In a dazzling display of attacking rugby, Macca Springer equalled the Super Rugby record with five tries as the Crusaders overwhelmed a spirited Western Force 55-33 in Christchurch on Saturday.
Key moments:
2′ – Penalty goal to Burey after scrum penalty against Newell (0-3)
13′ – Try to Springer after Taylor gathered loose lineout ball (5-3)
15′ – Force response through Grealy after brilliant Poolman offload (5-8)
19′ – Springer’s second after fortunate bounce from Ennor chip-kick (10-8)
25′ – Penalty goal to Burey after Williams penalised at ruck (10-11)
27′ – Reece scores after slick handling from Ennor and Springer (15-11)
32′ – Harris powers over from close range after quick tap (15-16)
33′ – Burey converts Harris try (15-18)
38′ – Reece scores his second after Havili break (20-18)
42′ – Reece completes hat-trick with opportunistic score (27-18)
45′ – Burey penalty reduces deficit (27-21)
51′ – Springer secures hat-trick from superb Jordan pass (34-21)
54′ – Springer’s fourth after brilliant chip and chase (41-21)
59′ – Springer equals Super Rugby record with fifth try (48-21)
67′ – Williams crashes over for Force (48-26)
71′ – Jordan scores deserved try after slicing through (55-26)
76′ – Potter scores consolation with powerful run (55-33)
What began as a tightly contested affair transformed into an exhibition of the Crusaders’ firepower in the second half, with Springer and Sevu Reece combining for eight tries in perfect conditions at Apollo Projects Stadium.
The Force had shown tremendous fight to trail by just two points at half-time, but Rob Penney’s men shifted through the gears after the break, scoring 35 points to cement their place near the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table.
The visitors struck first when prop Marley Pearce won an early scrum penalty against All Black Fletcher Newell, allowing new flyhalf Max Burey to slot an easy three points. This early advantage reflected the Force’s bright start, although they soon squandered a promising attacking opportunity when an ambitious kick rolled dead in-goal.
The Crusaders responded in the 13th minute when hooker Codie Taylor pounced on a loose lineout tap-down and the ball was swiftly moved left, with Will Jordan delivering the final pass to send Springer over untouched in the corner. Taha Kemara’s conversion attempt drifted wide, leaving the home side with a slender 5-3 lead.
Just minutes later, the Force hit back with a beautifully constructed try. Will Harris made the initial break down the blindside and delivered a sublime offload to George Poolman, who showed remarkable composure to gather the ball and pop it off the deck to a rampaging Mac Grealy. The fullback fought strongly to ground the ball despite desperate defending, with Burey adding the extras to restore the visitors’ advantage at 8-5.
The Crusaders’ response came in somewhat fortuitous fashion when returning centre Braydon Ennor – making his first appearance since the 2023 final – sliced through the Force defence on halfway before chipping ahead. The bounce evaded both Ennor and Force defender Sio Tomkinson, falling perfectly for Springer to collect and score his second try. Kemara’s conversion attempt struck the upright, leaving the score at 10-8.
After a period of Force pressure, Burey nudged them back in front with a penalty following an infringement by Tamaiti Williams at the ruck. The lead continued to change hands when the Crusaders strung together an impressive attacking sequence culminating in brilliant hands from Ennor to Springer, who delivered the decisive pass to Reece for a clinical finish in the corner.
The Perth outfit wasn’t to be outdone, however. After winning a penalty near the Crusaders’ line, halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa caught the home side napping with a quick tap and was brought down centimetres short. From the resulting phase play, number eight Will Harris powered over to score, with Burey’s conversion putting the Force ahead 18-15.
As half-time approached, the Crusaders struck again when David Havili broke through the defensive line from a scrum move and found Reece on his outside. The winger showed his class by beating two defenders to score his second try of the match, equalling Julian Savea as the second-highest try-scorer in Super Rugby history. Kemara’s conversion attempt again missed the target, but the Crusaders took a 20-18 lead into the break.
The second half began in explosive fashion as the Crusaders won a turnover straight from the restart. Reece, alert as ever, spotted a gap around the ruck and darted through untouched to complete his hat-trick with barely a minute played. Kemara finally found his range to add the extras and extend the lead to nine points.
The Force refused to roll over, however, and continued to challenge the Crusaders’ defence. Their perseverance was rewarded when Burey slotted another penalty to keep his side within striking distance at 27-21.
That was as close as they would get, though, as the Crusaders unleashed a devastating 20-minute spell that put the result beyond doubt. Springer was the chief beneficiary, completing his hat-trick in the 51st minute after a sublime long pass from Will Jordan put him into space on the left wing.
Three minutes later, the winger produced a moment of individual brilliance, chipping over his marker and racing down the touchline to regather the ball before beating the final defender to score his fourth. James O’Connor, on as a replacement for the wayward Kemara, added both conversions to stretch the lead to 41-21.
The record-equalling moment came in the 59th minute, as Springer benefitted from a sweeping move that began with Ioane Moananu breaking tackles in midfield. The replacement hooker found Christian Lio-Willie in support before reappearing to deliver the final pass to Springer, who dived over in the corner for his fifth try, matching the Super Rugby record set by the late Sean Wainui.
The Force showed admirable determination to keep fighting, with captain Jeremy Williams crashing over from close range after sustained pressure. But any hopes of a miraculous comeback were extinguished when Jordan, who had been the architect of several tries, finally got his name on the scoresheet. The All Blacks fullback sliced through the tiring Force defence from halfway, beating two defenders before regaining his footing to score under the posts, with O’Connor’s conversion bringing up the half-century.
Harry Potter provided some late consolation for the visitors with a well-taken try, demonstrating his pace and power to beat several defenders on his way to the line. Coby Miln, making his Super Rugby debut, added the extras to complete the scoring at 55-33.
For the Crusaders, this performance will be particularly satisfying after their inconsistent start to the season. The attacking fluency that was their hallmark during their dynasty years was on full display, with Jordan and the returning Ennor providing the creative spark that unleashed their lethal outside backs. Reece’s hat-trick takes his career tally to 63 Super Rugby tries, while Springer’s remarkable five-try haul will long be remembered by the Christchurch faithful.
The Force, meanwhile, will take heart from aspects of their performance, particularly in the first half when they matched the Crusaders’ intensity and skill level. In Tom Robertson’s 100th Super Rugby match, they showed tremendous spirit and attacking intent, but ultimately could not contain the Crusaders’ second-half onslaught. With four tries scored at one of rugby’s most daunting venues, they at least secured a bonus point that could prove valuable in their push for a play-off spot.
The Crusaders now move level on points with the Chiefs at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table, with the two New Zealand heavyweights set to meet next weekend in what promises to be a mouthwatering clash in Hamilton. For the Force, the road doesn’t get any easier as they continue their New Zealand tour against the Blues in Auckland.
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