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Drua 25 Crusaders 24
Drua - Masi, Tamani, Sau & Droasese tries; Tela conversion, Valetini penalty
Crusaders - MacDonald 2, Moananu & Reece tries; Burke 2 conversions
Fulltime
40th minute - From the kickoff, Crusaders knock on and must now survive an attacking scrum from the Drua.
From the scrum, Drua run right and into the 22. They build some phases and have penalty advantage in front of the posts - they will have a kick to win.
Kemu Valetini will take the kick... and he slots it, DRU 25-24
38th minute - TRY to Moananu
Crusaders win the lineout and maul over the line, where the rookie hooker scores on debut. He may never score a more important try, with conversion to come...
Burke slots the sideline conversion, CRU 24-22
37th minute - Whitelock wins the lineout and Crusaders maul to halfway. Hotham goes shortside, Reece kicks ahead and the Crusaders tear into the Drua 22.
They have a penalty and Burke kicks to the corner...
36th minute - Drua kick off deep and Crusaders win a clearing penalty in their own 22. Burke finds touch towards halfway.
34th minute - TRY to Reece
Eventually, after several phases, the ball goes left and Reece powers over to bring the Crusaders within a try. Burke misses the conversion, DRU 22-17
33rd minute - Gallagher wins the attacking lineout and Crusaders shift right, where Fihaki is lowered.
32nd minute - Barrett takes the lineout and Crusaders maul towards the trylne. They're held up and release to the backs, where MacLeod is stopped just short.
30th minute - Drua win a scrum in their own half and Tela kicks high. Crusaders have a penalty for offside, as Hotham tries to take the kick.
29th minute - Crusaders build some phases in Drua half, but they're scythed down in midfield and Drua have the ball.
26th minute - Crusaders now have their front-row reserves on and they are all Super Rugby rookies. Not a great situation to come in.
They may need Whitelock and Barrett to stay the duration, if they are to pull this result back.
TRY to Sau
Cursaders win the scrum and Ennor dashes down the left. He offloads infield, but Drua pounce. They stream downfield and Sau dives over in the left corner.
Tela can't convert from wide, but DRU 22-12
24th minute - Crusaders steal a lineout throw and shift left, but they're under pressure and knock on. Churchill Park is a cauldron right now.
20th minute - TRY to Tamani
Drua run right off the scrum, but quickly switch left, where the flanker is lurking to slide over in the corner. Tela's conversion is wide, but it doesn't matter, DRU 17-12
19th minute - Crusaders concede a free-kick at the scrum and Drua want another scrum, where they've found some success in the second half.
18th minute - Crusaders win a lineout and kick deep, but the ball bounces cruelly dead, so Drua have a scrum back in the Crusaders half.
17th minute - MacLeod smothers a kick behind and Barrett barges upfield. Springer kicks upfield, but Drua counterattack. There's a scuffle, after Christie is dumped on his back.
16th minute - Drua throw long, but their backline move breaks down. The forwards surge to the 22.
15th minute - Lomani runs from the scrum and kicks ahead, but Fihaki gathers and waits for his forwards. Heinz finds touch on the 10.
14th minute - Barrett wins the lineout, but knock on at the ruck, so Drua have a scrum inside the Crusaders half.
13th minute - Crusaders win a scrum penalty and Burke finds touch near halfway.
12th minute - From the kickoff, Drua clear their half and Burke can't handle the ball. It's hacked downfield, but the kick ahead beats everyone dead.
10th minute - TRY to Droasese
Drua pour into the 22 and towards the tryline, where Ilaisa Droasese steps his way over. Tela converts to level the scores, 12-12
Ninth minute - Crusaders win the scrum and Heinz clears, but the Drua counterattack...
Eighth minute - Crusaders don't contest the lineout and contain the Drua maul initially. Lomani releases the ball to the backs and Ennor nails his man in midfield.
Masi streaks towards the line with a player outside him, but he loses the ball in a tackle from Ennor.
Seventh minute - Drua shove Crusaders back and win a scrum penalty - that new front row has done the trick. They kick to the corner...
Sixth minute - Drua win the lineout, but lose the ball in a tackle.
Fifth minute - Crusaders scrum holds steady and Burke clears towards the 10.
Fourth minute - Both Drua props have been subbed, as they pack down for a defensive Crusaders feed five metres out.
Third minute - Lomani clears deep into Crusaders half and then win a turnover outside the 22. They shift right to Tamani, but as the forwards surge towards the posts, Lomani knocks on.
Second minute - Drua throw to the lineout is wayward and Christie gathers. Crusaders try to find a way through, but Ennor's pass is behind Springer and into touch.
First minute - Tela kicks off for the second half and Fihaki evades the first tackle.
