CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — The defending champion Crusaders fanned their faint playoff hopes in Super Rugby Pacific Friday with a six-try, 39-0 win over the fourth-placed Melbourne Rebels.
The win was only the Crusaders’ second in nine games this season but temporarily bounced them off the bottom of the championship ladder and brightened their chances of reaching the quarterfinals with five matches remaining.
The Christchurch-based Crusaders fielded the biggest pack they could find and crushed the Rebels’ scrum, winning penalties and territory through the first 30 minutes. The Crusaders’ All Blacks props Fletcher Newell and George Bower dominated while the Rebels were forced to swap their entire front row in the 31st minute.
The Crusaders also freely poached the Rebels’ lineout ball, helped by the return from injury of All Blacks lock Scott Barrett.
DeLuca stays hot with homer and 4 RBIs as Rays beat Clevinger and White Sox 8
Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ultra
Enjoy winter sports at foot of Great Wall in Shanxi
Solomon Islands observes campaign blackout day ahead of election — Radio Free Asia
Oksana Masters overcame traumatic childhood
ITTF World Cup Macao 2024 kicks off
Chinese shuttlers into all five finals at Badminton Asia Championships
Ancient rock carvings wear 'digital smart armor' in SW China
China's Xi visits Pyrenees mountains, in a personal gesture by France's Macron
Karen Millen reveals she 'misses the cleaner' she had before going bankrupt
Millions of people across Oklahoma, southern Kansas at risk of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms
Real Madrid stay eight points clear after narrow win