The Waratahs have played the Crusaders 25 times in Super rugby since 1996 and they have won 6 matches and lost 19.
That means the Waratahs have won just 24% of their matches against the Crusaders – regardless of venue.
- The Crusaders have won 14 of their last 16 Super Rugby games against the NSW Waratahs; however, 10 of those 16 games were decided by a single-figure margin.
- The NSW Waratahs have won just one of their last12 regular season Super Rugby games against New Zealand opposition (L11).
- The Crusaders have won their last 15 Super Rugby games on the bounce against Australian opposition; their last defeat in such a fixture came in Round 15, 2015 against the NSW Waratahs.
- The Crusaders have made an average of 15 clean breaks per game this Super Rugby campaign, more than any other team in the competition and four more per game than the NSW Waratahs.
- Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs) remains just one try shy of equalling Doug Howlett (59) as the most prolific try scorer in Super Rugby history; however, he’s managed to score only once in six previous games against the Crusaders.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off.
In the meantime why not have a look at the match preview.
The teams have held a minute’s silence for those who lost their lives in Christchurch last week.
The Crusaders kick off and the match is underway. It’s raining and wet at the SCG so handling could be a problem.
2.00: The Crusaders win the ball back after the kick off. They hold on to the all and go through 11 phases before losing the ball to ground.
3.00: The Waratahs get a scrum in the Crusaders 22. They win the scrum and Jed Holloway slips straight through the Crusaders defence and runs to the line and scores next to the posts. TRY!
4.00: Bernard Foley adds the conversion.
7.00: The Waratahs enjoy some attacking ball in the Crusaders 22 but the Crusaders hold them out.
8.00: The ball is kicked upfeld by the Crusaders but Bernard Foley gets back to secure it in the Waratahs half. The ball is knocked on.
9.00: The Crusaders attack on the Waratahs 22 but there is obstruction so the Waratahs have a penalty and kick for touch and the line out.
11.00: The Waratahs win the line out and move the ball across the field with a kick that Israel Folau wins in the air and passes to to Cameron Clark who burns the Crusaders backs for pace and scores. TRY!
12.00: Foley takes the conversion – he misses. Wide.
16.00: The Crusaders are back on the attack. They go through 8 phases and the final pass goes wide and into touch.
19.00:The Crusaders use the maul. They make some ground and then run it on the short side. The ball is lost in the air and grabbed by Alex Newsome who runs away but is then caught. After a couple of passes the ball is kicked and chased. Foley gets to the ball and slides over in the tackle but loses the ball. 5m scrum.
22.00: The Crusaders sustain a period of pressure from the Waratahs. The Crusaders win a scrum and try to clear the ball. The ball is kicked back to the Crusaders who run it and then lose it. The Waratahs hold on to the ball and go wide. Folau beats one, Clark beats another but the Crusaders stop him. The ball changes hands a couple of time and the Crusaders boot it into touch.
28.00: The Crusaders win a line out and they get quick ball to George Bridge who slices through and scores. TRY!
29.00: The conversion is added.
31.00: The Waratahs try a chip kick through behind the Crusaders goal line but the Crusaders get back to secure the ball.
34.00: The Waratahs win the ball from a scrum and run the ball down the wing but the final pass goes out into touch.
37.00: The Crusaders try to attack but are stopped. Adam Ashley-Cooper wins a penalty for not releasing so the Waratahs have a penalty and a shot at the posts.
38.0: Foley slots the penalty and extends the lead.
40.00: The siren sounds as the Crusaders have the ball and are on the attack in the Waratahs 22. The final ball is lost and goes to ground which ends the half.
The half time score was Waratahs 15 Crusaders 7
The Waratahs kick off and the second half is underway.
43.00: The rain is starting to come down again. The Crusaders kick from deep.
45.00: The Waratahs get the ball from a kick and after passing a couple of balls they kick it back to the Crusaders who put it into touch.
48.00: The turf is starting to come up at scrum time. The Crusaders win a line out but the Waratahs manage to steal the ball. The Waratahs get a boot to the ball and Bryn Hall has to race to beat Jake Gordon for the ball to secure it just short of the tryline.
49.00: The Waratahs win a line out on the Crusaders 5m line. The ball is scrappy and it gets turned out and kicked into touch.
51.00: Jed Holloway – who has been one the stars for the Waratahs – has to leave the field injured.
53.00: Penalty to the Crusaders for – jumping over the gap. Mitchell Hunt puts the ball into touch.
55.00: The Crusaders win the line out and then win a penalty again to the Crusaders for holding on. Mitchell Hunt lines up the posts.
57.00: Hunt just misses the penalty.
59.00: The Crusaders try to run the ball but then kick and the ball goes into touch.
61.00: Tom Sanders has to come off holding his hand/arm after a big collision with Karmicheal Hunt.
62.00: The Waratahs are awarded a penalty. They kick for touch and take the line out. The Waratahs win the line out which they win but the ball goes dead and the Crusaders will have the penalty.
64.00: Codie Taylor comes on for Andrew Makalio who goes off for a HIA.
65.00:The Crusaders turn the ball over and kick down field and chase but the ball goes into touch.
68.00: The Waratahs win a line out and drive the ball into the Crusaders half. The Crusaders turn the ball over on the 4th phase. The Crusaders start to build their attack but then lose the ball.
71.00: The Crusaders run the ball down the wing but the ball goes to ground again. Penalty for offside to the Waratahs. Foley kicks for touch.
73.00: From a line out the Waratahs kick wide to the wing. Everyone chases and four go up for the ball – it bounces back and the first player to the ball is Israel Folau who scores on the ground. TRY!
74.00: Foley takes the conversion kick from out wide. He slices it.
76.00: The Waratahs are forcing the Crusaders to play in their 22. The Crusaders get some attacking ball but Luke Romano passes the ball to George Bridge who knocks it on. So many balls have been lost to ground in this match.
78.00: The Crusaders are still being pinned in their 22. Phase after phase but they are going nowhere.
80.00: After 11 phases Bridge gets the ball on the wing and uses his pace to get away and offloads to Will Jordan who scores. TRY!
81.00: Hunt takes the conversion. He misses. Curled across and missed to the left.
That’s it. The Waratahs have won.
To refresh this page click HERE. Live In-Play Betting.
The full time score is Waratahs 20 (15) Crusaders 12 (7)
Scorers
Waratahs
Tries – J.Holloway, C.Clark, I.Folau
Pen – B.Foley
Con – B.Foley
Drop –
Cards –
Crusaders
Tries – G.Bridge, W.Jordan
Pen –
Con – B.Cameron
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Ref 1:Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 2:Egon Seconds
TMO : Ian Smith
Teams
Waratahs
15 Israel Folau, 14 Cam Clark, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes
Replacements 16 Andrew Tuala, 17 Rory O’Connor, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Lachlan Swinton, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Mack Mason, 23 Karmichael Hunt
Crusaders
1. Harrison Allan , 2. Codie Taylor , 3.Michael Alaalatoa , 4. Quinten Strange, 5. Sam Whitelock (C) , 6. Jordan Taufua , 7. Matt Todd (VC) , 8. Whetukamokamo Douglas , 9. Bryn Hall, 10. Brett Cameron , 11. George Bridge , 12. Ryan Crotty (VC) , 13. Jack Goodhue , 14. Braydon Ennor , 15. David Havili
Replacements : 16. Andrew Makalio ,17. Isileli Tuungafasi , 18. George Bower , 19. Luke Romano, 20. Tom Sanders ,21. Ereatara Enari ,22. Mitchell Hunt, 23. Will Jordan