Match report: Crusaders outclass Waratahs in Sydney

*Watch highlights at the bottom of the article*

After a strong record at home so far this season, the Waratahs were looking dangerous, and the Crusaders knew it was going to take a lot to topple them at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Friday night.  

It was Rivez Reihana who kick-started things for the visitors. He spotted a gap and broke through the defence, then offloaded to Johnny McNicholl who was waiting on his right to breeze over and score the first try in his 50th Crusaders appearance.  

Rivez Reihana slotted the conversion to give the Crusaders an early 7-0 lead.  

A brilliant intercept by Braydon Ennor came quickly after to secure the visitor’s second try. He skilfully collected the ball after tipping it in the air, regathered it on the run and broke away to dive over the line to extend the lead to 12.  

The Crusaders claimed the restart then cleared to touch. The Waratahs moved the ball quick off the line out, only for Andrew Kellaway to be dragged down by Sevu Reece.   

A Crusaders line out, and the visitors were gathering momentum but a high chip kick from David Havili went long and bounced dead.  

The Waratahs sent it long and Reihana sent Lio-Willie into contact. The ball was knocked on by Tamaiti Williams in the slippery conditions, but play was taken back for a penalty.  

The Crusaders set their line out which Cullen Grace pulled down into the maul. Ioane Moananu peeled off the back to crash over the line.  

Reihana made a difficult conversion from out right look easy to put the Crusaders ahead 19-0. 

After a disallowed try as the TMO couldn’t find a grounding, the Waratahs were finally rewarded for their persistence. 

Langi Gleeson came from behind a ruck to dive over the line. A conversion brought the score to 19-7.  

The Crusaders hit straight back when Johnny McNicholl yet again found himself in space and offloaded to Chay Fihaki who crashed over in the corner.  

Reihana’s kicking game was on fire and he slotted another conversion to bring the score to 26-7.  

The Crusaders managed to sneak in one more try before half time in the 41st minute when Cullen Grace received a pop pass from the ruck and fell over the line. 

HALF TIME 31-7 

The Waratahs had the first say of the second half when Langi Gleeson dotted down for his second try of the evening.  

A conversion from Tane Edmed brought the deficit back to 17. 

The home side were building momentum and taking advantage of the Crusaders lack of discipline. Miles Amatosero added to the Waratahs points when he dove over the line in the 53rd minute. Edmed yet again converted to bring the home side to within 10.  

There’s nothing like stopping a team’s momentum then equalling the all-time Super Rugby try scoring record, and that’s exactly what Sevu Reece did, and a class act at that. 

He received a slick offload from Reihana and ran 50 meters on his own to score down the left.  

Reihana added the two points to extend the lead to 17. 

The Waratahs then got themselves back in the game when winger Darby Lancaster jumped into the air to avoid David Havili dragging him out and dotted the ball down with some talent. 

The TMO wanted to have a second look at the try as it seemed the ball slipped out of Lancaster’s fingers before he could dot it down, but the on-field decision of a try stood, and a conversion brought the deficit back to 10 points again.  

The Crusaders then made it a 13-point game when James O’Connor kicked a penalty after the Waratahs knocked it on at the restart. 

It looked like Reece was going to go for a double with just three minutes left to play as he was darting down the left side, then he put in a cross kick to brilliantly set up Tom Christie to go straight under the sticks.  

James O’Connor added the extras from right out in front, and just like that the visitors had a 20-point lead.  

The Waratahs had the final say of the match with a late try from Triston Reilly, but it was too little too late for the home side. 

Head Coach Rob Penney was pleased with the team’s grit and determination.  

“This is a really pleasing win for the group. The Tahs have been good here at home all year, so we are rapt with that performance.” 

And unsurprisingly, Penney was asked in the post- match press conference if our resident Australian James O’Connor is worthy of a Wallabies spot.  

Penney responded with only positive things to say on his character, on and off the field.  

“James has come across and adopted the standards and values we hold at the Crusaders and has just slotted straight in.”  

After being asked about Sevu Reece’s record- equalling try, Captain David Havili says Reece has “got the monkey off his back.” 

“He’s had a dry spell for a good four or five weeks but he’s a real energiser bunny for us out there and he was definitely due for another try tonight,” says Havili.  

Final score: Crusaders 48 Waratahs 33