Crusaders thump Brumbies 35-17

The Crusaders beat the Brumbies 35-17 in Christchurch last night, capping what has been a whirlwind week for the All Blacks coach in waiting.

But while the Brumbies were without the likes of Nic White, Pete Samu, James Slipper and Rob Valetini, the battered Crusaders had more than a dozen players unavailable through injury.

Blockbusting wing Leicester Fainga’anuku, fresh from scoring three tries against the Blues, was again a one-man wrecking ball – leaving defenders in his wake en route to a brace of tries.

The Crusaders outscored the Brumbies five tries to two, led for all but a few minutes early in the match, and were never seriously threatened by the visitors.

A late Christian Lio-Willie try ensured they bagged a bonus point.

It had been 23 years since the Brumbies' last win in the Garden City, all the way back in 2000, when Robertson was running around as a rugged loose forward for the red and blacks.

That said, this was far from vintage Crusaders - there were too many mistakes for that, many of them brought on by a lack of patience.

In other results, the Chiefs beat the Waratahs 24-14.

In other Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific fixtures today, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will meet the Highlanders at 3.35pm, Moana Pasifika will take on the Hurricanes at 6.05pm, the Rebels will play the Reds at 8.35pm and the Blues will meet the Western Force at 2.35pm Sunday.

Source: Stuff.co