Sevu Reece stars in 100th match as Crusaders beat second-string Hurricanes 47-14 at One NZ Stadium

Friday, 29 May 2026

Taha Kemara and Noah Hotham celebrate another Crusaders try at One NZ Stadium.

At One NZ Stadium, Christchurch: Crusaders 47 (Sevu Reece 9min, 77min, Noah Hotham 25min, Johnny McNicholl 32min, Christian Lio-Willie 35min, Manumaua Letiu 63min, Kyle Preston 73min tries; Taha Kemara 5 con, Reece con) Hurricanes 14 (Brad Shields 13min, Pouri Rakete-Stones 71min tries; Callum Harkin 2 con). HT: 26-7.

The Crusaders are one result away from securing a home playoff after outclassing the understrength Hurricanes at their new fortress on Friday.

If the Chiefs beat the Blues in Hamilton on Saturday, the defending champions will finish the regular season in third place and enjoy home advantage in the first week of the playoffs.

The seven-try win against the Hurricanes was marred by the first-half loss of All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell (leg) and Rivez Reihana (head injury assessment), but the Crusaders now have real momentum at the right end of the season and could yet send departing coach Rob Penney out with a second Super Rugby Pacific title.

The Crusaders’ veterans are peaking just before knockout rugby begins, while youngsters Manumaua Letiu and Liam Jack added some impact from the bench for the second week in a row.

With first spot already locked up, the Hurricanes were well below their best on Friday but gave 40 minutes of important rugby to returning All Blacks Cameron Roigard and Tyrel Lomax. Both came through unscathed, which was the positive part of an otherwise underwhelming evening for the visitors.

Crusaders No 8 Christian Lio-Willie continued his outstanding late-season form as the home side scored four first-half tries, taking a commanding 26-7 lead into the break.

Lio-Willie popped up everywhere in attack, while Sevu Reece, Noah Hotham, David Havili and Johnny McNicholl also had excellent games.

Sevu Reece was a constant threat in his 100th game.

The game deteriorated into a messy affair in the second half, but the Crusaders extended their lead with three more tries to run away with a crushing victory.

They even allowed Reece to convert his second try from the sideline with minutes left on the clock - an act that emphasised their superiority.

But the evening had started inauspiciously for the Crusaders. Ethan Blackadder was a late withdrawal from the No 7 jersey, with Johnny Lee joining the starting lineup. Oli Mathis took a place on the bench.

Reihana also left within the opening 10 minutes for an HIA, bringing Taha Kemara into the game early. Reihana failed his HIA and didn't return.

Against a depleted Hurricanes team without Ruben Love, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Jordie Barrett, Warner Dearns and others, the Crusaders started well.

Reece opened the scoring from close range after a good burst by Dallas McLeod, immediately bringing another sellout crowd into the contest.

But the Hurricanes' scrum was dominant as returning All Blacks tighthead Lomax made his presence felt.

Evergreen Hurricanes loose forward hit back for the visitors after a nice break and offload from Roigard, while the Crusaders' discipline was poor in the opening quarter: they conceded five straight penalties.

The Crusaders found some success attacking the Hurricanes' new midfield of Jone Rova and Josh Timu, but it took some nice play from the in-form Havili and Lio-Willie to get the Crusaders back on track.

The pair combined to set up a brilliant Crusaders try for Hotham following a turnover from winger Chay Fihaki.

Newell was replaced at the half-hour mark after falling awkwardly in contact. The All Blacks prop managed to walk off the field but the injury will still concern Penney on the eve of the playoffs.

However, the Crusaders were still far too strong for a Hurricanes side that badly missed their frontliners who had ensured top spot on the ladder with a week to spare.