Captain David Havili says the Crusaders are “morphing” into an attacking force after finishing the regular Super Rugby season with an emphatic win over the Hurricanes.
The defending champions ran in seven tries to blow away the table-topping but understrength visitors 47-14 in Christchurch on Friday, with wing Sevu Reece scoring twice in his 100th match.
The result means the top four sides to qualify for the six-team playoffs starting next week will all be from New Zealand.
The Crusaders will take momentum into their playoff match against the Blues, after impressive late-season form at Christchurch’s new indoor stadium.
They’ve won four from four home games since switching last month from the small suburban stadium they’d been forced to use for more than a decade after a devastating 2011 earthquake ruined the city’s sports venues.
Havili said his team had revelled in playing under the roof at Te Kaha Stadium, which has been sold out for every game.
The Crusaders have scored at least five tries on every occasion, with Havili excited his players had successfully adapted their game to a more expansive style given the guaranteed dry conditions.
“We knew from the start of the year that we were going to be moving to a dry track, so we spent a lot of the pre-season working on our skill set,” Havili told reporters.
“This style is something we’re morphing into, and we’re starting to see that in the later stage of the season.
“And the crowd’s been outstanding. Rugby’s definitely not dead in New Zealand, especially not in Christchurch anyway.”
Havili hailed another lively performance from Reece, whose brace extended his Super Rugby all-time record for tries to 73.
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With the top qualifying spot already guaranteed for his side, Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw chose to rest most of his first-choice players.
He was unimpressed after they suffered a third defeat of the season.
“We’re disappointed with some of the rugby we played. I thought the Crusaders were too good,” he said ahead of a finals match in Wellington next week against either the ACT Brumbies or Queensland Reds.
“There’s men out there that might have to play next week so at least that’s the positive part of the evening, getting those guys some game time.”
Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
The post Crusaders fine-tune attack ahead of playoffs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Captain David Havili says the Crusaders are “morphing” into an attacking force after finishing the regular Super Rugby season with an emphatic win over the Hurricanes.
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