THE CANTERBURY CRUSADERS must be cursing the winter Test match break. The New Zealanders were on a Super Rugby hot-streak before the month-long break but picked up their season with a 16-9 defeat to Hurricanes in Wellington.
The excellently-named Blade Thomson scored the host’s two tries — the second a 50m dash from the lock after latching onto a Cory Jane grubber. Beauden Barrett nailed two penalties to make up for the missed conversions. Crusaders trailed 11-3 at the break and were restricted to Colin Slade penalties after the break.
Slade needed a moment to compose his thoughts, early in the first half, following a jarring tackle attempt on 16st Hurricanes centre Hadleigh Parkes.
The Hurricanes’ win means they are just one point back from Crusaders and Highlanders in the New Zealand division. Check out the match highlights from the Westpac Stadium here:
Michael Cheika’s Waratahs lead the way in the overall standings after destroying ACT Brumbies 39-8. Tahs ran in five tries, with winger Alofa Alofa [so good they... ] scoring a brace.
