Fiji-born Sevu Reece and Tom Cristie scored two tries each as the Crusaders thrashed the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua 61-3 in the Super Rugby Pacific last night.
The Drua were outclassed by the defending champions who scored a total of seven tries.
Other tries for the Crusaders came from Leicester Fainga'anuku, Sam Whitelock, George Bridge and Fergus Burke.
Drua’s only points came through Teti Tela as he converted a penalty in the 6th minute.
Selestino Ravutaumada was shown a yellow card for a head collision with Braydon Ennor.
The Drua will meet Chiefs at 3pm next Saturday at Churchill Park.
Meanwhile, the Reds defeated Moana Pasifika 34-22 at Suncorp Stadium.
Full-Time: 61-3
80' The Crusaders grubber up the right, just as the full-time hooter sounded. The Drua gave it up in contact though, allowing the Crusaders one last crack of the whip! Fainga'anuku chipped and chased into the 22, but it was well covered as the Drua forced in goal. That is it!
79' Ravouvou runs a nice inside angle off the scrum, angling back on the inside to beat a couple! Kellow got him though, before an offload was spilt. Crusaders scrum just outside the 22.
78' The Drua finally get their hands on the ball, working in and around halfway from a Crusaders knock-on. It came to nothing though, so they will go back for a scrum on the 10m line.
75' CHRISTIE GRABS HIS SECOND! Fihaki bashed into the 22, setting play 15m out. Play was shifted further right for Ennor, finding a deft grubber for Bridge. He collected miraculously just on the line, with Ennor working his way back out left. It was sent through the hands, with Christie on the end of the queue to score in the corner.
74' The pressure keeps on coming! Gardiner was slipped a short ball by Jager, almost getting a nose bleed as he reached the 10m line! He offloaded for Klein but missed his man, though the Drua knocked on before Saulo picked up from an offside position. Pumped into touch on the 22m line.
71' ENNOR GETS HIS NAME ON THE SCORE SHEET! The Crusaders worked out to the right off the lineout, finding a penalty on the edge. Drummond tapped and went left, with a good shift out through the hands seeing Ennor ease over in the corner.
70' That will be Ravutaumada's day done you would think. He was high in contact and hit Ennor head on, but a sudden direction change meant it was just a yellow. Hickey pins it towards the corner.
69' Scrappy play off the lineout for the Crusaders, looking to bounce out left. Ennor was hit hard, possibly a touch high as play settled. It came back to the right, before Ennor ran into his own man. A scrum is called, but they want to check the contact on Ennor.
67' The Drua spill off the scrum, but Hickey's exit is rather aimless allowing Ratu to have a roam. He carried nicely over halfway, meeting contact about 30m from the line. His forwards supported with a couple of phases, but Barrett found a turnover penalty. Hickey pins to touch on the 10m line.
66' The Drua get a free-kick, tapping and peeling into midfield. They phased patiently, finding a penalty. They call a scrum from 15m out.
65' Good defence off the restart from the Drua, hammering Ennor down the Crusaders right edge, and they force a knock on! Scrum just outside the 22.
62' BRIDGE CROSSES FOR THE SEVENTH! They had to be patient after it broke down off the lineout, rumbling right on the cusp of the line. They worked under a lengthy advantage, but the Drua held firm in centrefield. It eventually came left though, with Fihaki finding a pinpoint ball to split the defence with Bridge collecting and strolling over!
60' The lineout has gone to custard for the Drua, with another one slipped over the top for the Crusaders to claim. Ennor busted past the gameline before finding Fainga'anuku off his shoulder! He charged play over halfway, with a tackler then pinged for not rolling. Hickey looked to cross kick, but Bridge was covered into touch. Hickey finds touch on the 5m line.
74' The pressure keeps on coming! Gardiner was slipped a short ball by Jager, almost getting a nose bleed as he reached the 10m line! He offloaded for Klein but missed his man, though the Drua knocked on before Saulo picked up from an offside position. Pumped into touch on the 22m line.
71' ENNOR GETS HIS NAME ON THE SCORE SHEET! The Crusaders worked out to the right off the lineout, finding a penalty on the edge. Drummond tapped and went left, with a good shift out through the hands seeing Ennor ease over in the corner.
