Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Highlanders stun Crusaders in record win

Highlanders 33
Crusaders 12

No one saw one of the great surprises of the southern derby coming, or a record victory for the Highlanders against the Crusaders.

Whatever happens for the rest of Super Rugby Aotearoa, the Highlanders can hang Tony Brown’s cheese cutter hat on this outstanding performance, one that brings the title quest to life.

From season-ending injuries to the retirement of top players, it all stacked up against the Highlanders this week. They used that adversity to produce a galvanized effort that shook and stunned the previously undefeated Crusaders to record their first victory in eight attempts over their southern neighbors.

With six Highlanders players retiring for breaking team standards by hosting a house party last week, most saw this result as a lost conclusion.

After racking up four wins in the same number of games leading up to their bye week, the Crusaders would surely continue their comfortably lighthearted path.

The Highlanders, outsiders 7-1, had other ideas. Their performance in the first half was the best of any team venturing to Christchurch. And unlike previous teams, they continued to apply heat throughout the second half to complete the unlikely ambush.

Through a quick and committed defense, a variety of attacking kicks that found the ground to turn the Crusaders around, turnovers, continuity and patience in attack, the Highlanders reduced the locals to a clumsy mess at times. .

For once, nothing was on Crusader terms. For once, they were mere mortals.

The Highlanders established a 16-0 lead in the first half with intention and ambition in everything they did. From there, they didn’t just hang on. They forced the Crusaders to chase the game and pressured the defending champs to make unusual mistakes almost every at-bite: Will Jordan trying to start from his own line, but just one example.

While playmaker Mitchell Hunt mastered the proceedings, the Highlanders pack deserve immense credit for matching their illustrious opponents to take away the much-vaunted Crusaders set-piece strengths like no one else has this season.

Without the usual front foot platform, Richie Mo’unga wouldn’t be able to inject his magic touches, instead throwing speculative interceptions in an attempt to ignite his team. Not even an attempt by David Havili in the 69th minute could defeat the Highlanders.

Hunt, against his old team, was very influential. He thrived more responsibly in Josh Ioane’s absence by keeping his men on the desired end of the field and marking the score when the Crusaders regularly infringed.

Connor Garden-Bachop stepped in frequently from fullback and Pari Pari Parkinson was again a great presence up front.

Billy Harmon, the former Crusaders turned flank for the Highlanders, stepped up to two defenders and led two more across the line after constant pressure from the visitors to claim the first down.

However, the Highlanders’ commitment was really evident in the turnovers interrupted by players like running back Folau Fakatava and wing Jona Nareki.

The Crusaders were, by contrast, well off the beat. They pushed the shots, lacked urgency in the breakdown and conceded eight penalties in the first half alone. It seemed like a different team had emerged from his week off.

It was only a matter of time before the Crusaders mounted a comeback. As they usually do, they scored three minutes into injury time before halftime with Codie Taylor maintaining their lead at the top of the scoring attempt tally this season by tucking Ethan Blackadder on his shoulder.

On any other night, the Crusaders would regroup and rally to storm the top of the Highlanders in the second half. But not this time. This time they did not come close.

This was the night of the Highlanders.

Faced with successive defeats to the Blues and Hurricanes on both sides of their goodbye, deviations from injuries to Liam Squire and Freedom Vahaakolo and off-the-field controversy, against all odds they achieved one of the best victories in their history.

Recording their biggest win over the Crusaders and handing them their fourth worst home loss says everything about where this result sits.

Highlanders 33 (Billy Harmon, Michael Collins, Connor Garden-Bachop tries; Mitchell Hunt 3 cons, 4 pens)
Crusaders 12 (Codie Taylor, David Havili tries; Richie Mo’unga scam)
HT: 16-7