Round eight of DHL Super Rugby Pacific was a shorter one, but it still managed to give us some epic action and some intriguing movement on the table. The Crusaders couldn’t have scripted their send off for Apollo Projects Stadium any better, with a resounding 69-24 win over the Fijian Drua moving them to fifth spot on the table.
Here’s a rundown of the weekend’s fixtures:
Four for Taylor as the Crusaders prepare to move house
Codie Taylor’s four tries were a fitting way for the Crusaders and All Blacks legend to celebrate his 150th Super Rugby game, but this one also featured the sort of free-flowing rugby that made Apollo Projects Stadium the home of seven trophy lifts for the home side. The Crusaders now move across town to the impressive new One NZ Stadium, but say goodbye having achieved exactly 100 wins at Apollo Projects.
The way they got there was thanks to a ruthless first half, that saw them up 31-0 after only half an hour. Sevu Reece and Taylor accounted for four of the five tries, before the Drua managed to get themselves on the scoresheet thanks to Joseva Tamani. The very healthy crowd roared Taylor on to his third and fourth tries after the break, before giving the hooker a much-deserved standing ovation when he was subbed after 51 minutes.
To their credit, the Drua didn’t lie down and it was fitting that former Crusader Manasa Mataele scored an excellent try in the 53rd minute. It’s hard to imagine any team being able to contain the Crusaders when they’re in this sort of mood, however the Drua can take whatever satisfaction there is in being able to somehow keep Will Jordan off the scoresheet.
Crusaders 69 (Codie Taylor 4, Sevu Reece 2, Chay Fihaki 2, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Corey Kellow, Seb Calder tries; Taha Kemara 7 cons)Fijian Drua 26 (Elia Canakaivata 2, Joseva Tamani, Manasa Mataele tries; Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula 3 cons)
HT: 38-12
Chiefs’ All Blacks step up against NSW Waratahs
Kyren Tamouefolau made the most of his start on the wing for the Chiefs, bagging the first and last tries of what was a dominant win over the Waratahs in Hamilton. The former Moana Pasifika flyer has spent most of this season out of the match day 23, but tonight’s effort will give coach Jono Gibbes plenty to think about going forward.
Tamouefolau benefitted from a very strong effort from the All Black-laden Chiefs pack, with Samisoni Finau putting in a trademark big tackle on Siosifa Amone in the second half and powering over for a try. Samisoni Taukei’aho drove over from close range, while Josh Lord continued his excellent season with a fine all round display. Quinn Tupaea completed the Chiefs’ scoring with a double.
After a shaky start, promising Waratahs youngster Sid Harvey scored his first try in Super Rugby Pacific, with Pete Samu crossing in the second half. However, by then the damage had well and truly been done by a Chiefs side that moves them into the top four.
Chiefs 42 (Kyren Taumoefolau, 2, Quinn Tupaea 2, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Samipeni Finau tries; Josh Jacomb 3 con, 2 pen)
Waratahs 14 (Sid Harvey, Pete Samu tries; Harvey 2 con)
HT: 23-7
Western Force pull off big upset in Brisbane
Pumas lock Franco Molina was the hero for the Western Force, scoring a hat trick in their upset 42-19 victory over the Reds. The big Argentine wasn’t alone, with strong showings across the park by his teammates, most notably Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year leader Ben Donaldson.
Molina’s first try came after a very good opening 12 minutes by the Force, however the Reds hit back through replacement Tim Ryan and the impressive Joe Brial. That lead was short-lived though, with Mac Grealy scoring not long after to restore a Force lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa scored on the hour mark against his old team, as the Force cashed in on a one-man advantage with Harry Wilson in the bin. That pushed their lead out to 23, which felt insurmountable given how well the Force had been playing. A long range Filipo Daugunu effort minutes from full time temporarily rubbing out the Force’s bonus point.
However, Molina saved his best for last, charging 20 metres through several tacklers to crash over and cap off one of the best Force performances in their history.
The win came at a cost for the Force though, with Darby Lancaster forced from the field with a leg injury in the act of scoring his try. The Reds will be ruing this loss though, a win would’ve seen them move to fourth, instead they stay in seventh with tough assignments against the Crusaders and Blues coming up.
Western Force 42 (Franco Molina 3, Mac Grealy, Darby Lancaster, Brandon Paenga-Amosa tries; Ben Donaldson 5 con)
Queensland Reds 19 (Tim Ryan, Joe Brial, Filipo Daugunu tries; Jock Campbell, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips cons)
HT: 21-12