70' That will be Ravutaumada's day done you would think. He was high in contact and hit Ennor head on, but a sudden direction change meant it was just a yellow. Hickey pins it towards the corner.
69' Scrappy play off the lineout for the Crusaders, looking to bounce out left. Ennor was hit hard, possibly a touch high as play settled. It came back to the right, before Ennor ran into his own man. A scrum is called, but they want to check the contact on Ennor.
67' The Drua spill off the scrum, but Hickey's exit is rather aimless allowing Ratu to have a roam. He carried nicely over halfway, meeting contact about 30m from the line. His forwards supported with a couple of phases, but Barrett found a turnover penalty. Hickey pins to touch on the 10m line.
66' The Drua get a free-kick, tapping and peeling into midfield. They phased patiently, finding a penalty. They call a scrum from 15m out.
65' Good defence off the restart from the Drua, hammering Ennor down the Crusaders right edge, and they force a knock on! Scrum just outside the 22.
62' BRIDGE CROSSES FOR THE SEVENTH! They had to be patient after it broke down off the lineout, rumbling right on the cusp of the line. They worked under a lengthy advantage, but the Drua held firm in centrefield. It eventually came left though, with Fihaki finding a pinpoint ball to split the defence with Bridge collecting and strolling over!
60' The lineout has gone to custard for the Drua, with another one slipped over the top for the Crusaders to claim. Ennor busted past the gameline before finding Fainga'anuku off his shoulder! He charged play over halfway, with a tackler then pinged for not rolling. Hickey looked to cross kick, but Bridge was covered into touch. Hickey finds touch on the 5m line.
59' Saulo scoops it up at the back, shifting for Muntz past the 22. He had it stolen, with the Crusaders shifting out to the right! Fihaki looked to clear up the line, but he sent it out on the full! Drya lineout just outside the 22 once again.
58' The lineout is stolen by Barrett, but in the end Burke clears into touch exactly where we were a minute ago!
56' Big net gain for the Drua! They kicked long, with Fainga'anuku missing it through his hands! it rolled long though he eventually controlled in the 22, but sprayed into touch just outside the 22.
55' Hot potato side to side for the Crusaders, with Fainga'anuku chipping and chasing from the 10m line. It was well covered out the back though, with the Crusaders spilling inside the 22 as they desperately reached for it. Drua scrum inside the 22.
53' REECE CRUISES IN FOR A SECOND! They hit it flat into midfield, before the backs worked out the back. Ennor ran a dummy line, with a good slight of hand out the back door for Reece to score in the corner.
51' Tamani seizes on an overthrown but almost immediately conceded a penalty at the breakdown! Hall tapped and went, with the forwards looking ominous. They couldn't find a way through, but with an advantage they pin to the corner again.
50' The Crusaders exit long down the park, with Droasese winding into contact from deep! He ran 20m into contact outside the 22, before they looked to quickly boune right but it was turned over! A penalty followed for playing the nine, with Burke pinning into the corner.
49' Burke nails it again from the right corner.
47' TOO MUCH PRESSURE! Players and motion and hard carrying does the trick for the Crusaders! They went 10+ phases, with Fihaki finding room up to the 5m line. Reece hit it right, before Burke got his hands on it. He ran the angle, sliding over in the corner.
46' The Crusaders bust flat into midfield, looking to the pick and drive. They had to roll sleeves, setting play 15m out.
44' Ravouvou steps nicely into the inside channel, setting play past halfway. The carries were strong fro, the Drua, but they couldn't find ground before Saulo cleared from the side. Burke finds touch just outside the 22.
43' Slow period of possesion for the two sides, with a couple of kicks traded. Eventually, Matawalu floated up a good one, with Burke spilling just short of halfway! Scrum Drua.
42' An attempted maul rumbles backwards, so the Drua bounce into midfield. Christie pinched though, kicking out to the right, but it was rather aimless. An aimless one was returned though, with Fihaki claiming and barging past the 10m line.
41' Tamani gets dragged down in the air, so the Drua get to bang into the corner. Big chance for the Drua.
41' Fihaki clears straight out the hand to start the half, hooking into touch just short of the 10m line.
