The Crusaders scored eight tries to pummel the Kings 57-24 in a Super Rugby match at the AMI Stadium on Saturday morning. The halftime score was 29-10 to the home side.
The Kings took a shock lead in in the ninth minute of the match. The South African side were awarded a penalty in the Crusaders half and they opted to kick for touch on the five-metre line. The home side were then pinned for collapsing the maul, and Kings flyhalf Louis Fouche slotted the resutlting penalty through the post.
The Kings then stretched their lead to 10-0 after wing Luzuko Vulindlu intercepted a ball after a dangerous period for the Crusaders. The speedster then ran 60 metres to dot down under the posts.
The Crusaders, though, hit back almost immediately with a great team try and relentless attack that was finished off by big Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo.
The Crusaders then took the lead in the 14th minute when Johnny McNicholl received an early Christmas present. The ball was knocked on straight into his hands by a King player, and he sprinted 60 metres to score under the sticks.
The Crusaders then scored their third try in the 19th minute after some great offloads in the tackle led to Ben Funnell scoring in the corner. Nadolo then scored his second try of the first half eight minutes from the break to give the home side a 17-point advantage at the break.
It was business as usual in the second half when Crusaders flyhalf Richie Mo’unga scored and converted his own try five minutes after the break to make it 34-10 for the home side. His halfback partner Mitchell Drummond then went over the line a few minutes later after some great hands and skill from the New Zealanders.
The Kings hit back in the 51st minute when their hooker Edward Marutlulle burst through the Crusaders line from about 20 metres out to score the try. The South Africans would score one more try in the second half when Chris Cloete went over in the 66th minute.
However, the Crusaders also scored two tries of their own in the last 20 minutes, as replacements Jone Macilai-Tori and Peter Samu made sure of the home side’s bonus point.
Scorers: Crusaders 57 (29): Tries: Nemani Nadolo 2, Johnny McNicholl, Ben Funnell, Richie Mo’unga, Mitchell Drummond, Jone Macilai-Tori, Peter Samu. Conversions: Richie Mo’unga (5), Ben Volavola 2 Penalty: Mo’unga.
Kings 24 (10) Tries: Luzuko Vulindlu, Edward Marutlulle, Chris Cloete. Conversions: Louis Fouche (3). Penalty: Fouche. – African News Agency (ANA)
