Bridge blitz wins title for Crusaders
SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders were crowned champions of New Zealand's domestic competition after a second-half blitz took the wind out of the Highlanders' proverbial sails.
Two tries in as many minutes by All Black George Bridge midway through the second half set the Crusaders up for a 32-22 win over the Highlanders in a pulsating encounter in Christchurch on Sunday.
Going into the final quarter the Crusaders were trailing 13-22, before Bridge scored in the 61st and 63rd minute - with All Black flyhalf Richie Mo'unga very prominent on both occasions.
Mo'unga kicked one of the conversion as and the Crusaders claimed the lead (25-22), an advantage they never conceded.
The four-tries-to-three victory snuffed out the faint title hopes held by the Hurricanes and Blues and effectively ended the competition a week early.
There will be nothing at stake other than bragging rights when the Crusaders play the Blues and the Hurricanes face the Highlanders in the final round next weekend.
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The little-fancied Highlanders led for the first 60 minutes, but could not hold back the red wave, as the Crusaders took control in the final quarter - a period which has produced 40 percent of their points in the competition.
The Crusaders won three Super Rugby titles in a row before COVID-19 crushed this year's competition, replaced by New Zealand's hastily-arranged domestic Aotearoa tournament between the country's five franchises.
The gutsy Highlanders had the better of the first half and were ahead 17-10 at the break.
That became 22-13, before the Crusaders put the hammer down in the final quarter.
It was the Highlanders who looked most like a champion side in the opening stanza.
Jack Whetton won turnover ball which paved the way for the opening try to Shannon Frizell in the second minute.
After a series of fumbles and costly turnovers, the Crusaders clicked in the 12th minute with a long cut-out pass from Bryn Hall to spark a long-range attack involving Sevu Reece, Hall and George Bridge before Richie Mo'unga touched down.
But the Highlanders refused to lie down.
They came back with a Josh Ioane penalty and an 80-metre intercept try to Jona Nareki to open up a 10-point margin.
Two penalties to Mo'unga reduced the Highlanders lead to 17-13 at half-time.
A Michael Collins try pushed the Highlanders lead out to nine points before the Crusaders wrested control.
Bridge crossed twice in the 60th and 62nd minutes before Ennor completed the victory with five minutes remaining.
Man of the match: You will always be tempted to go for George Bridge and his two-try blitz, but it was Richie Mo'unga who pulled the strings at No.10 that created the opportunities for the flying wing to get the champions over the line.
The scorers
For the Crusaders:
Tries: Ennor, Bridge 2, Mo'unga
Cons: Mo'unga 3
Pens: Mo'unga 2
For the Highlanders:
Tries: Collins, Nareki, Frizell
Cons: Ioane 2
Pen: Ioane
Yellow card: Patelesio Tomkinson (Highlanders, 64 - foul play, shoulder charge off the ball)
Teams
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 George Bower, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Sione Havili, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Leicester Fainga’anuku.
Highlanders: 15 Mitch Hunt, 14 Josh McKay, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Sio Tomkinson, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Aaron Smith (co-captain), 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Jack Whetton, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Jeff Thwaites, 2 Ash Dixon (co-captain), Ayden Johnstone.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Jesse Parete, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Ngane Punivai, 23 Teariki Ben-Nicholas.
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser, Brendon Pickerill
TMO: Ben O’Keeffe