Relive 1 NEWS NOW's live updates of tonight's Super Rugby match between the Rebels and Crusaders at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
FT: REB 10-55 CRU
CRU TRY! Mataele rubs salt in the wounds with a breakaway try after an intercept. He goes 60m to score it. Too easy and a fair final nail in the coffin for a poor second half by the Rebels.
That does it for the action in Melbourne tonight and the Crusaders have earned their biggest winning margin on Australian soil ever. Considering the halftime scoreline, that's a massive achievement. Whatever Scott Robertson said at the half, it sure worked wonders. A much cleaner second half attacking wise from the defending champs as they outscore the Rebels 42-0. That'll do it for us from Melbourne. Po marie!
79min: REB 10-48 CRU
CRU TRY! Crockett is in in his 195th Super Rugby game! Taylor makes a good run to get the Crusaders into the the Rebels' 22m. Another pick and go gets them close before it goes to the right for quick hands. Mataele gets it to Barrett who sets up the veteran prop to go over the line.
77min: REB 10-41 CRU
Nothing going right for the Rebels as they're once again penalised for not releasing. That sees the Crusaders go for touch and earn a lineout 30m from the Rebels' line.
74min: REB 10-41 CRU
There's a stoppage in play as Havili is involved in a nasty hit. It's head-on-head and he doesn't move after hitting the ground. He eventually gets to his feet on his own but he's coming off for a head check. The Rebels get a scrum on the Crusaders' 22m again to restart play.
72min: REB 10-41 CRU
Bridge denies the Rebels with a brilliant stop against Mafi. The Rebels No.8 runs it down the blindside off the scrum and has only Bridge to beat but the winger rises to the occassion and stops him. The Crusaders get the turnover but there's no advantage so they get a scrum on their 5m.
71min: REB 10-41 CRU
Rebels manage to get some possession finally as they work the ball for 12 phases. But they can't make any good metres until it gets to the right wing. Naivalu tries to get around the outside but he's brought down. Todd looks to take the free ball but knocks it on as he does so. Rebels scrum on the Crusaders' 22m.
67min: REB 10-41 CRU
CRU TRY! They're in again! Whitelock of all people makes a linebreak off the kick off and links up with Todd. Todd finds Hall inside him and he runs it 30m to score under the post. What a pair of tries in two minutes by the defending champs.
65 min: REB 10-34 CRU
CRU TRY! TAMANIVALU!!! Rebels get the turnover outside their 22m and clear it. Hunt is back in time and takes it inside his 22m but opts to run. He bolts to the halfway line and offloads to Tamanivalu. He almost strolls down the right wing before bumping off one defender. Fends off another, offloads to Samu and the flanker is in. Unbelievable display of strength from the winger.
62min: REB 10-27 CRU
Crusaders work the ball for 11 phases in the middle of the field for not much ground. Hunt decides he's had enough and grubbers one through. Rebels recover and clear for another lineout just outside their 22m. Crusaders attack looking a little stale again - may be due to all the changes?
60min: REB 10-27 CRU
Crusaders get a penalty as the Rebels fail to release the ball at the breakdown again but the following kick for touch doesn't go out! Costly error there as the Rebels eventually clear for a lineout outside their 22m.
57min: REB 10-27 CRU
Crusaders look to run and they find space on the left wing. Good skip pass puts Bridge in space but he's brought to ground on the Rebels' 10m. Crusaders try to recycle quickly but the ball is knocked on so it's a Rebels scrum 30m from their own line.
55min: REB 10-27 CRU
Rebels run it back at the Crusaders after their clearance doesn't find touch. They storm into the Crusaders' half before going into contact. But the ball gets trapped and there's no way it's coming out of there so it'll be a Crusaders scrum. Mo'unga is done for the night.
53min: REB 10-27 CRU
CRU TRY! Goodhue flies over for five! Barrett makes a great run off the lineout bouncing off two tacklers before offloading to Mo'unga who is brought down just short of the line. Drummond pops it to Goodhue running on at speed from a metre out and there's no stopping him. Big lead now for the Crusaders. Can they keep building on it with this positive offence?
50min: REB 10-20 CRU
Crusaders roll the maul to within metres of the line but it goes down. They shift it left but the Rebels turn it over at the breakdown! Rebels clear desperately but it's a lineout again 15 from the line.
48min: REB 10-20 CRU
Havili rises for a high ball and he's hit by Maddocks. Unintentional and he showed effort to pull out of the hit so no yellow. But the penalty gets the Crusaders to 10m out with a lineout so another big attacking chance coming up.
