The Sunwolves have played the Crusaders twice in Super rugby since 2017 and the Sunwolves lost both matches.
Both matches were played in Christchurch so the Crusaders had home advantage.
- The Crusaders have won both of their previous two Super Rugby games against the Sunwolves by a combined score of 83-14; however, this will be the first time that the Japanese side have hosted the Crusaders.
- The Sunwolves have lost four games and conceded 216 points this Super Rugby season since their Round 1 win against the Rebels,managing to score just 51 points in reply in that period.
- The Crusaders have led at halftime in each of their last six Super Rugby games played away from home; however, they’ve managed to pick up only three wins in that stretch (D1, L2).
- The Sunwolves have missed 38 tackles per game this Super Rugby campaign –nine per game more than any other team and endure the lowest tackle success rate of any outfit in the 2020 campaign (76.4%).
- Codie Taylor (Crusaders) has made 40 successful lineout throws from 42 attempts in the 2020 Super Rugby season, his 95% success rate is the second highest of any player to have made at least 10 throws.
Match detail
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The Sunwolves kick off and the match is underway.
The Crusaders win the first penalty of the match and they kick for touch.
3.00: The ball is knocked on so the Crusaders have a scrum. They win the scrum but knock on.
4.00: The Crusaders get back into an attacking position but the Sunwolves turn the ball over and kick the ball to safety.
8.00: The Crusaders are keeping the Sunwolves pinned back in their half.
10.00: Penalty to the Crusaders for offside. The Crusaders kick for touch.
12.00: The Crusaders win the line out and kick across field but the ball goes out. They are called back for a penalty.
14.00: The Crusaders take the line out which they win. The Crusaders move the ball to the posts but they can#t get over and the Sunwolves win the scrum put in.
16.00: The Sunwolves win a penalty from the scrum. They kick for touch and take the line out.
18.00: The Crusaders turn the ball over and start their attack from near the half way line. They get quick ball and go wide where George Bridge offloads to Tom Christie who runs in the first TRY!.
19.00: Brett Cameron adds the conversion.
24.00: The Crusaders defend the Sunwolves attacks in the middle of the field and when the ball goes dead the Crusaders get the put in.
28.00: The Sunwolve sgo through 5 phases and gain about 28m. They win a penalty and run the ball and then kick to the corner.
30.00: The Sunwolves win the line out and attack in the Crusaders 22. They go for the line and Ben Hyne dives for the line, reaches out and scores. TRY!
32.00: Garth April slots the conversion to level the scores.
35.00; The Crusaders look to hit back immediately and they work the ball up to the 5m line. The Crusaders suck the Sunwolves in and then go wide where Sevu Reece goes over in the corner.
37.00: Brett Cameron slots the conversion and the Crusaders lead 7-14.
40.00: The siren sounds as the Crusaders have a scrum on their 5m line. Crusaders win the scrum and kick the ball into touch. It’s half time.
The half time score was Sunwolves 7 Crusaders 14
The Crusaders kick off and the second half is underway.
41.00: The Crusaders start with a new intensity and power. They regain the ball and attack and get to the 5m line. The Crusaders go through 4 phases and Luke Romano is driven over the line and scores. TRY!
42.00: Brett Cameron slots the conversion. 7-21
44.00; The Crusaders scrum powers through the Sunwolbves and they win a penalty from it. Crusaders kick for touch.
46.00: The Crusaders win the line out and start going through the phases but then they win a penalty for a player leaving his feet. They kick for touch.
51.00: The Sunwolves have a line out but the Crusaders win it and run it. The Crusaders kick it away to Garth April who makes some ground. The ball changes sides and April gets the ball again and after slipping through the Crusaders backs he chips ahead. The Crusaders get back and secure the ball.
53.00: The Sunwolves have the ball and are going through the phases – out nothing Garth April slices through again and races for the line and scores. TRY!
55.00: April converts his try. 14-21.
56.00; The Crusaders move the ball down the line and Reece gets it and beats Sunwolves forward Michael Stolberg and uses his pace to get away and scores. TRY!
Cameron adds the conversion.
63.00: The Crusaders move the ball down the line and through the hands as it goes wide to Sione Havili as the Sunwolve run out of defenders and he races away to score. TRY!
64.00: Cameron adds the conversion and the Crusaders are on track for a bonus point win. 14-35.
65.00: The TMO is called upon to review some foul play. Hugh Roach responds to a tackle by elbowing Sunwolves player Hencus van Wyk in the head so he is shown a RED card.
68.00: The Sunwolves attack on the Crusaders 5m line. They go wide and the ball is knocked down by Sevu Reece. The TMO reviews it and Seve Reece is yellow carded for an intentional knock down. The Crusaders are down to 13 players!
69.00: The Sunwolves attack on the Crusaders line but George Bridge puts in a try saving tackle and the Crusaders manager to run the ball to the half way line.
73.00; The Sunwolves are trying to keep the ball in hand but they knock on which gives the Crusaders some attacking ball. The Crusaders start moving the ball through the phases.
75.00: The Crusaders go through almost 20 phases and the breakthrough comes and Braydon Ennor races away to the line and scores. TRY!
76.00: Fergus Burke adds the conversion.
78.00 Reece comes back on for the Crusaders. The Sunwolves have the ball on the Crusaders 5m line and start going through the phases. After 8 phases the Crusaders turn the ball over and kick it to chase.
80.00: The ball is loose and its scrappy but the Crusaders manage to get through and Fergus Burke scores. TRY!
81.00: Burke adds the conversion.
Thats it.
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The full time score is Sunwolves 14 (7) Crusaders 49 (14)
Scorers
Sunwolves
Tries – B.Hyne, G.April
Pen –
Con – G.April 2
Drop –
Cards –
Crusaders
Tries – T. Christie, S.Reece 2, L.Romano, S.Havili, B.Ennor,F.Burke
Pen –
Con – B.Cameron 5,F. Burke
Drop –
Cards – H.Roach (66th min Red), S.Reece (68th min Yellow)
Match Officials
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 1:Graham Cooper
Assistant Ref 2:Amy Perrett
TMO :George Ayoub
Teams
Sunwolves
James Dargaville, 14 Siosaia Fifita, 13 Keisuke Moriya (co-captain), 12 Ben Te’o, 11 Tautalatasi Tasi, 10 Garth April, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jake Schatz (co-captain), 7 Mitch Jacobson, 6 Justin Downey, 5 Michael Stolberg, 4 Ben Hyne, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Efitusi Ma’afu, 1 Nic Mayhew
Replacements : 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Jarred Adams, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Kotaro Yatabe, 20 Brendon O’Connor, 21 Naoto Saito, 22 Shogo Nakano, 23 Yoshizumi Takeda
Crusaders
1. George Bower,2. Brodie McAlister,3. Oliver Jager,4. Luke Romano,5. Mitchell Dunshea,6. Sione Havili,7. Tom Christie,8. Cullen Grace,9. Bryn Hall (C),10. Brett Cameron,11. Leicester Faingaanuku,12. Dallas McLeod,13. Braydon Ennor,14. Sevu Reece,15. George Bridge
Replacements : 16. Hugh Roach,17. Isi Tuungafasi,18. Michael Alaalatoa,19. Whetukamokamo Douglas,20. Tom Sanders,21. Ereatara Enari,22. Fergus Burke,23. Manasa Mataele
