30/05/2026
Photo highlights from yesterday's Super Rugby Pacific Round 16 clash between the Crusaders and the Hurricanes which was played at Christchurch's One NZ Stadium.
An emphatic display from the Crusaders might just give them a chance to put their superb home playoff record on the line after hammering the top-seeded but under-strength Hurricanes 47-14 in Christchurch on Friday night.
The Crusaders will surge past the Blues and secure the No 3 seed if the Chiefs knock over the Blues in Hamilton which would grant them a first round playoff fixture at One New Zealand Stadium next Saturday afternoon.
The Crusaders have, after all, won all 32 playoff games they've hosted. Centurion Sevu Reece scored two tries as the homeside locked up a top four finish. The Crusaders were also far from full strength on a night the Hurricanes had nothing to play for and rested several members of their first team squad.
As halftime approached the Crusaders rolled into 26-7 lead, running in four tries to one in front of another 25,000 strong sell out crowd. Hotham’s try was the pick of the bunch, the final product of a sweeping counter-attack.
In the second half the game became a stale encounter and with the only talking point the pyrotechnics. Twenty years after the infamous fog final between the same teams which ultimately played a part in the mountain of errors both teams made.
Crusaders finally managed to make some passes stick, and ran in three more tries to blow the Hurricanes off the park and improve to 4-0 in their new stadium. Fittingly, the hosts allowed Reece to attempt to convert his 77th minute try, which he calmly slotted from the sideline to finish the regular season.
Result:
Crusaders 47-14 Hurricanes
Photo's were taken for ZUMA Press Wire
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