Crusaders
32
Match Complete
Highlanders
22
| R. Mo'unga |  | 75 | ||
| B. Ennor |  | 74 | ||
| G. Bridge | | 63 | ||
| R. Mo'unga | | 62 | ||
| G. Bridge | | 60 | ||
| 53 | | M. Collins | ||
| R. Mo'unga |  | 40 | ||
| R. Mo'unga | | 28 | ||
| 25 | | J. Ioane | ||
| 23 | | J. Nareki | ||
| 21 | | J. Ioane | ||
| R. Mo'unga | | 13 | ||
| R. Mo'unga | | 12 | ||
| 2 | | J. Ioane | ||
| 1 | | S. Frizell |
| 4 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Crusaders go head-to-head with the Highlanders to wrap up the penultimate round of Super Rugby Aotearoa. Join The Roar for live scores from 1:35pm (AEST).
The Crusaders are just one win away from being crowned the inaugural champions of the Aotearoa competition. Do the job over the Highlanders today and it’ll be their fourth trophy in as many years.
The Highlanders are out of title contention following last week’s loss to the Blues, but will have the support of every rugby fan outside of Christchurch hoping for a defining last round next weekend. A win for the visitors is the only way the season stays alive right to the end.
Unlikely as that is, the men from Dunedin gave the Saders a mighty scare when they met five weeks ago, a late burst by the ladder-leaders blowing the scoreline out beyond a fair reflection of the match.
Of course, this match will be played in Christchurch, and the Crusaders welcome back two key players in Brayden Ennor and prop Joe Moody. Josh Ioane was out injured in the Round 4 clash between these two sides, but he’ll line up at no.10 today, a tough ask going up against the in-form Richie Mo’unga.
Game information
Kick-off: 1:35pm (AEST)
Venue: Orangetheory Stadium
TV: Fox Sports
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Teams
Crusaders
1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor (c) 3. Michael Alaalatoa 4. Samuel Whitelock 5. Quinten Strange 6. Tom Sanders 7. Tom Christie 8. Whetukamokamo Douglas 9. Bryn Hall 10. Richie Mo’unga 11. George Bridge 12. Jack Goodhue 13. Braydon Ennor 14. Sevu Reece 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Andrew Makalio 17. George Bower 18. Oliver Jager 19. Luke Romano 20. Sione Havili 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Brett Cameron 23. Leicester Fainga’anuku
Highlanders
1. Ayden Johnstone 2. Ash Dixon (c) 3. Jeff Thwaites 4. Pari Pari Parkinson 5. Jack Whetton 6. Shannon Frizell 7. Dillon Hunt 8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u 9. Aaron Smith (c) 10. Josh Ioane 11. Jona Nareki 12. Patelesio Tomkinson 13. Michael Collins 14. Josh McKay 15. Mitch Hunt
Bench: 16. Liam Coltman 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Siate Tokolahi 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit 20. Jesse Parete 21. Folau Fakatava 22. Ngatungane Punivai 23. Teariki Ben-Nicholas
CUW
Roar Rookie
I am appalled again by the lack of so called player safety actions from the reffing team. pre-corona , any contact with the head meant a direct red card irrespective of " thoughts ' = which the jabbering Marshall so eloquently described ( didnot know he read minds ...!! duh ) there was only a yellow and it seems no further action was taken. irrespective of the actions of the player and any thoughts he had in his mind - the Prop was so badly concussed he had to be carried off. where is the player safety and decision making ffs ??? i saw somewhat simillar no action when caleb Clarke dived on the back of Alimalo after he had scored the try - he broke his shoulder and will be out for this year. i saw somewhat simillar no action when Brad Webber pushed air borne Sevu Reece on to the hoardings outside playing area. luckily he was not hurt. i understand any injuries while playing the game - it happens in contact sport but when deliberate foulplay results in injury - there must be some action to deter repetitions. just think what will happen to the prop Olie now - who knows maybe he is so badly concussed , he may not play again !!! all this player safety and actions and talk is rubbish from everybody - when actions are not in line with the published Laws. and in addition - what about those guys who got red carded when their arm slipped up , or a player ducked into a tackle , in legitimate play?? i have seen plenty of those , specially in European rugger. where is the consistency? in a pre-corona match Sio was yellowed for a high tackle by Gardner i think . that time he said player ducked....
