A clinical Crusaders outfit delivered a masterclass in ruthless efficiency at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night, dismantling the Highlanders 43-10 to maintain their challenge at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table, though their commanding victory was tempered by a potentially serious knee injury to starting fly-half Taha Kemara.
Key Moments:
10′ – Will Jordan scores opening try after interplay with Rivez Reihana (0-7)
14′ – Jordan claims his second try after combination with Macca Springer (0-14)
17′ – Codie Taylor sin-binned for professional foul
27′ – Taylor returns from sin-bin to score immediate try (0-21)
57′ – Reihana penalty extends Crusaders’ lead (0-24)
63′ – Jonah Lowe scores Highlanders’ first try (5-24)
65′ – Corey Kellow responds immediately for Crusaders (5-29)
69′ – Chay Fihaki extends Crusaders’ advantage (5-36)
72′ – Veveni Lasaqa scores consolation try for Highlanders (10-36)
80′ – Taylor grabs his second try to complete the rout (10-43)
The seven-try victory, orchestrated by a brilliant Will Jordan at fullback and replacement fly-half Rivez Reihana, showcased the gulf in class between the title-chasing visitors and a Highlanders side whose playoff hopes took a significant blow in front of 16,673 disappointed home supporters.
The scoreline belied a remarkable defensive effort from the Crusaders, who made nearly 120 more tackles than the Highlanders and defied the possession and territory statistics—the hosts enjoyed a staggering 66% territory advantage across the 80 minutes—to deliver a clinical display of counter-attacking rugby at its finest.
From the outset, it was clear which side possessed the greater cutting edge, with Jordan scoring twice in the first quarter to set the tone for a dominant display that saw the Crusaders lead 21-0 at halftime before adding a further 22 points after the break.
On a chilly evening under the covered stadium, both sides initially tested each other with tactical kicking, but it was the Crusaders who found their rhythm first—albeit after suffering an early blow when talented young playmaker Kemara twisted his left knee in a tackle by opposite number Cameron Millar inside the first five minutes. The severity of the injury was immediately apparent as Kemara stayed down in obvious pain and had to be helped from the field.
The setback didn’t derail the visitors, however. After weathering some early Highlanders pressure, Jordan opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a brilliantly executed give-and-go with Reihana, who had slotted seamlessly into the Crusaders’ attacking shape. Jordan’s devastating pace left the Highlanders’ defence clutching at shadows as he dotted down in the left corner.
Reihana, who slotted in seamlessly despite his unexpected early introduction, added the conversion to give the visitors a 7-0 advantage.
The Crusaders doubled their lead just four minutes later with Jordan again the beneficiary. Following a turnover brilliantly won by openside flanker Tom Christie, the ball was quickly spread left into space where Macca Springer drew the defenders before unselfishly feeding the supporting Jordan, who scampered in under the posts for his second try. Reihana’s simple conversion extended the lead to 14-0.
The home side were handed a potential lifeline in the 17th minute when Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor was shown a yellow card for a cynical professional foul as the Highlanders camped inside the visitors’ 22. Referee Damon Murphy had no hesitation in sending Taylor to the sin-bin.
Despite their numerical advantage, the Highlanders couldn’t capitalise. Their attacking endeavour was met by the impenetrable “red wall” of defence, with the Crusaders pack, led by Scott Barrett and Christian Lio-Willie, proving immovable. The hosts threw wave after wave of bodies at the Crusaders’ line, but one-dimensional attack and a lack of deception made them predictable against a defence of such quality, who somehow kept repelling an attack that enjoyed nearly 65% possession.
In what must have been particularly demoralising for the hosts, it was Taylor himself who delivered the knockout blow upon his return from the sin-bin in the 27th minute. After the Crusaders earned a penalty near the Highlanders’ line, Taylor found Jamie Hannah at the lineout before the hooker charged over from close range to score just moments after re-entering the field. The try came from a well-executed lineout move, with Christian Lio-Willie getting the Crusaders within inches of the line before Taylor muscled his way over. Reihana’s third successful conversion gave the visitors a commanding 21-0 lead heading into the break.
