The Crusaders have narrowly escaped Wellington with a thrilling 31-24 victory over the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby Pacific clash on April 11, 2025. The match, held at Sky Stadium, saw the visitors take a commanding lead only to find themselves under immense pressure as the game drew to a close.
From the outset, the Hurricanes struck first, with Peter Umaga-Jensen crossing the line early on to give the home side a 5-0 lead. However, the Crusaders quickly responded, showcasing their attacking prowess. Hooker Ioane Moananu was instrumental for the Crusaders, scoring a hat-trick that included two tries from rolling mauls and another after a break initiated by Scott Barrett.
As the game progressed, the Crusaders established a dominant position, leading 31-10 at one point. But the tide turned dramatically in the final quarter when the Crusaders were reduced to 13 players after yellow cards were shown to Ethan Blackadder and Antonio Shalfoon. This opened the door for the Hurricanes, who capitalized on their numerical advantage.
"[It took] everything but the kitchen sink, I think. Honestly, we were holding on for dear life, down to 13," Crusaders fullback Will Jordan reflected on the tense final moments. "The Hurricanes came with momentum at the end there; it’s the nature of the competition at the moment, it’s tough. I’m proud of our forward pack for getting a stop at the end there and getting the job done. We’ll learn a lot from that."
Despite the Crusaders' lead, the Hurricanes rallied, with Peter Lakai and Umaga-Jensen both scoring tries to bring the score to 31-24. Umaga-Jensen’s second try came after the Hurricanes exploited the space left by the Crusaders' yellow cards. However, they couldn't find the equalizer in the dying moments, with the Crusaders' defense holding firm.
Hurricanes captain Du’Plessis Kirifi acknowledged the quality of the Crusaders, saying, "Well done to the Crusaders. They’re a quality outfit and they had a tough year last year, so to see them going the way they’re going this year is a testament to the hard work they put in." He lamented, "We left it too little too late. We were our own worst enemy in the first half. A couple of little errors, they’re good enough to make us pay. It was a much better second half, but too many mistakes again."
The Crusaders’ scoring spree included tries from Moananu (3), James O’Connor, and Chay Fihaki, with Taha Kemara contributing two conversions and O’Connor adding another. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, managed to score through Umaga-Jensen (2) and Lakai, with Riley Hohepa contributing a conversion and Callum Harkin adding two more.
At halftime, the Crusaders were comfortably ahead at 24-10, but the Hurricanes demonstrated their resilience in the second half. Despite their efforts, the Hurricanes could not overcome the deficit, leaving them with a disappointing 3-5 record for the season.
As the match concluded, the Crusaders celebrated their hard-fought victory, which briefly put them at the top of the standings, while the Hurricanes faced another tough challenge ahead. With just three wins from eight games, the Hurricanes will need to regroup and find their form, especially with a two-week road trip to Australia on the horizon.
The performance of both teams highlighted the competitive nature of Super Rugby Pacific, with the Crusaders showing their championship pedigree and the Hurricanes still searching for consistency. The match served as a reminder of the unpredictable and thrilling nature of rugby, as well as the fine margins that can determine the outcome of such tightly contested fixtures.
Looking forward, the Crusaders will aim to build on this momentum, while the Hurricanes will need to address their errors and improve their execution as they prepare for upcoming matches against the Force and Brumbies. With the season still young, both teams have plenty to play for, and fans can expect more exhilarating rugby in the weeks to come.
