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Moana Pasifika 7 Crusaders 41
Moana Pasifika - Fainga'anuku try; Lealiifano conversion
Crusaders - Lio-Willie, Springer, Jordan, Hotham, McAlister & Barrett tries; Burke 4 conversions & penalty
Fulltime
40th minute - Havili retreats to tidy up a loose ball in his own half. A few harsh words are exchanged, as the final seconds tick down.
Moana win a short lineout throw, but Grace is through to snatch a turnover and Crusaders have penalty advantage.
Burke finds touch to end the game.
39th minute - Tolai throws long to the lineout and Moana surge towards the Crusaders 22. Aumua wrestles Springer over the 22.
38th minute - Aumua and Lealiifano combine down the left for Moana, before Tavatavanawai bullies a couple of defenders, but the move breaks down short of the tryline. Burke clears from his own goal area.
37th minute - Gardiner is caught entering the ruck from the side, so Moana go onto the attack. Crusaders field a kick and try to break out.
36th minute - This game has lost its shape badly, but Grace peels off the back of a scrum.
35th minute - From the scrum, Havili tries a chip over the advancing defenders, but Motuga spills a pass and the Crusaders go back on attack.
33rd minute - Grace wins a lineout and Crusaders enter the Moana 22. They shift left, but Barrett spills a short pass in midfield.
32nd minute - From the scrum, Moana run out of their 22, with Aumua leading the way. Fihaki plucks a pass from Aumua out of the air, but his offload goes loose.
30th minute - Havili fields a long kick under his posts and Taumateine eventually clears outside the 22.
Grace wins the lineout and Crusaders look for Jordan to ignite something.
29th minute - Havili kicks off and Gallagher claims the ball in the air. Moana turn the ball over and roll forward, but Crusaders steal it back.
27th minute - TRY to Barrett
Crusaders steal a throw from Tolai and Grace storms towards the tryline. Crusaders have penalty advantage, but Gallagher finds his captain with a short pass to score.
Burke converts from in front, CRU 41-7
26th minute - Grace wins the lineout and Crusaders maul towards the tryline. They're pushed sideways, so they shift left, but Jordan's final pass to Springer is wayward, as he's smashed in a tackle.
25th minute - Moana are penalised for taking a player without the ball and Burke kicks to the corner for an attacking lineout.
24th minute - Barrett wins a lineout and Crusaders are just outside the Moana 22.
23rd minute - Drummond runs off the scrum and Jordan reaches halfway, finding Kemara with a backhanded pass. Crusaders win a penalty on halfway.
22nd minute - Aumua shows is power up the centre of the park, but there's a knockon by Moana. Lio-Willie is helped off the field.
21st minute - Moana win a scrum in their own 22 and shift right to Fainga'anuku, who is coming into the game. Havili and Tolai break out on the left, as Moana reach halfway.
20th minute - Crusaders reach the Moana 22, but lose the ball at the breakdown.
19th minute - Drummond clears the scrum and Kemara surges over halfway. Crusaders shift left, where Kellow dashes down the touchline.
17th minute - Big push from the Crusaders scrum, but Moana clear to Fainga'nuku down the right. Lealiifano knocks on and Crusaders have a chance to clear their half from a scrum.
16th minute - Crusaders have a midfield penalty in Moana half and Hotham taps, but his pass goes forward in the tackle. Moana win a free-kick at the scrum for an early push.
15th minute - Moana control the kickoff and keep the ball in hand, before Taumateine kicks high.
13th minute - TRY to Fainga'anuku
From the tap, Lindenmuth surges towards the tryline. They shift right, where Aumua is held up, but Fainga'anuku (Tima, not Leicester) scores at the second attempt.
Lealiifano bounces his conversion off the left upright and through, CRU 34-7
12th minute - Moana tap and rumble towards the tryline. They lose the ball, but Hotham is offside.
11th minute - Funaki wins the lineout and Aumua cuts back towards the forwards. Moana have penalty advantage...
10th minute - Moana win a scrum penalty in CRusaders half and Havili kicks to the corner.
Ninth minute - Jordan rises to claim a high kick, but loses the ball in midair.
Eighth minute - Gallagher controls the kickoff and Burke kicks deep to Havili, who brings the ball back towards halfway.
Sixth minute - TRY to McAlister
Crusaders win the lineout and maul to the tryline, with the hooker on hand to score. Burke brings his conversion off the left upright and away, CRU 34-0
Fifth minute - Grace surges into the Moana 22 and Crusaders shift left, but Goodhue's pass is knocked down by Havili, who is penalised. Burke kicks to the corner.
Fourth minute - Tolai's throw to the lineout isn't straight, so Crusaders have an attacking scrum in the Moana half.
Third minute - Ngakuru wins the lineout and Moana roll towards the tryline, but Aumua loses the ball and Crusaders threaten to break out. Hotham kicks long downfield.
