Crusaders

Major blow for All Blacks before season even kicks off

Blackadder suffered the injury in the Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinal win over the Queensland Reds last Friday.

Scans show Blackadder, who has played nine tests, now needs surgery and the Crusaders have confirmed he won't return to the field until next year meaning he will miss the entire All Black season.

"We really feel for Ethan, who has been in incredible form and is such a hardworking and well-respected member of this team," said Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.

Semi-finalists set for Super Rugby Pacific

The Auckland based side kept the Highlanders try-less in their dominant 35-6 quarter-final win at Eden Park last night.

A red card to Highlanders hooker Andrew Makileo put his side on the back foot from the 22nd minute, but the Southerners were still in the contest at half-time, trailing 14-6.

The Blues outshone the valiant Highlanders in the second half, running in three tries to close out the contest.

Beauden Barrett finished with a brace, while Akira Ioane, AJ Lam and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck all crossed the line for tries of their own.

Crusaders optimistic Sevu Reece will play Reds in Super Rugby Pacific playoff

Wing Reece was forced to retire in the ninth minute of last Friday's match against the Reds, won 28-15 by the Crusaders in Christchurch, because he required a head injury assessment and needed to be replaced by fellow All Black George Bridge.

The re-match against the Reds, who have remained in Christchurch to prepare for the sudden-death fixture, will again be staged at Orangetheory Stadium and the early indications are that Reece will be available to line-up on the right wing.

Scrappy Crusaders win sets up playoff rematch with Reds

Fergus Burke, Will Jordan, Brodie McAlister and Tom Christie scored the tries for the Crusaders on Friday, who will host the seventh-placed Reds for a second successive week in the quarterfinals.

The Crusaders were some way off their machine-like best but shot out to an early 14-0 lead with a two-try burst in four minutes.

Flyhalf Burke was first to cross after the Reds botched a scrum deep in defence, with returned fullback Will Jordan touching down in the 14th minute after a turnover in midfield.

Crusaders crush Fijian Drua

     

The 61-3 win in Christchurch on Friday went as forecast, with the home side's nine unanswered tries against the newcomers giving the Crusaders a handy margin boost as they fight with the Brumbies for second spot on the competition ladder heading into the playoffs.

The Drua managed to link phases together with relative comfort, but couldn't make inroads against the well-drilled host's defence.

And their turnovers were punished, the Crusaders cruising with four first-half tries including a competition-high 10th for Leicester Fainga'anuku in the second minute.

Crusaders beat Brumbies

Crusaders captain Scott Barrett said the 37-26 win brought a period of erratic form to a close.

"I think the last three of four weeks we've been backed into a corner."

"We've probably dug a little bit deeper with our preparation and I guess what it means to play for the Crusaders."

Leading 23-4 at half-time, the Crusaders were pushed in the second half by the Brumbies who piled on the points.

But Scott Robertson's men held on for the 37-26 win.

Crusaders light on locks as Dalzell cops ban

Hamish Dalzell has copped a three match Super Rugby ban after pleading guilty to a dangerous tackle.

He will be out until May 20.

The incident occurred in the 67th minute of Crusaders upset loss to the Waratahs in Sydney last Saturday.

With captain and fellow lock Scott Barrett also serving a suspension and Mitchell Dunshea, Quinten Strange and Zach Gallagher out injured the Super Rugby Aotearoa champions have now taken another hit to their already depleted second row stocks.

Crusaders down Rebels, Highlanders fall to Brumbies

Leading 7-3 at half-time, the Crusaders showed their dominance in the second half, scoring immediately after the break and running away with the contest.

Ethan Blackadder scored two tries while Cullen Grace, Bryn Hall, Tamati Williams and Leicester Fainga'anuku all scored one each.

The Crusaders now have six wins from eight matches, and will travel to Sydney to take on the Waratahs this Saturday.

In the afternoon match, the Brumbies beat the Highlanders 28-17.

Goodhue back for Crusaders, but All Blacks prop ruled out

Goodhue will start at second-five against the Rebels in Melbourne on Sunday evening.

Goodhue has been out of action for 12 months after suffering a serious knee injury playing against the Hurricanes in Wellington last April.

He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, he damaged his medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament attempting a tackle.

The Crusaders are now preparing for a four-match tour in Australia, starting with their Anzac weekend fixture against the Rebels, the last game in Super Rugby Pacific's 'Super Round'.

Blues hang on to beat Crusaders

Leading 17-7 at the break, the Blues clung on to win the bruising contest, successfully defending their line in the dying minutes for a historic victory.

The Blues were the first to score when Stephen Perofeta slotted a penalty in the 9th minute.

The Crusaders hit back through Will Jordan when he received a cut out ball from David Havili to touch down in the 18th minute.