The STAGGERING Crusaders statistic as champions make unwanted Super Rugby history in latest defeat

David Skippers
Levi Aumua Crusaders v Waratahs SRP 2024 - Alamy.jpg

Crusaders duo Levi Aumua (outside centre) and Tom Christie (openside flanker).

It’s official. The Crusaders have made their worst-ever start in Super Rugby history after suffering a narrow 14-10 defeat against the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Friday.

The tournament’s defending champions have now lost all four of their matches in the competition – after previous defeats to the Chiefs, Waratahs and Fijian Drua – and their reversal to the Hurricanes means there will be pressure on the Crusaders’ head coach, Rob Penney, to hold onto his job.

Adding to that, it is also the first time that the perennial Super Rugby winners have lost four matches in a row in the tournament’s history.

Click here for teams and scorers

Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, the Hurricanes continue with their impressive start to the Super Rugby Pacific season, as they are still the only unbeaten team left in the competition.

The Wellington-based outfit have notched four successive victories following wins over the Western Force, Reds and Blues in their other matches.

As the scoreline suggests, Friday’s clash between these heavyweights of New Zealand rugby was an arm wrestle, and the result was in the balance until its closing stages.

SANZAAR pushing ‘hard’ to implement controversial law ahead of World Rugby vote

The Hurricanes made the brighter start as they held the upper hand during the early stages, and their dominance was rewarded in the 14th minute when All Black tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax gathered a pass from Cam Roigard deep inside Crusaders territory before crossing for the opening try.

Hurricanes continue winning steak

Brett Cameron added the extras to give the visitors a 7-0 lead which they held at half-time as the rest of the opening period was a slugfest with the sides battling to gain the ascendancy.

The Crusaders were fastest out of the blocks after the restart and drew level in the 54th minute when Cullen Grace burrowed his way over the try-line from close quarters, with Riley Hohepa succeeding with the conversion.

Like the first half, the rest of the match was a slugfest, although Crusaders supporters must have thought they had done enough to end their losing streak when Hohepa slotted a penalty in the 71st minute, which gave them a 10-7 lead.

It wasn’t to be, however, as the Hurricanes finished stronger and clinched the victory in the 79th minute. Justin Sangster burst through a tackle to score a well-taken try, which Cameron converted.

The result means the Hurricanes are firmly entrenched at the top of the Super Rugby table with 17 points amassed, while the Crusaders are in the 11th spot in the 12-team competition on a paltry two points.

The champions are in danger of dropping down to the bottom spot if the Western Force beat Moana Pasifika in their match in Perth later on Friday.

Crusaders v Hurricanes teams

Crusaders: 15 Chay Fihaki, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Macca Springer, 10 Riley Hohepa, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Dominic Gardiner, 5 Zach Gallagher, 4 Quinten Strange, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 George Bell, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Finlay Brewis, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Tahlor Cahill, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Ryan Crotty, 23 Dallas McLeod

Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor (cc), 12 Riley Higgins, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Tucker, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua (c), 1 Tevita Mafileo
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23 Salesi Rayasi

READ MORE: Late Blues and Maori All Blacks player diagnosed with CTE

Crusaders