Editors Note: It is a pleasure to have Scott Hornell from #RugbyUnited guest writing his views on Super Rugby. Rugby United is a massive rugby network on Twitter with over 130,000 followers covering every country of the rugby world, as well as all the teams in Super Rugby. Scott runs the #RugbyNewZealand account which oversees all the Super Rugby accounts in New Zealand. Thanks to Scott for sharing this with us.
In some games, there are moments that can turn a match. A big tackle from a monster number 8, or a referee’s call – valid or sometimes not. But in last nights Super Rugby match between the Blues and The Crusaders, it was some fantastic footwork from their flying wingers.
The early pre-season has not been kind to this Auckland franchise, so last nights match was full of trepidation. Would this team match the southern men for heart and experience? And could a ‘fresh-faced’ number 10 (no, not the highly marketed Benji Marshall) but an Auckland Rugby talent in Simon Hickey manage the talents outside him? This factor alone would have to be given a ‘pass mark’ which was reinforced by an incredible burst of try scoring fire-power from The Blues back line.
While each team have fine wingers, the advantage that The Blues seemed to hold was in their All Black stubbed wing/fullback combination, which holds a destructive force. But at the beginning of this match, they seemed be instructed to ‘kick the ball away’. If this we’re instruction from coach John Kirwan, then it wasn’t working JK.
The first half hour belonged to a match-hardened Crusaders outfit, that ran the offence and all too easily stole Blues line-out ball in a professional manner, highlighted by a classy run “fatty on the wing” Corey Flynn, who dummied Charles Piutau, and scored first. An extraordinary result, that silenced the large crowd of 25,000 plus.
What the home team lacked, was some spark. Auckland captain Luke Braid needed it as the score mounted to 17-3, and what he received was a blast of rugby that sparked the audience into life, and seemed to cut-short any Crusaders dominance.
It begin with Frank Halai creating something from nothing. He demonstrated why the All Blacks called him up, and set off for a solo-effort try. Then, from the re-start, a sure handed Peter Saili re-gathered a 10m chip and what happened next was ‘pure brilliance’ from a promising young winger. Tevita Li ran onto the ball at pace, and beat four Crusaders tacklers to electrify the crowd.Every Blues supported screamed in delight, as this 2 try Blitz removed any advantage the team in red had gained.
A certainty for try-of-the-week, his enthusiasm inspired the team and with 17 un-answered points, Kieran Read’s men were out-passioned by the home team. Only a barging run from Ryan Crotty gave the Crusaders some chance of victory, but it was an empassioned Blues team that held out the southern team, and send the crowd home with smiles on their faces.
The sheer brilliance and collective energy of the Auckland franchise meant another colossal Super Rugby NZ derby was again, a great example of fast-paced rugby at its very best.
Thanks to Scott Hornell and #RugbyUnited for their insight. To find the #RugbyUnited account for your country or club, click here to check out the main twitter feed, and for New Zealand’s #RugbyUnited account click here.
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Main Photo Credit: Auckland Blues
