Nemani Nadolo led the Canterbury Crusaders on an eight-try scoring spree as they pulled off a 57-24 bonus-point win over the Southern Kings in Christchurch yesterday.
The huge Fiji wing scored two of the Crusaders’ tries and was the battering ram who paved the way for several others as the Kings defense fell apart. It was a game the Crusaders, coming off a bye, were expected to win with ease and coach Todd Blackadder used the occasion to make nine changes and blood several fringe players.
However, with the rearrangement, which included resting incoming All Blacks captain Kieran Read, it was not a promising start for the Crusaders, who found themselves down 10 points down after 11 minutes.
Photo: AP
“There was a bit of rust there,” captain Sam Whitelock said, adding that the new combinations took time to settle. “The boys were pumped up and really wanted to play, so we had to try and keep them back and play with a bit of structure.”
Louis Fouche opened the scoring for the Kings with a handy penalty and then converted Luzuko Vulindlu’s runaway try after the right wing intercepted a loose Wyatt Crockett pass.
However, once the seven-times champion Crusaders settled, their dominance could not be denied as they ran in four tries before halftime to lead 29-10 at the turn. Nadolo was primed to charge at the Kings, drawing in defenders to open gaps out wide. He bulldozed his way to the line twice, while Ben Funnell touched down at the end of a long-range buildup, Johnny McNicholl matched Vulindlu’s runaway effort and Richie Mo’unga added nine points with the boot.
Photo: EPA
The Crusaders continued to pile on the pressure at the start of the second half, sweeping the field with multiple passing movements resulting in tries to Mo’unga and Mitchell Drummond to extend the lead to 43-10. Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Kings continued to battle away and Edgar Marutlulle, who scored twice against the Chiefs last week, came off the bench to touch down.
However, further pressure from the Kings was meet with determined Crusaders defense until an eventual turnover produced another length-of-the-field move that ended with a try to Jone Macilai-Tori.
Chris Cloete scored a third try for the Kings before replacement Pete Samu scored the Crusaders eighth after another Nadolo drive at the line.
The Crusaders are to travel to South Africa to play the Coastal Sharks and Golden Lions, while the Kings play the Hurricanes in Wellington next weekend before heading back to South Africa to face the Sunwolves.
BULLS, SHARKS
AP, PRETORIA
A long-range penalty goal from Bulls substitute Tiaan Schoeman ended the Sharks’ winning start to the Super Rugby season and earned the hosts a 16-16 draw on Friday.
A largely turgid game sprung to life in the closing stages as Schoeman landed his kick from the halfway line to level the scores with a minute remaining in the South African clash.
The Durban-based Sharks still had a chance to seal a fourth straight win when they were awarded a penalty at the death, but Joe Pietersen tarnished his perfect kicking record by missing a straightforward attempt.
Pietersen had kicked three penalties and a conversion to go with Willie le Roux’s try as the Sharks came from 13-3 down to lead 16-13 with 25 minutes to play.
Warrick Gelant scored the Pretoria-based Bulls’ solitary try toward the end of the first half after a well-rehearsed set piece, while Francois Brummer kicked two penalties, a conversion and a drop-goal for the hosts.
The Sharks remained top of the South Africa 2 conference, while the draw provisionally moved the Bulls up to second place in the South Africa 1 conference.
SUNWOLVES, REBELS
AP, TOKYO
The Melbourne Rebels overpowered the Sunwolves 35-9 yesterday, denying the Japan-based team their first win in Super Rugby.
Ben Meehan, Tom English and Sean McMahon scored second-half tries as the Rebels improved to 3-1 after four rounds.
After being competitive in their first two matches, the Sunwolves got a taste of how difficult things can be for a new team in the league.
It was the squad’s first match against an Australian side after losses to two South Africa-based teams.
Jordy Reid ran in a try in the first half to help the Rebels take an 11-6 lead at halftime.
Tusi Pisi kicked all the Sunwolves’ points.
REDS, BLUES
AFP, BRISBANE, Australia
Flyhalf Ihaia West landed a penalty goal after the siren to hand the Auckland Blues a 25-25 draw with the Queensland Reds in Brisbane yesterday.
The Blues opted for the draw through West’s goalkick rather than gamble on going after a match-clinching try.
The penalty goal kept the Reds without a win after four rounds following the recent sacking of head coach Richard Graham.
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