Halftime
40th minute - Crusaders win the scrum and Burke kicks to touch to end the half a few seconds early.
Heinz clears his half with the kick.
39th minute - Crusaders eventually win a free-kick from the scrum, but opt for another scrum inside their own 22.
37th minute - Burke drops out from his goal-line and Drua are still on the front foot, but they spill the ball metres out.
35th minute - Drua win the scrum and clear, but Fihaki can't take the kick cleanly and knocks on into touch.
Drua win a linout penalty and top quickly. Lomani bursts upfield and when he's tackled short of the line, he finds Vota, who plunges over. Replays show he lost the ball before he could force it.
34th minute - Bower can't handle a pass and Drua have a defensive scrum in their 22.
33rd minute - Crusaders win the lineout and maul into Drua territory. They have penalty advantage, but enter the 22.
32nd minute - Burke kicks off deep and the teams exchange kicks, before Droasese eventually finds touch inside Crusaders half.
30th minute - TRY to Masi
And the crowd goes wild. Crusaders win the ball from the lineout, but it bounces loose, and Masi snaps it up and sprints away to score. Tela misses the conversion, CRU 12-5
29th minute - Crusaders try to build an attack from the scrum, but they're penalised and Drua clear their half.
28th minute - Crusaders snaffle a lineout throw and Burke eventually clears, as he is rocked in a jolting tackle. Drua knock on and Crusaders have a scrum feed on the Drua 10.
27th minute - Lio-Willie is leaving the field. Drua win the lineout and put into the 22, but the ball is loose and Reece clears.
26th minute - Another tap, but the ball goes loose and Crusaders clear to their 22.
25th minute - Lomani knocks on and Pickerill brings them back for the penalty. Drua take a tap and the forwards rumble towards the posts, winning another penalty at the ruck.
24th minute - Drua kick off and Reece tries to run out of his 22, but conceds a penalty. Drua surge towards the posts and have penalty advantage.
22nd minute - TRY to MacDonald
Whitelock wins the lineout and Crusaders maul towards the tryline, earning penalty advantage, but Macdonald has his second try at the back of the pack. Burke slots the conversion, CRU 12-0
20th minute - Crusaders win a penalty advantage the scrum, but shift the ball right to Reece. Eventually, Ennor kicks to the left corner for Springer, but he can't drag it in to score.
Burke kicks to touch for an attacking lineout, while Springer gets treatment, after colliding with the TV camera.
19th minute - Whitelock wins the lineout, but the Crusaders have dropsies and can't handle the ball. They eventually win an attacking feed to a scrum.
18th minute - Whitelock props off his left foot and lunges over the tryline, but Lomani knocks the ball loose, before he can force for the try.
Drua with a defensive feed to the scrum, but a big push from the Crusaders. Drua have the ball and try to clear. Lomani's kick doesn't reach the 22.
17th minute - Crusaders win a scrum penalty, but Fihaki runs strongly and Springer dashes down the left.
16th minute - Pickerill eventually awards a free-kick to Crusaders at the scrum. They call for another scrum.
15th minute - Drua knock the ball on in their own half, so we'll have our first scrum.
14th minute - Heinz puts up a box kick that bounces wildly on halfway, but Drua eventually control.
13th minute - Drua kick off deep and Reece returns deep into Drua half. They take a quick lineout and quickly reach halfway.
11th minute - TRY to MacDonald
Barrett wins the lineout and Crusaders maul to the tryline, where the hooker obliges. Burke hits the upright with his conversion attempt, CRU 5-0
10th minute - Crusaders inside the 22 and have penalty advantage. Droasese intercepts and takes off upfield, but is called back for the breakdown penalty.
Burke kicks to the corner for a lineout...
Ninth minute - Havili has left the game with a shoulder or arm injury, replaced by MacLeod in the midfield.
Eighth minute - Crusaders take a quick lineout and earn penalty advantage. A loose pass brings them back for the penalty.
Seventh minute - Whitelock wins the lineout inside Drua half and Heinz puts up a box kick, marked by Sau.
Sixth minute - Drua still building phases on halfway, before Tamani breaks into Crusaders terriroty. Whitelock is over the ruck and earns a penalty for not releasing.
Fifth minute - Burke drops out long and Drua have the ball in their own half.
Fourth minute - Tela hooks his kick from directly in front and lets Crusaders off the hook.
Third minute - Drua win the lineout and build phases on the 22. They have advantage inside the 22.
Ravutaumada dashes down the right touchline, but his infield pass is cut off by Reece and they come back for the penalty. Tela will kick for goal...
Second minute - Drua win a lineout and have advantage for offside. They have a penalty on halfway and kick to touch near the Crusaders 22.
