{"id":13541,"date":"2021-03-13T22:59:48","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T09:59:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/?p=13541"},"modified":"2021-03-14T10:11:42","modified_gmt":"2021-03-13T21:11:42","slug":"crusaders-turn-it-on-against-luckless-chiefs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2021\/03\/13\/crusaders-turn-it-on-against-luckless-chiefs\/","title":{"rendered":"CRUSADERS TURN IT ON AGAINST LUCKLESS CHIEFS"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Crusaders have handed the Chiefs an unwanted record-equaling result tonight at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch, winning 39-17 in their Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa round three match.<\/span><\/p>\n

The loss means the Chiefs have now been on the wrong side of the scoresheet 11 times in a row, one more next weekend and they\u2019ll beat the mark for a New Zealand Super Rugby team set by the 2011 Highlanders.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, things started out perfectly for the Chiefs when All Black fullback Damian McKenzie scored a stunning try in inside the first two minutes. Some quick ball and a lovely pass from Sean Wainui sent him through to score, but if that was impressive it paled in comparison to what Leicester Fainga\u2019anuku had up his sleeve in the 16th minute. The Crusaders winger latched onto a wide pass from David Havili and finished with an out-of-this-world dive into the corner that would look right at home in the NRL, NFL or an Olympic gymnastics competition.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the score evenly balanced at 11-10 to the Crusaders after the start of the second half, the Chiefs suffered a double blow when co-captain Brad Weber conceded a penalty try and was sinbinned. While this ruling was correct, they can feel more than a little hard done by as a captain\u2019s challenge in the lead up regarding a forward pass by Richie Mo\u2019unga was overruled despite some compelling evidence otherwise.<\/span><\/p>\n