Crusaders v Highlanders: Five takeaways as Sevu Reece ‘puts his name into the record books’ while All Blacks hopeful shines again

Following the Crusaders’ 15-12 win over the Highlanders in their Super Rugby Pacific derby at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on Friday, Planet Rugby picks out five takeaways from the thrilling action.

The top line

This was a battle between two sides at opposite ends in the Super Rugby Pacific standings, and although the Crusaders held the upper hand during the initial stages, they were made to work hard for this victory.

The tournament’s most successful side had the better of the early exchanges, and after a Rivez Reihana penalty in the seventh, they were holding a 10-0 lead after Sevu Reece crossed for a converted try shortly afterwards.

That lead was a precarious one, though, as the Highlanders then took control of proceedings and had the bulk of the possession and territory for the rest of the half.

And just before half-time, the men from Dunedin were rewarded when Jonah Lowe crossed for a deserved try, which meant the Crusaders held a slender 10-5 lead at the interval.

The Highlanders continued to dominate after the restart and were rewarded in the 51st minute when Taine Robinson went over for their second try, which he duly converted, and the visitors had their tails up with the score 12-10 in their favour.

It was all Highlanders during the next 20 minutes as they spent most of that time camped inside the Crusaders’ half, but crucially could not extend their lead during that period.

The Crusaders eventually regained the lead in the 72nd minute when Tamaiti Williams scored their second try and although the visitors had an opportunity to draw level and take the game into extra-time, when they were awarded a penalty after the full-time hooter had gone, it wasn’t to be as Cam Miller shot at goal was off target which meant the home side held on for a narrow triumph.

Sevu Reece breaks try-scoring record

After drawing level with former Hurricanes scrum-half and All Blacks team-mate TJ Perenara last week as Super Rugby Pacific’s leading try-scorer, the pressure was on Reece to cross the whitewash in this clash.

And the Crusaders faithful did not have to wait long for that to happen as one of their favourite sons put his name into the record books when he went over for the opening try of the game in the 14th minute.

The Crusaders were camped close to the Highlanders’ try-line, and Reece gathered the ball at a ruck before barging over from close quarters.

It wasn’t a typical Reece finish where he beats several defenders before dotting down, but they all count in the end, and it’s a try which will live on long in the prolific All Blacks flyer’s memory.

That score means Reece has now scored 66 Super Rugby tries, with Perenara, who is now plying his trade in Japan, in second position on the all-time top try-scorers list, while another active Super Rugby player, Moana Pasifika’s Julian Savea, is three tries adrift of Reece’s record in third spot.

Timoci Tavatavanawai empties the tank again

Although the Highlanders are firmly rooted at the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific table, one player who gives his all to their cause on a consistent basis is their co-captain Tavatavanawai.

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The burly centre continued with his outstanding form as he took the fight to the Crusaders with an outstanding all-round performance for the full 80 minutes.

The 27-year-old gave the Highlanders good momentum with excellent physicality as a ball carrier but also caught the eye with some big hits on defence, while he also made his presence felt when competing for possession at the breakdowns.

He was in the thick of the action with his attacking play testing the Crusaders’ defence throughout, and in the end he gained 81 metres from 21 carries, which included one clean break and seven defenders beaten.

He should be a certainty when All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson names his first squad next month.

Crusaders patience pays off

The Crusaders were under the cosh for most of this match as the Highlanders were the dominant side.

The home side made a superb start as they raced into a 10-0 lead, but the Dunedin-based outfit soon held the upper hand and did most of the attacking from the second quarter onwards.

The Highlanders were rewarded with those tries from Lowe and Robinson and held a deserved 12-10 lead by the 51st minute, although the Crusaders did not panic.

And in the 71st minute, the hosts were back in front when Williams barged over from close quarters after they launched an attack off the back of a lineout drive deep inside Highlanders territory.

The Highlanders had an opportunity to draw level in the game’s closing stages, but Millar’s missed penalty meant it wasn’t to be, and Williams proved to be the matchwinner with his try, which came after the Crusaders showed great patience despite being on the back foot.

Highlanders’ goal-kicking proves costly

Jamie Joseph’s charges, who despite picking up a losing bonus point remain bottom of the table and are the same number of points as the Fijian Drua (20), but Glen Jackson’s troops are above the Highlanders as they have won four matches compared to the Highlanders’ three.

Things could have been so different for the men from Dunedin, but unfortunately, their goal-kicking let them down when the Crusaders were there for the taking.

Starting fly-half Robinson crossed for his team’s first try, which he converted himself, but unfortunately, he was off target with two penalties and a conversion while his replacement, Millar, also missed two penalties in the game’s latter stages.

That is a whopping 14 points left out on the field, which would have made a big difference in the bigger scheme of things, and it’s an area which they simply have to improve on if they want to return to winning ways.

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