AJ Lam sends a pass for the Blues in their win over the Waratahs PHOTO: ROBBIE STEPHENSON/LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
The Blues have held off the Waratahs for a 35-20 win in Sydney, their 12th consecutive victory over the Australian side.
Beauden Barrett had a controlling influence on the game while outside him AJ, Lam was a constant handful, and Sam Darry worked tirelessly in the forwards alongside Dalton Papali’i who made 18 tackles before leaving the game at halftime.
This result sees the Blues improve to four wins and two losses, while the Waratahs slip to two and three. while the Blues return home to Eden Park to take on the Drua.
The Blues survived being a man down for 10 minutes after No.8 Malachi Wrampling-Alec was yellow-carded for a shoulder to the head of Waratahs hooker Ethan Dobbin.
Braydon Ennor scores for the Crusaders against Moana Pasifika PHOTO: SHANE WENZLICK/LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
Meanwhile defending champions avenged last year’s shock loss to Moana Pasifka in style 50-21 at North Harbour Stadium.
Up by just three at the break, the Crusaders ran riot in the second, producing some scintillating running rugby in the rout.
Moana lost Julian Savea early to what looked like a broken arm before the Crusaders opened the scoring, Braydon Ennor showing strength to carry three defenders across the line.
Sevu Reece stretched his lead as Super Rugby’s most prolific try scorer with the movement started by Will Jordan.
Moana pulled gained one back as Patrick Pellegrini found a deft offload for Lalomilo Lalomilo who broke clear and linked with Joel Lam to score against his old side.
Replacement Tevita Ofa made it two in quick succession to give Moana the lead, the winger showing great gas to get on the outside of his opposite.
The Crusader’s quickly restored their lead though, Cooper Grant sending a pinpoint kick across for Chay Fihaki to pouch and plant to give them a narrow 17-14 half-time lead.
The second half belonged to the Crusaders as Fainga’anuku made a 40m run turning the defenders to score.
George Bell barged his way over for back to back, to really put things out of reach, before debutant Kurtis Macdonald scored with his first touch from a Fihaki cut out ball.
Fihaki capped his stellar night with a second as he exploded through the line and skinned the final man to score his second, Moana getting a late consolation courtesy of an intercept for Siaosi Nginingini.