Second minute - Keane has Kellow offside inside the 22 and Moana eventually spill the ball, so they go back for the penalty. Havili kicks to the corner for an attacking lineout.
First minute - Moana Pasifika have replaced their front row for the second half, with Taumateine at halfback and Tavatavanawai on the wing.
Gallagher spills the kickoff and Moana go onto the early attack after the restart.
Halftime
40th minute - Havili kicks off and Fihaki is underneath. Crusaders are killing time until halftime, keeping the ball in hand and recycling.
The siren sounds and Burke finds touch to end the half.
38th minute - TRY to Hotham
Crusaders claim theball in the Moana half and Burke spilts the defence inside the 22. At the breakdown, Hotham scoops up the ball and finds no-one around him, as he has his first Super Rugby try.
Burke converst from in front of the posts, CRU 29-0
37th minute - Havili kicks off and Gallagher claims the ball, Hotham kicking high into Moana territory.
35th minute - TRY to Jordan
Crusaders counterattack from Lealiifano's clearance, Goodhue dummies to his winger and turns his pass back infield, where Jordan gets his first try of the season.
Burke converts from near touch, CRU 22-0
34th minute - Crusaders win a scrum penalty and clear to the Moana 10.
Crusaders win the lineout and Jordan kicks ahead, but Lealiifano is there to clear.
33rd minute - Crusaders eventually win a scrum free-kick, after a few attempts to pack down. They want another shot at the scrum.
31st minute - Moana win the scrum and Aumua kicks to the goal-line, but it bounces dead, with Fomai chasing.
30th minute - Crusaders win the lineout, but confusion in midfield between Lio-Willie and Goodhue sees the ball split for a Moana scrum.
29th minute - Moana win the lineout near halfway and surge into Crusaders territory. They shift right, Havili throws a pass that floats forward, but Keane allows them to play on.
28th minute - Crusaders win the lineout, but Keane has Williams for offside in the maul.
27th minute - Enari clears from the scrum on his own goal-line, but fails to reach the 22.
26th minute - Crusaders win the lineout and maul to the tryline. After a couple of phases, the flanker muscles his way over in traffic.
Referee Keane checks for a possible knockon in the build-up and replays show that was the case, so no try.
25th minute - Crusaders surge over halfway and Jordan kicks ahead. Fomai is tackled into touch inside the 22.
23rd minute - Crusaders win a lineout and Hotham puts up a high kick, spilled by Fomai.
22nd minute - Havili kicks off and Gallagher claims the ball, with the Crusaders earning a clearing penalty.
20th minute - Grace claims the kickoff and Hotham clears his 22. Partially charged, so Crusaders throw to the lineout.
TRY to Springer
Lio-Willie surges upfield, Fihaki claims another high kick and Crusaders are hot on attack. They shift left, where Jordan puts the winger over in the corner.
Burke's sideline conversion strays left, CRU 15-0
19th minute - PENALTY to Burke
No problems from in front, CRU 10-0
18th minute - Crusaders win a breakdown penalty in front of the posts and Burke wants a kick at goal.
17th minute - From the defensive scrum, Enari clears outside the 22. Lio-Willie wins the lineout for Crusaders and the forwards lay seige to the 22.
16th minute - McAlister needs medical attention before the scrum can pack down.
15th minute - Lio-Willie claism the ball on his side of halfway and surges into Moana territory. Crusaders swarm onto attack, kick ahead and steal the ball, before Goodhue loses the ball in a tackle.
14th minute - Moana win a free-kick at their defensive scrum and Lealiifano kicks high over halfway.
13th minute - Sykes-Martin storms to halfway for the Crusaders, who keep the ball in hand. They shift right, but Macleod's pass goes astry and the Crusaders knock on.
12th minute - Havili kicks off for Moana and Grace brings the ball back upfield. Hotham kicks high and Fihaki is clear to reclaim the ball.
10th minute - TRY to Lio-Willie
Crusaders surge to halfway and Williams makes big metres. McAlister and Goodhew combine to put Hotham on a run, before Jordan is dragged down short and finds his flanker in support.
Burke converts from in front of the posts, CRU 7-0
Ninth minute - Moana throw long to the lineout and Lealiifano secures the loose ball. Crusaders turn the ball over and Jordan runs out of his 22.
Eighth minute - Crusaders win a scrum on halfway and shift right, but Funaki wins a penalty for Moana at the breakdown. Havili kicks into touch on the 22.
Seventh minute - Moana win the scrum and Aumua chips ahead to halfway, but the pursuers can't gather cleanly and knock on.
Fifth minute - Crusaders win a quick lineout and enter the Moana 22, but Lio-Willie spills the ball.