45min: REB 10-20 CRU
CRU TRY! Classic Crusaders try! Crotty gets the ball in the middle of the field and spots space on the right wing. He goes for a low, floating cross kick and Tamanivalu soars to win the contest in the air. He's 10m from the line, draws and passes to Makalio who scores his second of the night. He's all smiles and you can't blame him! First start of the season and he's got two tries so far!
43min: REB 10-13 CRU
Crusaders earn an early penalty after the Rebels enter a breakdown from the side. Crusaders don't want three here and Mo'unga goes to touch. It gives them a lineout 15m out from the Rebels' line. They're still at 14 men.
40min: REB 10-13 CRU
Back underway and the Crusaders get us going.
HT: REB 10-13 CRU
Crusaders hold a small lead at halftime after discipline and poor ball control got them into control. They deserve to be ahead but definitely haven't earned a massive lead like what many would be expecting. They still have three minutes of Havili's yellow card to play out in the second half. They'll need to show a bit more control of the ball if they want to get home safe and sound in this one. The Rebels sniff they're in with a chance. We'll be back soon with the second half.
40min: REB 10-13 CRU
CRU THREE! Crusaders take the lead on the halftime hooter thanks to Mo'unga's boot and a dominant scrum. Crusaders earn a scrum on the Rebels' 10m and they get the penalty after a big shove sees the Melbourne front row angle in.
38min: REB 10-10 CRU
George Bridge is getting checked for a head knock while Will Genia has come off the field with issues to his knee. Bridge appears to be fine to play on but the Rebels have lost a big voice.
35min: REB 10-10 CRU
CRU NO TRY! Crusaders launch an attack in the middle of the field and Drummond breaks away on the right. He steps back inside on the Rebels 22m and finds Barrett in support. Barret runs it in and is tackled by Hodge as he goes over the line. The ref gives it, saying he saw Barrett lose the ball backwards in the tackle before putting it down. The Rebels are crying for a TMO review and they get it. What do you know, the TMO reckons there's a knock-on. Really tough call there. No angles seem to prove it but hey, it happens. Rebels scrum on their 5m.
34min: REB 10-10 CRU
CRU YELLOW! And just as they get back to 15 Havili goes to the bin! Rebels make a break off the kick off and it's a one-on-one. Havili stops him but kills the ball in the process. Denies any chance of continuing the linebreak with the Crusaders defence still getting back so he heads to the bin.
33min: REB 10-10 CRU
REB TRY! The Rebels are in! Crusaders look like they're playing hot potato in their own half and with the ball going all over the place. It finally gets popped to Drummond but he drops it and Hodge strikes! Kicks it through, scoops it up and he's in under the posts. Ugly, ugly stuff from the Crusaders.
30min: REB 3-10 CRU
Rebels look to run after Mo'unga's clear. They hold it in midfield for a few phases before going to the middle of the field and BOOM! Taufua with a massive hit sends Meakes flying backwards. The ball spills out and Taufua tries to get a hand on it but he knocks it on. Rebels scrum on halfway. Meakes is slow to get up - don't blame him.
26min: REB 3-10 CRU
The Crusaders defence does it again! Rebels try to go to the right off the scrum but the Crusaders' 14-man defence rushes them and forces a knock on! Crusaders now with a scrum on their 5m. Big opportunity blown for the Rebels who were back to 15 men for the play.
25min: REB 3-10 CRU
Rebels go for the maul off the lineout and they get over the line but it's held up! 5m scrum coming up.
23min: REB 3-10 CRU
CRU YELLOW! Now Todd heads to the bin after a Rebels breakaway in the middle of the field is stopped by a deliberate deflection by the Canterbury flanker. It was a clever linebreak from Genia at the breakdown and he's got his team a 5m lineout for his efforts.
22min: REB 3-10 CRU
Rebels are lucky the Crusaders aren't in again after Tamanivalu is ruled out on a breakaway by millimetres. Got space on the right wing but his opposite flicks his foot and manages to get his boot on the white chalk. Rebels lineout now on the Crusaders 10m. No one was near Tamanivalu if he kept that foot in.
19min: REB 3-10 CRU
CRU TRY! The Crusaders are in after some brilliance by the forwards. They get down into the Rebels' 22m after another failed kick for touch is returned at speed. The Crusaders bring it to the right and Todd has it. He skip passes to Samu who steps inside the Rebels defence. He's brought down 10m out, releases the ball, gets back to his feet and runs again. Brought down 2m out, recycled quickly to the right again and Makalio bumps off his would-be tackler 1m out to score in the right corner. Great try.
