At Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch: Crusaders 37 (Will Jordan try 15min, Richie Mo’unga try 55 min, Sevu Reece 64min, Tamaiti Williams try; 74min; Mo’unga 4 con, 3 pen) Reds 15 (Suliasi Vunivalu try 24min, Filipo Daugunu try 43min; Lawson Creighton con, pen). HT: 16-8.
The Crusaders have qualified for the Super Rugby Pacific semifinals, but it came at a high cost with in-form Ethan Blackadder unlikely to have any further involvement in their campaign.
No 7 Blackadder, one of the toughest men in the competition, cut a forlorn figure when he suffered a shoulder injury in the 62nd minute of the Crusaders’ 37-15 win over the Queensland Reds in the quarterfinal in Christchurch on Friday night.
Richie Mo’unga of the Crusaders celebrates a try with Jack Goodhue and Ethan Blackadder during the 37-15 win over the Queensland Reds.
Blackadder immediately left the field after an incident that forced him to hold his left arm to reduce the pain, and his chances of taking any further part in the Crusaders’ pursuit of the title appear remote.
Whether it will impact on his chances of joining the All Blacks ahead of their test series against Ireland next month was unclear, but the early signs were grim.
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“It’s a shoulder, not great,’’ Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said in reference to Blackadder’s injury.
“He’s unlikely to be involved for the rest of the season for us, and hopefully it’s not (requiring) an operation.’’
Robertson said scans will be required to determine the extent of the injury.
The Reds, who proved a gallant foe for much of this encounter at Orangetheory Stadium, also had their share of misfortune with halfback Tate McDermott taken off the field minutes later in the medical cart following a head knock.
Joe Allison/Getty Images
Sevu Reece celebrates after scoring a brilliant try.
This was a comprehensive win, but it wasn’t a polished effort from the Crusaders, as the Reds served it up to them with their physicality and tough attitude.
In the end, however, the Crusaders ripped the Reds’ heart out by using their immense scrum to pulverise them in the set piece.
Things were so bad for the Reds that tighthead prop Feao Fotuaika was substituted before halftime; not that it made much difference as the Crusaders continued to make inroads in the second spell, with Richie Mo’unga punishing them by using his nifty footwork to score a try.
Mo’unga was in decent form, also kicking four conversions and three penalties for a total of 22 points, although even he could have added more polish to his skills.
Joe Allison/Getty Images
Will Jordan scores the Crusaders’ first try against the Reds.
Former All Black Brad Thorn urged his Reds to operate like leaguies in a State of Origin clash, and they didn’t disappoint their coach; the Queenslanders ripped into their defensive work – the tackle by Fotuaika on Crusaders No 8 Cullen Grace in the first half made tender souls in the stands shudder – and midfielder Hamish Stewart got involved in a bit of push and shove.
Even though the Crusaders were well below their best, their execution let them down on too many occasions, they sparked up when it really mattered.
TMO Glenn Newman was asked to peer into his TV monitor before awarding the first try to Will Jordan, the Crusaders fullback squirming across the white stripe for an excellent finish in the 15th minute.
The home crowd – unsuccessfully – demanded Newman be invited to provide insight when the Reds replied with their own five-pointer to Suliasi Vunivalu, because the right wing went close to hanging his legs over the touchline.
The noise created by loud boos and stamping of feet reverberated around the ground when the TMO wasn’t called upon by referee Brendon Pickerill to inspect the incident, but perhaps that was also a reflection of their frustration.
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Suliasi Vunivalu of the Reds scores a try.
Because it was a botched lineout by the Crusaders on halfway, when Codie Taylor’s throw zoomed clear over the tail, that enabled the visitors to launch their long-range attack.
Taylor appeared to have made amends a few minutes later when he peeled off a maul to flop over for a five-pointer, but Pickerill wasn’t convinced and declined to ask for the intervention of Newman.
It was to mark a frustrating period of play for the Crusaders, who threw everything they could at the Reds but a promising move broke down when tighthead prop George Bower dropped the ball inside the danger zone.
Bower didn’t have the happiest night with his handling in the first spell, and it wouldn’t have been any consolation that he wasn’t alone; Pablo Matera and Jordan were among those to fail to hold the ball.
Left wing Leicester Fainga’anuku thought he had scored after the halftime buzzer, but it wasn’t allowed due to Jordan’s tiny knock-on in contact.
Into their bunkers they trotted for a rest. And it was the Reds who came out hissing when left wing Filipo Daugunu chimed into the backline to score an excellent try off a lineout.
That really made the hairs stand up on the back of the Crusaders’ fans necks, as it became clear their men weren’t going to dictate terms. A powerful finish, though, guaranteed a win.
The big moment
The try to Sevu Reece in the 64th minute put this beyond doubt.
Match rating
7/10
The Crusaders had to graft for this. There’s still plenty of room for improvement. Handling errors, and the lineout yips ensure that.
The big picture
The Crusaders will host a semifinal in Christchurch next week. Probably against the Chiefs or the Waratahs.
MVP
Richie Mo’unga. Had a couple of weeks off but looked in decent nick ahead of the semi.
