The Crusaders have won nine of their last 10 Super Rugby games against the Hurricanes (L1) including their last three, and haven’t lost away to the Canes since Round 4, 2018 (29-19).
The Crusaders have won their last three away games against the Hurricanes in Super Rugby after having lost five on the bounce; their last such clash ended in a 30-27 win to the Crusaders in Round 7, 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa.
- Scott Robertson’s side has won 12 of their last 13 Super Rugby games (L1), including their last two on the bounce; they have won their last six consecutive games when playing away from home.
- The Hurricanes have lost their last two Super Rugby matches, as many as they lost in their previous nine games (W7, L2); the last time they went on a longer losing run, was a three-match span in April 2021.
- The Crusaders have won each of their last two Super Rugby away matches against fellow New Zealand teams by the same scoreline (34-19); the Saders have never previously scored the same amount of points in more than two consecutive fixtures.
- The 10-time champions have retained possession on 24 kicks in play this season, the joint-most of any team (also Brumbies – 24) – the Hurricanes, however, (9) have logged the fewest of any team.
- The Crusaders have scored five tries from mauls, the joint-most by any team (also NSW Waratahs – 5); the Hurricanes (0) are one of two teams yet to score a try via this method (Fijian Drua).
- Jason Holland’s charges have made dominant contact on 31 carries per game this campaign, the most of any team in the competition, and seven per game more than the Crusaders (24).
Players to watch
- Ardie Savea has made 15 tackle breaks this season, more than any other forward, and more than double Crusaders’ best forward Cullen Grace (6).
- Tom Christie has made 110 tackles in 2022, 25 more than any other player and more than double the Hurricanes’ best James Blackwell (48).
Match detail
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1.00: PEEEP! We are underway at the Cake Tin.
3.00: PENALTY! Jordie Barrett opens the scoring.
7.00: It’s all Crusaders in the early stages as they dominated territory and possession.
9.00: TRY! David Havili goes through a big gap left by Jamie Booth before combining with Cullen Grace, who puts Will Jordan away for the game’s first try. 3-5
10.00: CONVERSION! Richie Mo’unga adds the extras. 3-7
12.00: TRY! The Hurricanes hit back through Du’Plessis Kirifi after Josh Moorby’s break opened the gap for Jackson Garden-Bachop to send Kirifi over for five. 8-7
13.00: MISS! Barrett’s conversion attempt hits the post. 8-7
15.00: Crusaders are continuing to dominate; however, the Hurricanes’ defending has been superb.
18.00: Pouri Rakete-Stones gives away a penalty at the ruck.
20.00: Mo’unga’s touch-finder is terrible, it does not go out, and allows the Canes to clear.
23.00: Wonderful defending by Jamie Booth stops Tom Christie in his tracks. It’s all Saders still, the Canes cannot get out of their half.
25.00: The players have their hands on their heads and hips; this Super Rugby game has been fast and furious.
26.00: TRY! Mo’unga kicked to the corner, and the Crusaders went wide off the top of the lineout and quickly through the phases to Braydon Ennor. Mitchell Drummond played Cullen Grace to Richie Mo’unga to Codie Taylor to Quinten Strange, who cut inside Josh Moorby to score. 8-12
28.00: MISS! The kick is well wide. 8-12
29.00: Crusaders in front of the kicker, Barrett kicks to the corner.
30.00: TRY! From the lineout, Ardie Savea went close, and the Canes recycled to the right through Booth and Garden-Bachop. The flyhalf threw a long skip-pass to Josh Moorby, who cut inside Quinten Strange and David Havili to put his team back in front. 13-12
32.00: CONVERSION! Barrett’s touchline kick is good. 15-12
35.00: TRY! A sustained six-phase attack took the visitors into the opposition’s 5m, and under the posts. Mitchell Drummond switched play to Richie Mo’unga on the left. The flyhalf sent a long, floated cut-out pass to George Bridge on the wing to score by the flag. 15-17
36.00: MISS! Mo’unga misses again. 15-17
39.00: Holland’s men have the last chance with an attacking scrum outside the Saders’ 22.
40.00: All the hard work comes to nought when the visitors knock on before the hosts do the same.
43.00: A patient last attack (21 phases) by Holland’s charges ends when the home team get a penalty for a deliberate knockdown by Mitchell Drummond. Barrett calls for the tee.
45.00: PENALTY! Barrett knocks over the goal. 18-17
The halftime score was Hurricanes 15 Crusaders 17
41.00: PEEEP! We are back underway in New Zealand.
43.00: The bus is full! Julian Savea goes through Bridge, bumps off Mo’unga before being brought down by Havili. The Crusaders can’t stop the momentum, and give Barrett a shot at goal.
45.00: PENALTY! Barrett extends. 21-17
46.00: A poor exit by the home team leads to another Crusadeers’ penalty. Mo’unga goes to the corner.
46.00: TRY! Too easy for the Crusaders as Ethan Blackadder crashes through three defenders to give his team the lead. 21-22
47.00: CONVERSION! Mo’unga could not miss. 21-24
50.00: Nothing comes from Barrett’s 50/20; however, Bridge drops a bomb inside his 22 to give the Hurricanes an attcking scrum.
53.00: Hurricanes are in trouble at the minute as the Crusaders continue to pile on the pressure.
57.00: Both coaches are wringing the changes, and the game has become a stop-start affair, with errors creaping into the game.
60.00: Crusaders won a turnover and counter-attacked into the 22, but poor handling by Sevu Reece sees the Hurricanes counter-attack themselves.
62.00: a long series of plays, counter-attack after counter ends when Julian Savea boots his team into a great position with a 50/22.
64.00: Cam Roigard’s sloppy handling costs his team a good chance at points as the reserve knocks on near the Crusaders’ try line.
66.00: Richie Mo’unga counter-attacked from his 22 before putting Sevu Reece away down the wing. The ball is switched from right to left, several players handle before Will Jordan almost sends Codie Taylor over.
67.00: George Bower gives away a relieving penalty in the scrum for the home team to clear a desperate situation.
70.00: It’s end-to-end in Wellington; it’s a cracking game.
72.00: Ardie Savea, having another great game, wins a turnover but also loses the ball forward later in the move.
75.00: NO TRY! Tom Christie goes over in the corner, but the try is chalked off because of Ricky Jackson’s knock-on under the posts in the buildup. 21-24
77.00: Scott Barrett concedes a penalty to allow Barrett to clear to halfway.
79.00: A last scrum inside their half allows the Hurricanes a final attempt to win this classic clash.
81.00: Cullen Grace concedes a penalty at the breakdown, just outside the Crusaders’ 22. Ardie Savea tells Barrett to boot to the corner.
82.00: Nothing comes from the attacking lineout after the Canes brought down the set-piece. Scrum, Crusaders: Game Over!
FULL TIME
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The final score is Hurricanes 21 (18) Crusaders 24 (17)
Scorers
Hurricanes
Tries – Kirifi, Moorby
Pen – J. Barrett (3)
Con – J. Barrett
Drop –
Cards –
Crusaders
Tries – Jordan, Strange, Bridge, Blackadder
Pen –
Con – Mo’unga (2)
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Ref 1: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 2: Dan Waenga
TMO: Chris Hart
Teams
Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Jamie Booth, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 James O’Reilly, 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones.
Replacements: 16 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17 Pasilio Tosi, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Caleb Delany, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Bailyn Sullivan, 23 Ruben Love.
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Jackson, 17 George Bower, 18 Tamaiti Williams, 19 Zach Gallagher, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Leicester Fainga’anuku.
