Crusaders
33
Match Complete
Highlanders
13
| M. Drummond |  | 74 | ||
| S. Havili |  | 73 | ||
| 62 | | J. Nareki | ||
| B. Hall | | 33 | ||
| G. Bridge | | 31 | ||
| B. Hall | | 26 | ||
| B. Ennor | | 25 | ||
| 22 | | M. Collins | ||
| T. Christie | | 19 | ||
| D. Havili | | 14 | ||
| C. Taylor | | 13 | ||
| 5 |  | J. Ioane |
| 5 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 0 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Crusaders will welcome the Highlanders to Christchurch in a New Zealand derby to kick off Round 4 of Super Rugby 2020. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of what promises to be an exciting match starting from 5:05pm (AEDT).
The reigning champions will return to the place where they won the title last season as they look to build some momentum after a good win against conference rivals the Blues last week.
They are pretty settled in terms of line-up with just three changes being made by Scott Robertson – all down to injury. Will Jordan and Oli Jager are out this week but the major loss is skipper Scott Barrett, who will be given some time to recover from his knee injury with Robertson using the bye in Round 5 as a chance to give his leader a couple of rounds off.
While Barrett’s replacement Luke Romano will be a reliable workhorse, the second row will definitely be a step down compared to the usual world-class Barrett-Sam Whitelock combination. It will be interesting to see if this is an area where the Highlanders look to test the champions.
The Crusaders looked their usual controlled, dominant selves last week against the Blues and will want another solid performance against a conference rival as they look to chase down table leaders, the Chiefs.
Standing in the way is a Highlanders team who would have been very happy with their 84th-minute win over the Brumbies last week. Picking up an away win against one of the teams predicted to go deep in the competition is not to be ignored, and while the team from the deep south have lost a lot of talent since last year, they still have the ability to worry opposition.
A lot will depend upon how well the halves partnership performs for the Highlanders. Aaron Smith and Mitch Hunt need to have good games and if Hunt can leverage his four years at the Crusaders then the Highlanders will be in a better position.
The suspended Patelesio Tomkinson is replaced by Kirisi Kuridrani – brother of Nemani Nadolo and cousin of Tevita Kuridrani – and Rob Thompson is back from injury and will wear start in the centres.
Prediction
Coach Aaron Mauger would love to get one over on his old club but he knows as much as the rest of us that the Crusaders are firm favourites for this one. The Highlanders will need to start fast and get ahead of the champs if they stand a chance.
Crusaders by 12.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 5:05pm (AEDT) on Friday.
Game information
Where: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
When: 5:05pm (AEDT)
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Odds: Crusaders $1.10, Highlanders $7.00
Teams
Crusaders
15. David Havili (c), 14. Sevu Reece, 13. Braydon Ennor, 12. Jack Goodhue, 11. George Bridge, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 9. Bryn Hall, 8. Tom Sanders, 7. Tom Christie, 6. Cullen Grace, 5. Mitchell Dunshea, 4. Luke Romano, 3. Michael Alaalatoa, 2. Codie Taylor, 1. Joe Moody. Replacements: 16. Andrew Makalio, 17. Isi Tu’ungafasi, 18. George Bower, 19. Ethan Roots, 20. Sione Havili, 21. Michell Drummond, 22. Brett Cameron, 23. Leicester Fainga’anuku
Highlanders
15. Michael Collins, 14. Kirisi Kuridrani, 13. Rob Thompson, 12. Josh Ioane, 11. Jona Nareki, 10. Mitch Hunt, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 7. James Lentjes (c), 6. Shannon Frizell, 5. Josh Dickson, 4. Jesse Parete, 3. Siate Tokolahi, 2. Liam Coltman, 1. Ayden Johnstone. Replacements: 16. Ash Dixon, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Conan O’Donnell, 19. Jack Whetton, 20. Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 21. Kayne Hammington, 22. Teihorangi Walden, 23. Josh McKay
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill, James Doleman
TMO: Chris Hart
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
I also went for 22 pts.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Strange game whose results hardly tell its tale. The game was won as much by the Saders defense as much as the Clan's inability to finish promising forays into their opponent's 22. A Smith also made some terrible decisions by trying grubbers when he had an extra man. If the Clan had finished off 2-3 chances and managed some one on one tackles this would have been a fiercely fought contest. Hunt also was nowhere to be seen at 10 for the Clan ...