First minute - Brendon Pickerill will referee this match and Burke will kick off for the Crusaders.
Drua knock on the kickoff and Crusaders go straight onto attack into the 22, but are penalised.
4:31pm - Big Crusaders contingent in the stands... don't see Footy there. Scott Barrett leads his team out for his 100th game, while the Drua sing up a storm in the dressingroom.
Twenty-nine degrees in Lautoka today, so plenty hot enough. We can expect the Drua to give their esteemed rivals a warm reception.
4:16pm - Shoutout to Newshub's Stephen Foote, who has somehow found his way to Lautoka for this encounter and is no doubt sipping pina coladas in the hospitality box. Maybe he can give Scott Robertson some breakdancing tips, after this review of last year's "rusty" victory celebrations.
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Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the Super Rugby Pacific clash between six-time defending champions Crusaders and Fijian Drua at Churchill Park, Lautoka.
After their opening loss to the Chiefs, the southerners resumed normal transmission with a comprehensive victory over the Highlanders at the Melbourne 'Super Round'.
Coach Scott Robertson has rung the changes against the Drua, who beat Moana Pasifika in the opening week.
Hooker Ioane Moananu, prop Kershawl Sykes-Martin and first-five Taha Kemara are all named to make their Super Rugby debuts off the bench, while captain Scott Barrett will lead the side in his 100th game.
Most notably, All Blacks first-five Richie Mo'unga will take the week off, with Fergus Burke given the No.10 jersey.
Join us at 4:30pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Crusaders $1.14, Drua $5.25, draw $26
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Quentin MacDonald, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Sione Havili Talitui, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Willi Heinz, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Macca Springer, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Chay Fihaki
Reserves: 16-Ioane Moananu, 17-Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18-Seb Calder, 19-Zach Gallagher, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Noah Hotham, 22-Taha Kemara, 23-Dallas McLeod
Drua: 1-Meli Tuni, 2-Tevita Ikanivere (c), 3-Jone Koroiduadua, 4-Isoa Nasilasila, 5-Leone Rotuisolia, 6-Joseva Tamani, 7-Kitione Salawa, 8-Elia Canakaivata, 9-Frank Lomani, 10-Teti Tela, 11-Eroni Sau, 12-Apisalome Vota, 13-Iosefo Masi, 14-Selestino Ravutaumada, 15-Ilaisa Droasese
Reserves: 16-Mesulame Dolokoto, 17-Emosi Tuqiri, 18-Samuela Tawake, 19-Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 20-Meli Derenalagi, 21-Peni Matawalu, 22-Kemu Valetini, 23-Kalaveti Ravouvou
'Huge job': Crusaders captain Barrett eyes possible All Blacks job after World Cup
Crusaders captain Scott Barrett says he definitely would consider leading the All Blacks, should the role ever be offered to him.
Keeping things pretty relaxed during an interview from Fiji, Barrett admits he hasn't ruled out the All Blacks captaincy, after re-signing with New Zealand rugby through to the end of 2025.
"I don't want to get too far ahead of myself," he said. "I'm sitting in Fiji at the moment, preparing for the Drua and I think that is quite distant, but if there was the opportunity, by all means, that's something I'd consider.
"It's a huge job obviously, as I've sort of found with the Crusaders, and I'd anticipate that would be the next level, so me being a deep thinker, I'd give it some thought."
Current All Blacks captain Sam Cane will likely lead the team during the 2023 World Cup in September, but if he were to step away from the role after the tournament, Barrett could make a strong case to be next.
The lock has been in the All Blacks system since 2016, playing 58 caps and carving out a regular role in the side. He will likely be part of the team's leadership group during the upcoming World Cup and the seasons that follow.
The biggest drawcard for Barrett is his leadership experience with the Crusaders. He has captained the side since 2020, leading the powerhouse to three Super Rugby titles.
His coach during his tenure in charge is also none other than All Blacks frontrunner Scott Robertson, who was quick to highlight how Barrett’s work ethic has contributed to the Crusaders' overwhelming success in recent years.
"He is an incredible player with the skills of a coach," he said. "His experience, the respect and mana he has in every team he plays for makes him a massive asset."
Barrett says he has taken plenty of lessons from his time alongside Robertson and as a Super Rugby captain that he could use as a leader on the international stage.
"I think, initially, you care about how the team performs and how the team is doing, and sometimes I learnt the hard way. You can care a wee bit too much and you try to cover too much.
"What I've found now, later on, is you've just got to play well and influence the team through that. You give a bit of direction when needed, but most of it is through playing well."
Barrett is poised to bring up another special milestone on Saturday and could play his 100th game for the Crusaders against Fijian Drua.
