LIVE: Crusaders extend half-time lead over impressive Force

Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 4:34 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson

The Crusaders have taken a 27-18 lead over the Western Force after 43 minutes in Christchurch.

The Force are fresh off a disappointing defeat to the NSW Waratahs, with only points difference keeping them out of the top six.

Catch every game of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.

Simon Cron has named a completely different team from last week, with a host of Wallabies out or rested, whilst club favourite Kane Koteka returns after several years out of the game.

As for the Crusaders, they are in red-hot form after a shootout win over the Queensland Reds.

All Black Braydon Ennor returns to the midfield, with a win securing a spot in the top four.

FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION FROM 2:35 PM IN THE LIVE BLOG BELOW OR THE MATCH CENTRE

44': Burey adds further points

27-21 Crusaders

The Force is staying in the game thanks to Max Burey's boot.

They capitalise on the Crusasders' own mistake from the kick-off and reduce the margin to inside a converted try

41': Hat-trick for Reece

27-18 Crusaders

Sevu Reece makes it a hat-trick after a mistake from the kick-off from the Force.

Reece sneaks through at the ruck and is unstoppable, diving over for his third.

Teha Kamara gets a nice cheer after his first conversion of the afternoon, albeit from right in front.

HALF TIME: CRUSADERS 20 - 18 FORCE
37': Reece makes it a double

20-18 Crusaders

Try #63 for Sevu Reece as the Crusaders punish the Force off the scrum move.

David Havili breaks through the line and he finds his winger, who beats two for the try.

32': Harris time restores lead

18-15 Force

Will Harris gets a well deserved try after an excellent first half from the back-rower.

Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa catches the Crusaders napping with a quick tap and is brought down centimetres short.

The Force stay patient and Harris is the man to power over

27': Reece continues hit streak

15-11 Crusaders

Sevu Reece edges closer to that all-time record with another try

Excellent hands from the Crusaders backline puts the winger into space and he does what he does best to cross and equal Julian Savea as second on the all-time list.

25': Burey puts Force back in front

11-10 Force

The Force have hit the front once again after a Max Burey penalty goal.

The visitors have made 40 more tackles than the Crusaders but take the lead after Tamaiti Williams is pinged at ruck time

19': Ennor creates magic

10-8 Crusaders

Braydon Ennor creates something out of nothing to set up Springer's second.

Ennor chips ahead for himself and a lucky bounce sees Springer dive on the ball and cross the line.

The Force complain about a clear push in the back on Max Burey, but the TMO clears it

15': Big Mac delivers the goods

8-5 Force

Amazing work from Mac Grealy gets the Force back in front.

It starts from a Will Harris break, who offloads to George Poolman.

The former Red somehow collects the ball back inside before riding the defence and getting it down

12': Springer springs into action

5-3 Crusaders

The hosts punish the Force off the lineout after their tap down hits the deck.

They spread it wide and beat the covering defence, with Will Jordan selflessly passing off for Macca Springer for the opening try.

10': Crusaders' charge halted

The Crusaders look to impose themselves on the game but can't find a way through a yellow wall of Force defenders.

They draw back-to-back penalties but overthrow the lineout, giving the visitors a brief moment to breathe.

The hosts continue their wasteful start as a crossfield kick goes well and truly out on the full.

7': Force starting strong

The Force look dangerous early as they match it with the Crusaders.

They have a three on one overlap but make the wrong choice with the kick in behind twice, which goes dead on both occasions.

2': First points Force

3-0 Force

An excellent start for the Force as Marley Pearce wins a scrum penalty against All Black Fletcher Newell.

New flyhalf Max Burey kicks an easy three points to get them on the scoreboards.

KICK OFF: Force out for upset

Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the Force-Crusaders clash as a beautiful day awaits both sides.

The new-look Force side runs out with all eyes on Kane Koteka, who makes his return almost 1,000 days after his last game for the club.

Tom Robertson leads the Force out in his 100th game in Super Rugby whilst the Crusaders come onto the field in their Iron Man-inspired jerseys.

Both teams acknowledge a moment of silence, six years on from the March 15 Mosque attack.

The Force kick off and the Crusaders cough it up straight away, giving the Force a ten metre scrum.

PRE GAME: All Black out for Crusaders

The Crusaders have tweaked their bench with Ethan Blackadder out in-between the team naming on Wednesday.

Xavier Saifoloi has replaced Blackadder for his debut.

FORCE 21

Tries: Grealy, Harris

Cons: Burey 2/2

Pens: Burey 3/3

CRUSADERS 27

Tries: Springer 2, Reece 3

Cons: Kemara 1/5

CRUSADERS v WESTERN FORCE TEAMS

CRUSADERS (1-15): Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Antonio Shalfoon, Corey Kellow, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Kyle Preston, Taha Kemara, Macca Springer, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan

Replacements: Ioane Moananu, George Bower, Seb Calder, Tahlor Cahill, Xavier Saifoloi, Mitch Drummond, James O'Connor, Levi Aumua

FORCE (1-15): Marley Pearce, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Kane Koteka, Reed Prinsep; Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, George Poolman, Reesjan Pasitoa, Sio Tomkinson, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy

Replacements: Ryan Coxon, Nic Dolly, Atu Moli, Sam Carter, Josh Thompson, Henry Robertson, Coby Miln, Divad Palu

HOW TO WATCH CRUSADERS v WESTERN FORCE

The Crusaders' clash with the Force will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.

Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 2:10 pm with kickoff expected at 2:35 pm.

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