The Western Force have heaped more pain on the Crusaders and dragged themselves off the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with a 37-15 bonus-point victory over the fallen champions in Perth.
Former Wallabies star Kurtley Beale made a triumphant debut for the WA franchise in his first Super Rugby outing since 2020 as the Force notched their first win over the Crusaders in more than a decade.
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The momentous 37-15 victory in the bottom-of-the-table encounter at HBF Park on Saturday night reignited the Force's finals hopes after a one-from-seven start to the season and left the Crusaders' title defence in tatters.
The most prolific champions in Super history with a dozen titles since the competition's inception in 1996, the Crusaders now face the ignominy of going from winners to wooden spooners after a disastrous start to their 2024 campaign.
In what would have been unthinkable before the season kicked off, the Crusaders are now dead last after winning only one of their first eight games.
Horton's try was a psychological blow on the stroke of half time given the Crusaders' dominance of both territory and possession (60 per cent each) while Rob Penney's men will rue their failure to score when the Force were reduced to 14 men.
The Crusaders hit back with tries to George Bell and Sevu Reece but Donaldson's boot has been key to keeping the Force ahead before sealing the win with a pair of tries.
Wallabies World Cup halfback Nic White was unable to contain his excitement for Beale, who was front and centre in the Force's win in his first Super match in almost four years.
On debut for the Force after being cleared of sexual assault charges, the 35-year-old one-time world player of the year nominee was brilliant at fullback.
"His communication is phenomenal," White said.
"Right from the first training session to this game, it's just his guidance is helping Donno (five-eighth Ben Donaldson), helping our centres.
"Having a gut like that, eh?"
Jubilant Force coach Cron, a former assistant at the NSW Waratahs, said he was stoked about Beale answering his SOS call last week.
"KB and I go back a little bit," Cron said.
"And when I gave him the phone call, it was a pretty easy conversation and he jumped on the plane with Maddy, his wife, and their son.
"Watching him at training on Thursday, he just glides, his timing.
"But also what he gives to our boys is from the back three. It gives some experience, and it gives them some chat.
"So he helps Hamish (Stewart). He helps Donno (Ben Donaldson). He helps chase on the edge.
"I just don't think you can underestimate what he does with his voice."
FORCE (1-15): Ryan Coxon, Tom Horton, Santiago Medrano, Sam Carter, Thomas Franklin, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep, Nic White (c), Ben Donaldson, Chase Tiatia, Hamish Stewart, Sam Spink, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale
RESERVES: Ben Funnell, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Izack Rodda, Michael Wells, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, Henry O’Donnell
CRUSADERS (1-15): Joe Moody, Brodie McAlister, Owen Franks, Quinten Strange, Jamie Hannah, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie (c), Christian Lio-Willie, Mitch Drummond, Riley Hohepa, Macca Springer, Dallas McLeod, Levi Aumua, Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki
RESERVES: George Bell, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Dominic Gardiner, Cullen Grace, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Ryan Crotty
Referee: Reuben Keane
Assistant Referees: Graham Cooper, Jeremy Markey
