falcon Caleb Clarke Orbyn Ledger Braydon Ennor Tima Faingaanuku Will Jordan
Spanners
Guest
Reece was awesome and definitely a player I would pay to watch. My main memory of the match though was this: Error, scrum, collapse, reset scrum, collapse, lecture from the ref, reset scrum, collapse, penalty. I can't recall ever watching a match where they were so consistently atrocious. Ball-parking it, there were 20 scrums leading up to the 73rd minute that were collapsed and penalised (or reset two or three times and then penalised). This was every single scrum. From the 73rd minute, all scrums were stable and resulted in channel ball to the half. Was this a deliberate tactic by the Crusaders? Or by the Lions?? Who knows, but neither front row were playing within the spirit of the game. I simply can't understand how the code can survive so much down time through a match. I would have cheered a yellow card to the entire front row of both teams.
One Eye
Roar Rookie
Kwagga was lucky Reece scored the try - after getting a personal view of the earths curvature he was on his back on the ground as Reece was enroute to the line and tackled himand thats why he stumbled but on the ground is out of the game and should have been a penalty try and yellow card if he hadn't scored.
warugbynut
Guest
Can you imagine an AB side with Rieko on one wing and Reece on the other.
Jacko
Guest
Geez Ennor looks at home in the 13 position. I thought in Goodhue NZ rugby had found the next Smith and Goodhue would be the ABs 13 for years to come, but Ennor looks to be just as solid in defence and perhaps better in attack. He looks to have a better step and fend and he certainly looks to be a bit faster than Goodhue. What a choice the selectors have ahead of them. Perhaps not this year but in the near future for sure.
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
Why does Read need to be full speed already . It's a long season this year and I reckon he will time it perfectly.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Congratulations Kia Kaha, clinical and decisive performance. Yes Reece was good but so too were several other Crusaders. Of slight concern (at least for me) is that Kieran Read is taking some time to get up to speed. Lions are not the side of old, and Warren Whiteley’s unfortunate run with injuries has caused and hurt the Lions performances
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
I always thought Fruean’s don’t argue on Piri would be tough to beat. But Reece got the ball early and Kwagga had time to line him up. But he accelerated so quickly and Kwagga was launched so far into the air, he screened an inflight movie before he touched down. Matele’s offload early in the season was one of the best I’ve seen. In fact, I’m still not sure how he did it. But with his experience gone as well as Tamanivalu’s, Reece has slotted in so quickly and effectively that their loss hasn’t been felt at all with Ennor and Havili able to also cover centre.