Prolific full-back Will Jordan was once again on the scoresheet for the Crusaders as the defending champions ran riot against the Fijian Drua, winning the quarter-final 49-8 in Christchurch.
The Crusaders had built a solid lead in the clash that resulted in a boatload of injuries for the star side and were attacking the Drua line in the 67th minute. The relentless pressure had sucked the visitors’ defence in, narrowing their set significantly.
Ever the opportunist, Jordan was wise to the narrow defensive line and spotted a practically empty blindside. The 25-year-old made the charge for the space and fortunately, replacement scrum-half Will Heinz saw his team-mate changing course and got a well-timed pass out to him.
Jordan had acres of space to work with and chopped back in to score a try by reaching for the line.
Awareness and instinct were the key attributes that bagged the All Black yet another five-pointer.
Earlier, it was a dream start for the Christchurch side who only took two minutes to get on the board through front-row Oli Jager with fly-half Richie Mo’unga converting the score successfully.
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Only four minutes later, hooker Codie Taylor crossed for his first of two tries, the second of which came in the 14th minute as Mo’unga added the extras for both.
The Drua managed to slow the bleeding in what was a horror start for them in their first taste of the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs and got on the board after 25 minutes as Frank Lomani kicked a penalty.
However, only nine minutes later the Crusaders started turning the screw yet again as Sione Havili crossed for a try that his fly-half also converted.
The Drua were given the smallest of hopes by an unconverted intercept try from Selestino Ravutaumada five minutes before the break.
Those hopes would soon be destroyed as the second period would follow with the defending champions flying out of the blocks as skipper Scott Barrett crossed in the 45th minute for a converted try.
Errors crept into the clash from both sides, making for a messy third quarter before Jordan scored his try with 13 minutes to play as Mo’unga continued to kick brilliantly from the tee.
Heinz was rewarded for his try assist as he crossed over for a late score with two minutes left, rubbing salt in the Fijian wounds. Fergus Burke was on hand for the final conversion.
The dominant win sets up an intriguing semi-final against the Blues next weekend in a replay of last season’s grand final.
Video credit: Super Rugby Pacific
READ MORE: Super Rugby Pacific: Five takeaways from the quarter-final including Chiefs’ composure helping them to victory
The article WATCH: Will Jordan making try scoring look so simple for the Crusaders appeared first on Planetrugby.com.
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