CUW
Roar Rookie
if they select a team today Joe Moody Codie Taylor Offa Tuungafaasi Sam Whitelock Patrick Tuipulotu Shannon Frizzel Sam Cane Marino Tuu Aaron Smith Ritchie Mounga Caleb Clarke Jordie Barrett Anton Linert Brown Sevu Reece Beauden Barrett Dane Coles Nepo Laulala ? Pari Pari Parkinson Akira Ioane Ardie Savea TJ Perenara Reiko Ioane
CUW
Roar Rookie
not dummy runner - they did it all game . sometimes they got the centers sometimes they did not.
CUW
Roar Rookie
@ Rugby Tragic Blues and Highlanders have the two best 3rd rows. all 6 should be in a AB squad but one or two will be unlucky...
CUW
Roar Rookie
@ Highlander i was not sure why Whetton was taken off and not Pari Pari - coz it looked like 3P was injured and hobbling. was it worth sacrificing him for a non existing cause? after all he looks like the most probable 3rd second rower for all blacks. also i know nextt o nothing about coaching - but i wonder why JOsh Macay is not playing full back - which was his normal position as i recall at under 20. with that speed - i think he is even faster than the now older Beauden barrett ( last week he cahsed him down ) - he could play like a Chris cullen. else NZ shud look at taking him into the 7S team for next olympics. he is seriosly quick.
CUW
Roar Rookie
commentators = specially big mouth Marshall , who went inside Sio's head and proclaimed what he intended to do when shoulder charging the prop, every bit of thinking word to word !!! i wonder if he listens to himself later on and wonders what the hell was i saying?? coz that was rubbish of the worst kind. how the hell can anyone think what another person intended to do ? mind reading is a very rare talent....
CUW
Roar Rookie
Chiefs lost two games due to bad reffing and they may have been close against the crusaders as well. some of those decisions were just crazy. when it rains on u it pours ....
Scotty P
Roar Rookie
The same Chiefs that put 50 on the Tahs...
Paulo
Roar Rookie
24-0 to the Brumbies wasn’t great, let’s hope they put it together for the remaining games. Still not as bad as the hiding the Reds just got by the Tahs though, so there’s always that.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Bit like the Force really.
Coker
Roar Rookie
To be fair, Ioane himself has said how much he's learnt about the 10 role from playing at 12.
Coker
Roar Rookie
Broken arm unfortunately — probably out until November.
Coker
Roar Rookie
Well, apart from Smith, Barrett and Lienert-Brown... And it was actually the forwards who got "ragdolled by England".
Coker
Roar Rookie
Except it was the Highlander's foot in touch (same coloured boots...)
Paulo
Roar Rookie
The Cheifs have been competitive, just haven’t got over the line at the end of 80mins. They didn’t get blown away in any games from what I remember.
OtakiCraig
Roar Rookie
and the lions, crusaders that is
OtakiCraig
Roar Rookie
nah, dump gatland
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Pretty good competition over in NZ with only 4 competitive sides. Maybe they should look at or relegate the Chiefs.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Guest
As a Highlanders supporter, I have to agree. The cliche is "didn't take their chances" but I suspect the mental thing of fatigue and self-belief was cutting in. Maybe the Highlanders need a Gilbert Enoka. Anyway, a big change over the season for them: they started as Aaron Smith and his 22 assistants and they finish as a team. Fine job.
Double Agent
Guest
Around the 60 or 65 minute mark the Highlanders were inside their 22 and I was yelling at the TV "KICK IT" but they bumbled around and eventually lost possession and gave up points. That's where they lost the game.