AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) Defending champions the Crusaders retained their place atop the Super Rugby table with a 32-24 win over the luckless Blues on Saturday in a rain-soaked match at Eden Park.
The Blues matched the Crusaders in almost every statistical area – both teams scored four tries and the Blues achieved parity in possession gained, territory occupied, tackles missed and turnovers conceded. But they still suffered a convincing defeat, mainly because they lacked the Crusaders ability to make sure of critical scoring chances.
All Blacks winger Reiko Ioane scored two tries and created another for the Blues who played a more enterprising style. The Crusaders were one-dimensional at times but played to the conditions, creating tries from rolling mauls, including two to lock Quinten Strange.
The match raised issues for the All Blacks selectors who will name a team Sunday for a three-match series against France. Crusaders center Ryan Crotty suffered a new injury which will likely continue his absence from test play while prop Owen Franks faces citing on a striking charge.
Earlier, New Zealand-born flyhalf Hayden Parker kicked a 30-meter dropped goal four minutes after the final siren to give last-place Sunwolves a 26-23 win over South Africas Stormers and their first back-to-back wins since they joined the tournament in 2016.
Japans Sunwolves earned their first win of the season last weekend when they thrashed the Queensland Reds 63-28 and followed that up Saturday with a victory in the first Super Rugby match to be played in Hong Kong. The match featured an extraordinary kicking duel in the last 20 minutes.
Parker first landed a penalty in the 64th minute which allowed the Sunwolves to edge ahead 20-17. The Stormers S.P. Marais leveled the score at 20-20 with a penalty in the 71st minute.
Marais put the Stormers ahead 23-20 in the 74th but Parker kicked a penalty in the final minute of regular time to tie the scores at 23-23. Parker then landed the winning dropped goal in the 84th to finish with a flawless goalkicking record and with 21 points from a try, three penalties, two conversions and a dropped goal.
Parker was also flawless in scoring 36 points in last weeks win over Queensland.
Winger Dillyn Leyds scored two tries for the Stormers, who remain in fourth place among five teams in the South African conference.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) Defending champions the Crusaders retained their place atop the Super Rugby table with a 32-24 win over the luckless Blues on Saturday in a rain-soaked match at Eden Park.
The Blues matched the Crusaders in almost every statistical area – both teams scored four tries and the Blues achieved parity in possession gained, territory occupied, tackles missed and turnovers conceded. But they still suffered a convincing defeat, mainly because they lacked the Crusaders ability to make sure of critical scoring chances.
All Blacks winger Reiko Ioane scored two tries and created another for the Blues who played a more enterprising style. The Crusaders were one-dimensional at times but played to the conditions, creating tries from rolling mauls, including two to lock Quinten Strange.
The match raised issues for the All Blacks selectors who will name a team Sunday for a three-match series against France. Crusaders center Ryan Crotty suffered a new injury which will likely continue his absence from test play while prop Owen Franks faces citing on a striking charge.
Earlier, New Zealand-born flyhalf Hayden Parker kicked a 30-meter dropped goal four minutes after the final siren to give last-place Sunwolves a 26-23 win over South Africas Stormers and their first back-to-back wins since they joined the tournament in 2016.
Japans Sunwolves earned their first win of the season last weekend when they thrashed the Queensland Reds 63-28 and followed that up Saturday with a victory in the first Super Rugby match to be played in Hong Kong. The match featured an extraordinary kicking duel in the last 20 minutes.
Parker first landed a penalty in the 64th minute which allowed the Sunwolves to edge ahead 20-17. The Stormers S.P. Marais leveled the score at 20-20 with a penalty in the 71st minute.
Marais put the Stormers ahead 23-20 in the 74th but Parker kicked a penalty in the final minute of regular time to tie the scores at 23-23. Parker then landed the winning dropped goal in the 84th to finish with a flawless goalkicking record and with 21 points from a try, three penalties, two conversions and a dropped goal.
Parker was also flawless in scoring 36 points in last weeks win over Queensland.
Winger Dillyn Leyds scored two tries for the Stormers, who remain in fourth place among five teams in the South African conference.
