The Crusaders overcame a spirited second-half comeback from Fijian Drua to secure a 31-14 victory at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday, marking their first-ever win on Fijian soil in Super Rugby Pacific.
Key moments:
4′ – Noah Hotham scores opening try after Will Jordan break (Crusaders 7-0)
18′ – Antonio Shalfoon extends lead with well-worked team try (Crusaders 12-0)
21′ – Chay Fihaki adds third try following Will Jordan assist (Crusaders 17-0)
56′ – Macca Springer scores from Will Jordan’s pinpoint kick (Crusaders 24-0)
64′ – Ioane Moananu secures victory with close-range try (Crusaders 31-0)
66′ – Isikeli Rabitu starts Drua comeback with try from kick through (Crusaders 31-7)
69′ – Etonia Waqa adds second try after brilliant individual effort (Crusaders 31-14)
After their shock 45-29 loss to Moana Pasifika the previous week, the Christchurch-based side responded with an emphatic performance, building an insurmountable 31-0 lead before weathering a spirited late comeback from the home side in front of a passionate crowd at HFC Bank Stadium.
The visitors set the tone early with a tactical masterclass from first five-eighths Taha Kemara, whose pinpoint 50/22 kick in the opening minutes gave the Crusaders an attacking lineout just five metres from the Drua line. From the ensuing play, All Blacks fullback Will Jordan was stopped short but managed to free an offload to scrum-half Noah Hotham, who showcased his pace by wrapping around to receive the ball before diving full-stretch into the corner. Kemara added the extras with a superb conversion from the touchline to give the Crusaders a 7-0 advantage after just four minutes.
The Crusaders continued to dominate the opening exchanges, with their forwards establishing ascendancy at both lineout and scrum time. Their clinical execution was rewarded in the 18th minute with a try that epitomised their attacking prowess. The move began with Hotham sending an openside ball to McLeod, who burst through the initial defensive line. Flanker Corey Kellow provided the crucial link in support before Shalfoon powered through the final tackle to score the Crusaders’ second try. Kemara’s conversion attempt from out on the left touchline drifted just wide, but the visitors had extended their lead to 12-0.
Just three minutes later, the Crusaders struck again with another brilliant attacking sequence. Will Jordan was once more the catalyst, displaying his world-class footwork to slice through the Drua defence. As the cover defence converged, Jordan timed his pass perfectly to put Fihaki into space on the right wing. The Fijian-born winger, playing in front of family and friends, finished clinically to extend the lead. Kemara’s conversion attempt from wide right missed the target, but the Crusaders held a commanding 17-0 advantage.
As halftime approached, the Crusaders had an opportunity to extend their lead further when Chay Fihaki attempted an ambitious penalty kick from a remarkable 64 metres out. The long-range effort had plenty of distance but drifted just wide of the left upright, ensuring the score remained 17-0 at the interval.
The first half statistics told a damning story for the home side – the Drua conceded seven lineouts on their own throw and struggled to build momentum with multiple handling errors in the stifling conditions. The Crusaders’ defence swarmed every Drua attack, forcing a remarkable 17 turnovers throughout the match.
The second half initially followed a similar pattern, with the Drua unable to capitalise on several promising attacking positions inside the Crusaders’ 22. The visitors’ defensive resolve was epitomised by a crucial turnover from Ethan Blackadder shortly after his introduction off the bench.
After weathering early pressure, the Crusaders extended their lead in the 56th minute with a try of stunning execution. Jordan collected the ball near halfway and showed his devastating pace to get over the gain line before delivering a perfectly weighted grubber kick behind the defensive line. Winger Macca Springer showed impressive acceleration to outpace the covering defenders, scooping up the bouncing ball inches from the dead-ball line to secure his eighth try in four matches and extend his try-scoring streak to six consecutive games. Kemara’s conversion pushed the score to 24-0.
The Crusaders’ fifth try came through replacement hooker Ioane Moananu in the 64th minute. After sustained pressure inside the Drua 22 with multiple phases testing the tiring defence, Moananu spotted a gap around the fringe of a ruck, scooped the ball from the base and dived over from close range. James O’Connor, who had replaced Kemara at first-five, added the conversion to extend the lead to a seemingly unassailable 31-0 with just over 15 minutes remaining.
However, the Drua, inspired by their vocal home crowd, finally sparked into life. Replacement Isikeli Rabitu, who had only been on the field for six minutes, collected a clever kick through from centre Iosefo Masi in the 66th minute. Rabitu showed impressive pace to win the race to the bouncing ball before gathering it cleanly and weaving his way past the last defender to score under the posts. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 31-7.
The stadium erupted again just three minutes later when substitute Etonia Waqa produced a moment of individual brilliance that showcased the Fijian flair the home crowd had been waiting to see. Receiving the ball inside his own half, Waqa burst through the initial defensive line with a powerful surge, then threw an outrageous dummy that completely bamboozled the Crusaders’ cover defence, allowing him to sprint clear and score a spectacular 50-metre solo try. Armstrong-Ravula’s conversion narrowed the gap to 31-14, giving the home supporters renewed hope of a miracle comeback.
With momentum shifting dramatically, the Drua continued to attack from deep in the closing stages. Their most promising opportunity came when Ponipate Loganimasi broke through the defensive line and flicked the ball to Rabitu who charged towards the try line, only to be brought down by a desperate cover tackle from Sevu Reece. The Crusaders managed to force a turnover, effectively ending the Drua’s hopes of a late revival.
“In typical Drua fashion, they never say never and hung in there right until the end,” said Taylor. “I’m just really proud of the boys with the way we started and built a bit of momentum in that first half and hung on towards the end.”
The statistics highlighted Jordan’s influence on the match, with the All Blacks star contributing three try assists in a commanding display. The Crusaders’ set-piece dominance was also crucial, with the visitors stealing seven Drua lineouts while securing all of their own throws.
For the Drua, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just one win from seven matches, there were positives to take from their late resurgence, but captain Tevita Ikanivere acknowledged his side’s shortcomings.
“It was tough,” the hooker admitted. “I think the Crusaders came with a great game plan. They disrupted most of our lineouts. We couldn’t get going and we couldn’t keep the ball at the breakdown. They started the game well. We came back, but it was too late.”
The match was played in challenging conditions with the temperature exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and humidity at 77 percent, contributing to the 45 turnovers recorded across both teams. Despite the handling difficulties, the Crusaders showed impressive composure to execute their clinical first-half performance before managing the game effectively in the closing stages.
“We talked about this being one of the hardest places to play in the world, and it proved so again today,” Taylor added. “I’m just really proud we got the job done and made a bit of Crusaders history.”
The Crusaders will now turn their attention to a crucial clash against the Hurricanes in Wellington next Friday, while the Drua travel to Dunedin to face the Highlanders, still searching for just their second win of the campaign.
The result sees the Crusaders move to 24 points, two behind the table-topping Chiefs, while the Drua remain on seven points at the foot of the standings.
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