Half-Time: 28-3
40+1' NEARLY NUMBER FIVE! They bounced it out to the right off the lineout, with Ennor dragging a few as he came across field. He freed Reece toward the corner with an offload, and it looked like Sevu was in for two! He looked back on the inside though, with Muntz intercepting on his own line! The men in red flew in, but they had hands on the ground as the Crusaders pinned for halftime.
39' Fihaki thumps a clearance out the hand, with the Drua spilling back before thumping long. Droasese chased well, pressuring Burke who spilt back, as the fullback took possession! The pick and go, came, but Christie won a not releasing penalty on halfway. Burke finds touch 15m from the line.
38' Burke shows his skills from the right corner this time.
37' ANOTHER ONE IN THE CORNER! Jackson bounced it out off the back of the lineout, setting the impetus as an advantage came for not rolling. It came left for Fainga'anuku to carry, with a good run-up to the 5m line. It came back right with big numbers though, with Goodhue freeing Reece over in the corner.
36' Messy play from the Drua, and eventually a loose ball out the back sat up for Hall to hack ahead! He rolled it into the 22, with Tamani taking it before being put into touch!
35' Good reward for the Drua! They held the scrum well, forcing the Crusaders into a lateral crossfield kick. Goodhue picked out Reeve on the run, but he then looked to grubber, putting it out on the full! Drua lineout 35m from the line.
33' The scrum drops straight to ground, so we will have a reset.
31' Good attacking footy from the Drua, charging it up the centre. They phased well, patiently taking play into the 22 with good carrying by Tamani. He busted well a couple of times, looking to free it up to the right, but it was knocked on. Crusaders scrum inside the 22.
30' Hall does well! He cleared from the box, leaving it infield for Ravtaumada. He bombed back and it was an awkward one over the top of Hall! He ran back into the 22, diving to take it well for a mark. He finds touch on the attacking 10m line.
29' Burke converts from the left edge once again.
27' TRY TIME! The Crusaders carted flat into the 22, with Ennor finding some good ground. It was all very lateral to start with, before an offside advantage came. Burke found some room with a dummy, before Jackson sent Barrett rumbling on a short ball. Whitelock hit a good line off the next phase, bumping off a couple to reach out and score down the left edge!
25' Muntz carts into contact on the 10m line, settling play well. The forwards worked it well, before Tela knocked on! Crusaders scrum 30m out from the line.
24' Clever peel around the front from the Crusaders, with Jackson putting Hall away up the flank! He found Fainga'anuku back on the inside who was thumped towards touch as he spilt forwards! Drua scrum on the 10m line.
23' Big scrum and an easy penalty for the Crusaders as the Drua didn't stay straight. Burke clears into touch on the 10m outside the 22.
22' NEARLY BRILLIANT FROM THE DRUA! They bounced it along the line in midfield with good intent, engaging contact before a dummy and inside ball for Samusamuvodre! He was mowed down 15m away, but they recycled well to the right. They just spilt in the end though, giving the Crusaders a get out. Their scrum 8m off their own line.
20' The Crusaders set into a maul before peeling away, rumbling well to take play past the 10m line. Burke eventually went to the bomb, but it was aimless allowing Droasese to wind it up into contact. The Crusaders were slightly over-eager from the breakdown, creeping up over offside. Tela pins into touch ahead of the 10m line.
19' Simple exit play from the Drua, bouncing into midfield for Tela who pinned into touch just outside the 22.
18' Jackson scoops it up off the ground, seeing it bounce out to the edge as the men in red carried over halfway. They phased a couple more times from there, just knocking on. Drua scrum on the 10m line.
17' The Crusaders elect to run off the kickoff, carrying 10m outside the 22 before looking right. Reece was found with an overlap, chipping it up and over halfway. It was too far though, with the Drua controlling through Samusamuvodre. Matawalu cleared via the box, with it just about falling for the Crusaders back of the 10m line.
16' Burke curls it back around from the corner.
15' CHRISTIE BAGS THE CRUSADERS SECOND! They worked it well off the lineout, having to work their way through some heavy contact. Under advantage Reece finally found space down the right, taking play into the 22 before popping a lovely ball back on the inside for Fainga'anuku! He powered it 5m away, before they switched back out left with huge numbers! Christie was the man on the end of the chain, spinning through a couple to score in the corner.