Fourth minute - Moana win their scrum and Aumua rumbles forward from his goal-line. Enari clears towards halfway.
Third minute - Grace wins the attacking lineout and Crusaders enter the 22. Goodhew throws a wild pass past Springer into touch.
Second minute - Crusaders win the lineout against the throw and then a penalty about 40 metres out at the breakdown. A late change sees Lio-Willie promoted to the starting line-up, replacing Havili Talitui.
First minute - Reuben Keane will referee tonight, as Burke kicks off for the Crusaders.
Moana secure the kickoff and after a couple of phases, Lealiifano clears, partially charged down, so they retain the throw to the lineout.
7:05pm - Moana Pasifika welcome their rivals onto the field with a traditional challenge - spinetingling stuff.
****
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific clash between Moana Pasifika and the Crusaders at Go Media Stadium - the venue formerly known was Mt Smart.
With only two more rounds remaining in the regular season, the home side are fast running out of chances to record their first win of their campaign, after they were cruelly denied against the Blues two weeks ago.
Their last home fixture offers their final opportunity to win in front of their fans, with trips to Lautoka and Sydney looming, and they face a Crusaders line-up without most of their international stars on mandated All Blacks rest.
Notably, Fergus Burke takes over from Richie Mo'unga in the No.10 jersey, with blockbusting Leicester Fainga'anuku and David Havili missing from the backline.
Hooker Codie Taylor, lock Sam Whitelock and loose forward Ethan Blackadder are missing among the forwards, although captain Scott Barrett will lead from the second row.
Last time they rested their frontline performers, the Crusaders were toppled by Fijian Drua at Lautoka and Moana Pasifika are probably due for a breakthrough, so the southerners cannot simply expect to back these points in their march to the playoffs.
Join us at 7pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Crusaders $1.18, Moana Pasifika $4.60, Draw $26
Moana Pasifika: 1-Abraham Pole, 2-Samiuela Moli, 3-Chris Apoua, 4-Michael Curry, 5-Mike McKee, 6-Miracle Faiilagi, 7-Alamanda Motuga, 8-Solomone Funaki, 9-Ereatara Enari, 10-Christian Lealiifano, 11-Neria Foma'i, 12-Levi Aumua, 13-Fine Inisi, 14-Tima Fainga'anuku, 15- William Havili
Reserves: 16-Luteru Tolai, 17-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18-Sosefo Apikotoa, 19-Mahonri Ngakuru, 20-Jonah Mau'u, 21-Jonathan Taumateine, 22-Henry Taefu, 23-Timoci Tavatavanawai
Crusaders: 1-Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Zach Gallagher, 6-Sione Havili Talitui, 7-Corey Kellow, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Noah Hotham, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Macca Springer, 12-Dallas McLeod, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Chay Fihaki, 15-Will Jordan.
Reserves: 16-Ioane Moananu, 17-Andrew Turner, 18-Seb Calder, 19-Dom Gardiner, 20-Christian Lio-Willie, 21-Mitchell Drummond, 22-Taha Kemara, 23-Wil Gualter.
Crusaders assistant Ellison rules out Super Rugby head-coaching role next year
Crusaders assistant Tamati Ellison insists he won't put up his hand to replace departing head coach Scott Robertson for next year's Super Rugby Pacific.
After winning six Super Rugby titles with the Christchurch-based side, Robertson has been named as the next All Blacks coach, taking the reins from incumbent Ian Foster after the Rugby World Cup in October/November.
Robertson's coaching staff will include current Crusaders assistant Scott Hansen and former assistant Jason Ryan, with Ellison as a likely candidate for promotion to the top job at the franchise.
The former All Blacks midfielder and Commonwealth Games sevens gold medallist has ruled himself out of contention.
"No, I'm not," said Ellison, 40. "I've really enjoyed it - it's been great for my growth as a coach and I'm definitely keen to stay next year in some capacity, once I get through the Wellington season.
"My focus at the moment is our [defence] and making sure I'm setting the team up as best I can, week to week. I'm conscious there's other parts going on, but I'm really dialled into getting my job right first."
A veteran of 113 Super Rugby games, including stints at the Blues, Hurricanes, Highlanders and Melbourne Rebels, Ellison is due to take control of Wellington in this year's national provincial championship, as he works his way up the coaching ladder.
He credits the Crusaders set-up for helping his development, but considers he needs time as a head coach at the lower level, before stepping up at Super Rugby.
"You normally measure it by the amount of grey hair you've got and I'm heading in the right direction there," he chuckled . "It's been good, especially with Scottie Hansen, and 'Ray' has shown a lot of trust in me to do my job.
"That balance has been good for me and I'm enjoying it. The work doesn't get easier, but you've just got to get better."
Ellison ended his playing career in 2018, after 57 games over nine years for Ricoh Black Rams in Japan, where he was also player-coach.
