All Blacks star shines as Crusaders cruise past Moana Pasifika to keep Super Rugby Pacific play-off hopes alive

David Skippers
Codie Taylor Crusaders v Moana Pasifika SRP 2023 - Alamy.jpg

All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor on the charge for the Crusaders.

The Crusaders stayed in the hunt for the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals when they clinched a 43-10 bonus-point victory against Moana Pasifika in Christchurch on Friday.

As the scoreline suggests, this home side were deserved winners, and they outscored Moana by seven tries to one, with All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor, who only returned to action a few weeks ago from a non-playing sabbatical, leading the way with a brace.

The Crusaders‘ other tries were scored by Ethan Blackadder, Ryan Crotty, Noah Hotham, Dallas McLeod and Macca Springer, while Fergus Burke slotted four conversions.

For Moana, Fine Inisi crossed the whitewash, and William Havili added a penalty and a conversion.

Click here for scorers

The Crusaders made a dominant start, but despite having the bulk of the possession, they were dealt a blow in the 11th minute when Joe Moody was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Lotu Inisi.

Moana soon made their numerical advantage count as Havili opened the scoring shortly afterwards when he slotted a penalty.

Despite playing with 14 men, the Crusaders soon took control of proceedings and in the 18th minute, Blackadder crossed the whitewash off the back of a lineout drive deep inside Moana territory.

Five minutes later, it was a similar story when Taylor broke away from a maul before crashing over for his first five-pointer, but Moana responded on the half-hour mark when Fine Inisi dotted down after good work from his brother, Lotu, in the build-up.

The try-scorer soon turned from hero to villain for Moana as he was then sin-binned for a deliberate knock on and it did not take long for the Crusaders to take advantage as Taylor crossed for his second try after another powerful lineout drive inside the visitors’ 22.

And in the 36th minute the home side’s dominance was rewarded again when Crotty dotted down which meant the Crusaders held a 26-10 lead at half-time.

Shortly after the restart, Hotham showed his class when he chipped ahead before regathering and crossing for his try, and in the 55th minute, McLeod was also rewarded with his try after good work from Burke in the build-up.

The final quarter was closely contested as Moana were more competitive during that period, but the Crusaders hammered home their dominance when Springer showed a superb turn of speed on his way over the try-line in the 67th minute.

That sealed an emphatic win for the hosts, who moved up to eighth position in the Super Rugby Pacific standings and the last quarter-final spot for the time being.

That situation could change on Saturday, however, if the Fijian Drua or Western Force win their respective matches against the Rebels or Brumbies.

The teams

Crusaders: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Dallas McLeod, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Tamaiti Williams, 2 Codie Taylor (c), 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 George Bower, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Tom Christie, 21 Mitch Drummond, 22 Taine Robinson, 23 Heremaia Murray

Moana: 15 Kyren Taumoefolau, 14 Fine Inisi, 13 Henry Taefu, 12 Julian Savea, 11 Pepesana Patafilo, 10 William Havili, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Lotu Inisi, 7 Sione Havili Talitui (c), 6 Jacob Norris, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Samiuela Moli, 1 Abraham Pole
Replacements: 16 Tomasi Maka, 17 Ivan Fepuleai, 18 Suetena Asomua, 19 Ola Tauelangi, 20 Alamanda Motuga, 21 Aisea Halo, 22 Christian Lealiifano, 23 Nigel Ah Wong

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan (Australia), Jeremy Markey (Australia)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)

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