Adding to the Highlanders’ woes was the loss of key lock Fabian Holland to a failed Head Injury Assessment in the 35th minute, just one of several injury concerns in a physical southern derby that also saw Mitch Dunshea bandaged up and Xavier Saifoloi requiring attention. It compounded a first half of frustration where, despite enjoying periods of possession and territory, the Highlanders lacked the accuracy and clinical edge needed to breach the Crusaders’ defence, with their skill levels and decision-making repeatedly falling short.
The second half continued in similar fashion, with the Crusaders maintaining control at the set-piece—an area where they’d established dominance early with their first scrum penalty after just four minutes. They extended their lead through a Reihana penalty in the 57th minute after a period of sustained pressure.
Jonah Lowe finally got the Highlanders on the scoreboard in the 63rd minute, finishing expertly in the left corner after Nathan Hastie’s dart and offload created space on the wing. The try came after multiple phases of sustained pressure, with Thomas Umaga-Jensen making a powerful surge that drew in defenders before the ball was shifted wide to the unmarked Lowe, who took out the corner flag with his diving finish. Cameron Millar’s conversion attempt from the touchline drifted wide of the right post, leaving the score at 5-24.
Any hopes of a Highlanders comeback were immediately extinguished as the Crusaders responded with a stunning try just two minutes later. Will Jordan, imperious throughout, claimed a contestable kick before linking with Ioane Moananu, who found replacement flanker Corey Kellow on his inside. The dynamic forward showed remarkable athleticism to dive for the line while keeping himself in the field of play, finishing spectacularly in the left corner despite desperate attempts from the covering defence. Replays confirmed Kellow had maintained his body in the field of play while grounding the ball. Reihana’s conversion attempt was his only miss of the night.
The Crusaders’ bonus point was secured in the 69th minute when replacement Chay Fihaki, fresh off the bench, wrong-footed his marker with a brilliant piece of individual skill to score under the posts. The try came from a Kyle Preston 50-22 kick that took a wicked sideways bounce to earn the Crusaders an attacking lineout. From the set-piece, the visitors executed a well-drilled move that released Fihaki in centrefield, where he showcased his dancing feet to beat his defender and streak away untouched for a try with virtually his first touch of the game. Reihana’s conversion stretched the lead to 36-5.
Veveni Lasaqa added a second try for the Highlanders in the 72nd minute, crossing in the left corner after good work from Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. The score came after Te Kamaka Howden beat a tackler down the right sideline and Oliver Haig powered into the 22. After multiple phases near the line, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens delivered a beautifully weighted long pass to find Lasaqa lurking unmarked on the left touchline for his second try of the season. Sam Gilbert’s conversion attempt from near the touchline hooked left of the posts.
The final word belonged to the Crusaders, with Taylor capping an eventful evening by sniping over from close range after quick thinking from a penalty in the final minute. The try stemmed from Moananu pouncing on a loose ball near his goal line and ripping upfield to find Sevu Reece in support. After the Highlanders were penalised for slowing the ball at the breakdown, Taylor—who had replaced Kellow—took a quick tap and burst over the line beside the posts for his second try of the match. Reihana’s sixth successful kick of the night completed the 43-10 scoreline.
For the Crusaders, the comprehensive victory keeps them neck-and-neck with the Chiefs at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings. With a bye next weekend, they can now prepare for the following week’s crucial top-of-the-table clash against the Chiefs in Christchurch—though they face a nervous wait on Kemara’s knee injury, with veteran Wallaby James O’Connor potentially set for a big role in the latter stages of the campaign.
The Highlanders, meanwhile, remain ninth in the table, with their playoff hopes fading after a performance that exposed the gulf in class between themselves and the competition’s elite. They’ll need to regroup quickly before hosting Moana Pasifika next Sunday in what now becomes a must-win fixture.
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