Crusaders, Waratahs victorious in thrilling Super Rugby opening round

02/14/2025 06:49 AM

FRIDAY WRAP: Super Rugby 2024 basement dwellers the Crusaders and Waratahs recorded thrilling, hard-fought wins in Round One of the 2025 Super Rugby season.

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Wallabies star James O'Connor and young scrumhalf Kyle Preston have made impressive debuts off the bench to help the Crusaders to a 33-25 season-opening Super Rugby Pacific win over the Hurricanes in Christchurch.

Injected into the action in the 57th minute, O'Connor had several nice touches but none better than a lovely short ball to put Will Jordan on the attack as the Crusaders trailed in the final quarter.

All Black winger Sevu Reece crossed a couple of phases later to put the Crusaders in front for the first time before O'Connor slotted the conversion to make it 29-25.

O'Connor turned down a small-money offer to stay at the Reds before being handed a lifeline by the Crusaders, who are the 34-year-old's fourth Super Rugby club after debuting at the Western Force back in 2008 before also having two seasons at the Rebels.

The classy back's versatility is already proving useful for embattled coach Rob Penney, who presided over only five wins last year having left the Waratahs after a none-from-five start to the 2021 Super Rugby AU season.

Lively scrumhalf Kyle Preston bagged a hat-trick to spark the Crusaders after the Hurricanes shot out to an early 14-0 lead at Rugby League Park, and took a 22-14 advantage into the half-time break.

The Hurricanes capitalised on the ill-disciplined hosts, which saw Scott Barrett go to the bin.

Hooker Jacob Devery took advantage of a rare start with Asafo Aumua out injured as he crossed for a double.

However, the Crusaders rallied, and it was Preston who proved an unlikely hero.

The scrumhalf came on early for Noah Hotham, who went off the field early due to injury, and scored the hosts' first try.

Cullen Grace followed him over before Preston scored twice after the break to secure the win.

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Code-crossing superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has made an impressive debut as the Waratahs snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in their Super Rugby Pacific season opener against the Highlanders.

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A rousing last-minute try to replacement prop Siosifa Amone earned the Waratahs a thrilling 37-36 win in a rollercoaster enounter that featured 10 lead changes at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Tahs had looked gone after the Highlanders hit the front for a fifth time shortly after Amone bagged his first try of a memorable Friday night double in the 66th minute.

But the nuggety front-rower had fans in raptures when he finished off a desperate multi-phase attack seconds before the fulltime siren sounded to give last year's wooden spooners a hard-earned winning start to 2025.

While he was far from his brilliant best, the Waratahs almost certainly would have lost without Suaalii and his series of classy touches.

The prized signing showcased his freakish aerials skills first, then kept the Tahs in the contest with his silky running game.

New coach Dan McKellar was hoping Suaalii could get his hands on the ball as much as possible and, debuting at fullback, the 21-year-old wasted no time making his mark on the match.

He soared high in the second minute to steal a Jake Gordon box kick from the clutches of Highlanders winger Michael Mansen.

Suaalii repeated the effort shortly after, only for his tap-back this time falling straight into the arms of Highlanders scrumhalf Nathan Hastie, who promptly sent winger Caleb Tangitau on a virtual free run down the left sideline to open the scoring.

The Waratahs replied with a 10th-minute penalty goal from Tane Edmed, before Highlanders captain Timoci Tavatavanawai scurried over from close range to extend the visitors' lead to 12-3.

The home team finally bagged their opening try of the season 33 minutes into the game following the sin-binning of Highlanders lock Mitchell Dunshea for a shoulder to David Porecki's head, then some more Suaalii input.

The one-time State of Origin star was taken out of play after his probing chip and chase, and the Waratahs cashed in on the ensuing field position as prop Taniela Tupou, also on debut for the Waratahs, proved the unlikely provider for flanker Rob Leota to touch down out wide.

Suaalii was also instrumental in the home team snatching a 13-12 half-time lead after his 30-metre burst led to centre Joey Walton being pulled down just short of the line.

Referee Angus Gardner nabbed Tangitau for not releasing Walton, yellow-carded the winger and allowed Edmed to boot the penalty in the shadows of the break.

Despite being down a man, the Highlanders quickly regained the lead with a penalty goal from Sam Gilbert, before Porecki nudged the Tahs back in front with a driving maul try.

Things again looked grim for the hosts when Veveni Lasaqa scored but, again, Suaalii came to the rescue, beating three Highlanders defenders in a dazzling 20-metre run before Max Jorgensen crossed on the next phase.

Suaalii also pulled off a try-saving tackle on Highlanders centre Tanielu Tele'a, but it was Amone who ultimately proved the unlikely hero with his late brace to save the Waratahs' blushes.

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See below for Friday's scorers and scorers!

Crusaders 33-25 Hurricanes

Scorers

For the Crusaders:
Tries: Preston 3, Grace, Reece
Cons: Kemara 3, O'Connor

For the Hurricanes: 
Tries: Devrey 2, Naholo
Cons: Godfrey 2
Pens: Godfrey, Harkin

Yellow card: Scott Barrett (Crusaders - repeated penalties in red-zone 3')

Teams

Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 David Havili, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christin Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 George Bower, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Tahlor Cahil, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O'Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod.

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Harry Godfrey, 9 Cameron Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shields (co-captain), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Jacob Devery, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputou, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Hugo Plummer, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Ngatungane Punivai.

Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Brett Cronan

Waratahs 37-36 Highlanders

Scorers

For the Waratahs:
Tries: Leota, Porecki, Jorgensen, Amone 2
Con: Edmed 2, Bowen
Pen: Edmed 2

For the Highlanders:
Tries: Tangitau 2, Tavatavanawai, Lasaqa, Kautai
Con: Gilbert 3, Millar
Pen: Gilbert

Teams

Yellow cards: Mitchell Dunshea (Highlanders - Dangerous play: shoulder contact to head 29'), Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders - Cynical: no clear release in tackle after linebreak 40')

Waratahs: 15 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Hugh Sinclair, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Dave Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jack Grant, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 Darby Lancaster.

Highlanders: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Michael Manson, 13 Tanielu Tele'a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Caleb Tangitau, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Hugh Renton (co-captain), 7 Sean Withy, 6 Lui Naeata, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma'u, 2 Soane Mikaele Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Nikora Broughton, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Cameron Millar, 23 Finn Hurley.

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Ollie Kellett

Image credit @superrugby