13' Champagne footy! The Drua found a free-kick for an early engage, tapping and flying to the 22 via Matawalu! He led a shift left for Samusamuvodre, but upon carrying out the 22, he booted out on the full!
12' The first scrum of the night goes straight down, so we will reset.
11' Gallagher takes in the lineout, setting for a rolling maul. It went 10m before collapsing, with the Crusaders forced back into midfield. Hall looked to shift it flat and direct, but it went forward to Ennor! Drua scrum 10m off their own line.
10' Goodhue hits it up off the lineout, before Reece and Barrett carried hard into the 22. It came left for Fihaki on the edge, but he had it stripped free! The Drua dropped in, pumping to touch on the 22.
9' Dolokoto works the carry off the kickoff, taking play outside the 22, forcing Muntz to go up the middle. Fihaki returned it in behind, and a couple of loose passes had them scrambling! They did well in the end though, with Muntz clearing for touch 30m off his own line.
8' Tela slots fit from 40m out to get the Drua on the board.
6' Taken at the back for the Drua, enabling them to settle into their work. They found an offside advantage enabling a little more flamboyance, but they instead rolled up their sleeves as advantage was deemed over! It seemed odd, and perhaps the rugby odds agreed as a penalty eventually came. They will look for three from 40m out.
5' It is scrappy off the restart for the Crusaders, bobbling backwards before controlling. Burke looked to stab a clearance long, finding touch just back of the 10m line.
4' Burke slots with ease from 10m left of the posts.
2' TOO EASY! Jackson lobbed it down to the back, immediately hitting the boot for the drive. It slowed so Hall looked out into midfield, with some good shift play to free Burke in midfield. He was a touch hesitant, but managed to hurl a ball out to Fainga'anuku on the left flank for an easy stroll over in the corner.
1' Fergus Burke gets us underway, chipping it long to the 22. Dolokoto let it bounce, getting fortunate as it bounced into his bread basket. The Drua settled well though, allowing Muntz to go to the midfield bomb. It was well controlled though, with the Crusader retaining before Hall boxed into the 22. The Drua recovered possession, but in the pick and go conceded a not releasing penalty. Burke pins to the corner.
The Drua have to believe they can pull off what would be the biggest upset in the history of Super Rugby. Last week they thumped Moana Pasifika in impressive fashion, showing a marked improvement in the discipline department, something that has blighted them all season. They were still their lethal best on attack, with Habosi too hot to handle down the flanks. His battle with Sevu Reece tonight should be a belter!
The Crusaders have rebounded well from a rocky few weeks at the end of last month, picking up a couple of thumping wins away to the Force and Brumbies. They looked back to their best in both outings, and now back at home on a freezing Christchurch night, the stage is set for them to run riot against the Drua. Sevu Reece is surely the man to look out for tonight, admitting in the week that he is pretty excited about battling his Fijian brothers. Elsewhere Ricky Jackson gets another huge chance at hooker, so he will be out to impress.
Hello everyone and welcome to Tribe for the start of the penultimate round of Super Rugby Pacific 2022. We are in Christchurch this evening, as the Crusaders take on the Fijian Drua for the very first time! I am Nicholas Friedlander and I will have all the action for you.
TEAM NEWS: Crusaders - Scott Robertson has rung the changes this week. Brewis and Jackson come into the front row. Zack Gallagher joins Sam Whitelock in the second row with Scott Barrett moving back onto the blindside flank. Ethan Blackadder has shifted to number 8, with Tom Christie coming in on the openside. Bryn Hall gets Fergus Burke for company in the halves. Jack Goodhue moves to inside centre as Braydon Ennor comes in at outside centre. Leicester Fainga'anuku and Chay Fihaki fill out the back three at left wing and fullback respectively.
TEAM NEWS: Fijian Drua - It's a similar story in the Drua camp this week. Uluilakepa and Tawake will pack down on either side of Togiatama in the front row. Nasilasila gets Rotuisolia for company in the second row, while Tamani and Nagusa come into the back row. Peni Matawalu and Calbe Muntz make up the halfback pairing with Teti Tela moving into the midfield alongside Ravouvou who shifts to outside centre. Ravutaumada fills out the back three as he lines up on the right wing. Ilaisa Droasese will make his Drua debut off the bench.
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