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I picked only 15 differential. Landers broke my heart :happy:
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
Same here, also picked 22 pts.
yeah, that’s about right, my results have been all over the place
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I picked the 20 points exactly. But based on past weeks I think it just confirms that even a broken clock is right twice a day
Oliver Matthews
Expert
FINAL SCORE Crusaders: 33 Highlanders: 13 The Crusaders have beaten their Southern Island rivals the Highlanders 33 points to 13 in a game where they always looked comfortable despite some hard work from the Highlanders. In the opening phases of the game the visitors really took it to the Crusaders and threatened to score an early try. They missed out but got an early penalty to lead 3-0. This was pretty much how the rest of the game went for the Highlanders - plenty of periods of pressure and enough opportunities but they couldn't convert them into decent points. As the first half passed, the Crusaders started to get into the game and they found a rich seam of points from attacking the Highlanders right side defence. Try after try was leaked through this area and in just 18 minutes the Crusaders went from zero points to four tries. When Shannon Frizell was sin binned early in the second half it looked like the Crusaders would score again at least once and kill off the game. But the Highlanders never stopped fighting and even with just 14 men they created genuine chances to score. Aaron Smith - who is so often the driving force behind his team - created and butchered chances but never stopped running hard at the defence and causing them issues. During the yellow card the Highlanders didn't concede a single point and it took either side until the 64th minute to score the first points of the second half. Jona Nareki dotted down in the corner for the Highlanders and for a brief moment there was some hope - 15 minutes left and 13 points behind. However the Crusaders kept working hard in defence and took the sting out of the Highlanders come back attempts. With 5 minutes to go they wrapped up the game with a nice peel move off the back of an attacking line out and the game was done. The Highlanders will be disappointed with the performance - yes they were never expected to win but they created chances that they couldn't finish and they kicked away possession far too much. If they had done those two things better then who knows what could have happened. The Crusaders keep rolling on. They still seem to be ahead of all other teams in the competition but there were a few moments today were they forced things a bit too much and they'll want to tighten that up. Loads more rugby on The Roar this weekend so make sure you get involved! Thanks for all your comments and questions and see you soon!
Predicted a twenty two point win. :silly:
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Guest
Ruthless Crusaders too good.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
The clock ticks down and the hooter sounds but the Highlanders keep coming! Could they end with a high? They break down their left side and look like they could be in here!! Good covering defence though from the Crusaders and the attack is snuffed out. The Highlanders try and force the final pass in a desperate attempt to keep the ball alive but it goes loose and the Crusaders are able to kick it out and wrap up the game. Crusaders: 33 Highlanders: 13 Time: 80:19
bigbaz
Roar Guru
I swear the Crusaders have 20 men on the field at times. The Highlanders did well to get past them at times.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
That was close! Jack Goodhue had made a nice run through a gap in the Highlanders defence but his off load back inside went to ground. Highlanders scrum about 30m from their own line and the Crusaders put it under a lot of pressure. But the visitors get the ball out and still have it just inside their own half. Crusaders: 33 Highlanders: 13 Time: 79:19
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Crusaders run it up to their own 10m line and keep coming at the Highlanders. They've also got a penalty advantage....oh no the ref has said that's over now. Crusaders: 33 Highlanders: 13 Time: 78:19
Oliver Matthews
Expert
FREE KICK!! Oh that's frustrating for the Highlanders - the hooker faked the throw line or hesitated and that's cost them a chance to attack the Crusaders. Home side call for the scrum. Crusaders: 33 Highlanders: 13 Time: 77:19
Oliver Matthews
Expert
PENALTY!! Highlanders get a penalty as their player is tackled in the air as he went up to claim a Crusaders clearing kick. They kick to touch and will have the line out about 25m out from the Crusaders line. Crusaders: 33 Highlanders: 13 Time: 76:00
74
73
Oliver Matthews
Expert
CONVERSION!!! Michell Drummond slots this conversion. Crusaders: 33 Highlanders: 13 Time: 74:50
Oliver Matthews
Expert
TRY!!! Sione Havili is in! They peeled off the back of the line out and Havili had a couple of team mates driving him on and the defence just crumbled away as they crashed over from a few metres out. Crusaders: 31 Highlanders: 13 Time: 73:50
Oliver Matthews
Expert
PENALTY!! Crusaders kick to touch and will have another line out about 10m out. Crusaders: 26 Highlanders: 13 Time: 72:50