Wellington (AFP)
The Christchurch Crusaders, winners of the last three Super Rugby editions, won the Wellington Hurricanes (39-25) on Sunday for their debut in Super Rugby Aoteaora, a 100% New Zealand version of the Hemisphere Championship South.
The Crusaders, who were at the top of the New Zealand conference rankings in March before competition was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, scored five tries against one only for their opponents.
Richie Mo'unga, star of the Christchurch franchise and opener of the All Blacks, brought his team 19 points, compiling an essay, four transformations and two penalties.
The Hurricanes, already defeated on the first day by the Auckland Blues at Eden Park (30-20), have long resisted thanks to the game at the foot of Jackson Garden-Bachop (20 points). The opener from Wellington even allowed his team to return to a tie (25-25) fifteen minutes from the end by transforming the try entered by Asafo Aumua.
But the Christchurch champions, deprived of their second line All Black (31 sel.) And captain, Scott Barrett, injured in a foot, accelerated and managed to flatten two more times, by Mo'unga then David Havili.
"We gave them too many penalties and got a yellow card (Jack Goodhue, 44th). We have to analyze this. Against the New Zealand teams, you cannot afford it," deplored the Crusaders captain Codie Taylor, despite his own victory.
Super Rugby Aotearoa, a version of Super Rugby "confined" to New Zealand, pits the five local franchises of Super rugby, the annual competition usually bringing together teams from the four major nations of the Southern Hemisphere: New Zealand , South Africa, Australia and Argentina.
The results of the 2nd day:
Saturday:
Chiefs - Blues 12-24
Sunday:
Hurricanes - Crusaders 39-25
Exempt: Highlanders
Program for the 3rd day:
Saturday June 27:
(7:05 GMT) Blues - Highlanders
Sunday June 28:
(3:35 GMT) Crusaders - Chiefs
Exempt: Hurricanes
© 2020 AFP