Crusaders down champion Blues to continue Super Rugby resurgence

Canterbury Crusaders secured a comprehensive 42-19 win over defending Super Rugby Pacific champions the Auckland Blues at Eden Park to continue their resurgence and remain in touch with early leaders Waikato Chiefs.

The Chiefs thrashed Moana Pasifika 50-35 on Friday to hold a three-point lead after six rounds, but Clayton McMillans team have played one match more than a revitalised Crusaders side that has bounced back from a disappointing 2024 campaign.

Queensland Reds notched a 29-23 victory over the Otago Highlanders to secure their first win in Dunedin in 12 years on Saturday as the New South Wales Waratahs recorded a 28-23 win to defeat the ACT Brumbies for the first time in 14 attempts.

Western Force continued their solid early-season form with a 52-15 win over the Fijian Drua on Sunday.

The Crusaders made light work of a Blues side that have struggled to hit the heights of last season, with Vern Cotters team falling to their fifth defeat in six games and sitting one rung off the bottom.

Dalton Papalii gave the Blues the lead in the third minute but that advantage was to last only nine minutes as Kyle Preston and Chay Fihaki crossed to put the visitors in front.

Prop Tamaiti Williams extended the Crusaders lead in the 25th minute before a second from Fihaki and further tries from Tom Christie, Macca Springer and Will Jordan earned the 12-times Super Rugby champions a comfortable win.

All I was after as a coach was for the boys to express themselves and feel as though theyre getting something out of the game and loving their time in the jersey, said Crusaders coach Rob Penney.

Were nowhere near where we want to be yet; weve still got a bit to do.

Chiefs flyhalf Damian McKenzie scored one of his