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Richie Mo’unga looked like a happy kid running down Sumner Beach as he inspired the Crusaders to a 39-17 victory over the Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Mo’unga may have even motivated some youngsters to pick up the game as he danced and dodged the bewildered Chiefs defenders in this Super Rugby Aotearoa match at Orangetheory Stadium, until he was replaced in the 65th minute.
Would the Chiefs have been relieved to see his back? Too far to the right.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Richie Mo’unga starred in the Crusaders 39-17 win over the Chiefs in Christchurch.
Like many Crusaders supporters would have been relieved, Mo’unga, who sometimes reminded us of the way Benji Marshall powered up the NRL with his magic feet in the mid-2000s, was finally freed from the clutches of the frustrated Chiefs forwards who have loved dragging him to the ground.
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This, another loss for the Chiefs that extends their miserable losing streak beyond a calendar year, was just another reminder of just how ruthless the SRA can be.
What a tough night for them and new coach Clayton McMillan; the Chiefs lost their defensive form as the pressure mounted, their discipline slipped and the Crusaders continued to increase their pain.
Good fortune often leaves warring teams, and it faded for the Chiefs when a captain’s reference minutes after halftime was dismissed, replaced by a penalty try and a yellow card for co-captain Brad Weber.
The narration went like this: Mo’unga made a good break, his inside pass seemed to advance after Weber hit his arm. But TMO Paul Williams declared that the ball bounced off Weber and, in the following phase, he committed a professional foul to frustrate a try.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Richie Mo’unga of the Crusaders advances during the third round of the Super Rugby Aotearoa game against the Chiefs.
The result? The Chiefs were down to 14 men and the Crusaders went to 8 points, which only fueled their desire to inflict more misery.
And they were relentless; The Crusaders scrum was immense, the forwards improved as the game progressed, even as the substitute bench was being emptied, while Mo’unga, David Havili, Sevu Reece and Will Jordan lit up the baseline.
The Crusaders took five tries, and there could have been more.
A gem of a duel unfolded in the first quarter, with Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie and Crusaders left wing Leicester Fainga’anuku facing off on opposite ends of the court.
Peter Meecham / Getty Images
Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie can’t stop Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga’anuku from scoring a try during the Super Rugby Aotearoa third round match.
It was McKenzie who struck the first blow, as he reminded us how lethal it can be when given a little space when you have the pill in your hands; He immediately sensed that Fainga’anuku was engaged in defense, and buzzed past him like a ghost walking away from a frightened child.
Not that McKenzie’s work was done. One tackle from Mo’unga wasn’t enough to keep him from reaching the try line, his momentum allowed him to throw the ball through the chalk.
And then it was Fainga’anuku’s turn to take matters into his own hands.
A break from midfielder David Havili was followed by a rocket pass that put his left wing into space with only McKenzie between him and the corner post.
What happened next bordered on the remarkable. Somehow, despite a valiant tackle from McKenzie, Fainga’anuku launched himself into space and managed to score without skimming the grass.
A withering start by the Chiefs gave them a 10-0 lead, McKenzie converted his own score and added a penalty, giving a glimmer of hope to a group of his hardy fans located near the coach’s area that this could be the night. of visitors.
But it was as if the extremely cold east wind whipping the ground caused the Chiefs to slow down their attack. Sinisterly, the Crusaders set out to put possession and territory stats in their favor.
Credit to the Chiefs for denying the Crusaders units outside the lineout, but they should have had more points with such a strong breeze in the tail.
And in the second half? They simply had no answer.
Crusaders 39 (Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Mitchell Dunshea tries, penalty attempt; Richie Mo’unga 2 with, 2 pen, Fergus Burke with) Heads 17 (Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai-Seturo tries; McKenzie 2 scam, pen). HT: 11-10
