Hurricanes annihilate Crusaders

Cape Town - The Hurricanes thrashed the Crusaders 74-7 in a pre-season clash played at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim on Friday. 

According to the Stuff.co.nz website, the final pre-season match for both teams went the Hurricanes way from the start as their star-studded backline cut a swathe through the Crusaders.

The men from Wellington scored five first-half tries for a 27-7 lead at the break, before scoring seven in the second period. 

Around 5 000 spectators turned up to the home of Marlborough rugby for their first opportunity to see a Super match since the Crusaders narrowly beat the Waratahs at the venue in 2002, also a pre-season match.

On this occasion there was no Crusaders win though, as their supporters left disheartened by having seen a scintillating display of running rugby from the ‘Canes. 

Scorers:

Hurricanes 

Tries: TJ Perenara, A Savea, C Jane (2), B Barrett, V Vito (2), N Laumape, J Savea, W Halaholo, J B Thompson and J Woodward

Conversions: Barrett (4), Woodward (3) 

Crusaders

Try: J McNicholl 

Conversion: R Mo'unga

Teams: 

Hurricanes

15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (captain), 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Blade Thomson, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Leni Apisai, 1 Reggie Goodes 

Substitutes: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Loni Uhila, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Willis Halaholo, 23 Pita Ahki, 24 James Marshall, 25 Jason Woodward

Crusaders 

15 David Havili, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Sean Wainui, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Jimmy Tupou, 5 Samuel Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Mike Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody

Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Oliver Jager, 20 Mitchell Dunshea, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Jone Macilai, 24 Peter Samu, 25 Reed Prinsep

Other pre-season results:

Blues 24-12 Chiefs

Melbourne Rebels 85-0 Samoa

Highlanders 40-35 Waratahs