17min: REB 3-5 CRU
Rebels survive as an inside ball from Goodhue goes to ground. No advantage so it's a Rebels scrum inside their 22m.
15min: REB 3-5 CRU
REB YELLOW! Things go from bad to worse as Hodge goes to to bin. He's deliberately knocked down a pass that stops a linebreak. Another kick for touch off the penalty and the Crusaders now have a lineout just outside the Rebels' 22m.
14min: REB 3-5 CRU
Incredible defence by the Crusaders! Rebels go off the back at the line and Mo'unga brings him down a metre out. Crusaders' loosies dive over it before the Rebels can arrive and it's a penalty for not releasing! What a start for Mo'unga. Crusaders clear for touch and get a lineout outside their 22m.
11min: REB 3-5 CRU
REB NO TRY! Crusaders survive a scare after a charge down in the middle of the field is followed up by a kick and chase. It's a foot race and there's a player from both teams diving at it under the posts. TMO comes in and rules Jack Goodhue got their first but he carried it over the line doing so. That means a 5m scrum for the Rebels.
10min: REB 3-5 CRU
Crusaders aren't afraid to run the ball early here. They opt to run off the kickoff and get up to halfway after 10 phases. They kick for the corner but it doesn't go out so the Rebels clear. That doesn't go out either and the Crusaders are back at halfway.
8min: REB 3-5 CRU
CRU TRY! And the Crusaders are in through Tamanivalu! They pick and go for nine phases on the left side of the field and earn another offside penalty. Rebels are caught sleeping thinking another kick to touch is coming and Drummond takes it quickly. It goes to Mo'unga in the midfield and he skips four to find the unmarked winger who dots it down in the left corner.
6min: REB 3-0 CRU
Crusaders now have a chance to strike back after earning an offside penalty of their own. Rebels had a player in front of their kick who didn't retreat so they come all the way back. Crusaders aren't interested in three though and kick for touch. 5m lineout coming up.
3min: REB 3-0 CRU
REB THREE! Rebels are on the board early after picking up an offside penalty. Crusaders made a good run off the kick off but turn it over after dropping the final pass. That leads to a counter attack and the penalty.
0min: REB 0-0 CRU
Kickoff! Rebels get things going on a clear night in Melbourne.
PREVIEW
The Crusaders are looking to keep the NZ conference's winning-streak against Aussie rivals alive and well tonight when they play the Rebels in Melbourne.
Not only that, they'll also be looking to remain on top of the Kiwi table, where they currently hold a one point lead over the Hurricanes.
Recent results puts them as heavy favourites for the game despite being away - in the last two games alone the Rebels have bled out a combined 126 points.
What's more, the Rebels have lost their last six games against NZ conference teams by an average margin of 26 points. Contrast that with the fact the Crusaders have won their last seven games in Australia and suddenly Melbourne doesn't look so much like a fortress.
The key story for the Crusaders tonight though is the return of Richie Mo'unga who takes back the No.10 jersey after missing eight weeks of action with a broken jaw.
"To go through an injury like that, it's pretty tough," Mo'unga said.
Coach Scott Robertson has rung in the changes elsewhere to the starting XV, with three changes to the forward pack and four, including Mo'unga, in the backline.
In the backline, Mitchell Drummond will wear the number nine jersey, to work with Mo'unga.
A reshuffle in the outside backs sees Tamanivalu move from the left to right wing this week in place of Israel Dagg, and George Bridge comes on to the left wing. Jack Goodhue is also set to make his return from injury and will slot in at centre.
In the front-row, Wyatt Crockett comes into the starting team for what will be his 195th Super Rugby appearance, in place of injured loosehead prop Tim Perry while at hooker Andrew Makalio and Codie Taylor rotate for this game, so that Makalio takes the starting spot.
At blindside flanker, Melbourne-born Pete Samu earns a start this week, and Heiden Bedwell-Curtis has been named in the reserves.
TEAMS
REB: 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Will Genia, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Geoff Parling, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Fereti Sa’aga
REB subs: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Lopeti Timani, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Tom English, 23 Semisi Tupou
CRU: 15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Pete Samu, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Wyatt Crockett
CRU subs: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Harry Allan, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Mitchell Dunshea, 20 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Mitch Hunt, 23 Manasa Mataele
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