Crusaders fly-half Richie Mo’unga showed his class as he set up a try for his team-mate Codie Taylor during the early stages of their 38-21 victory over Moana Pasifika in Christchurch on Friday.
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Mo’unga, who was playing in his 100th match for the Crusaders, turned provider as he caught the visitors’ defence by surprise with his moment of brilliance.
With the score 3-0 in their favour, after an earlier penalty from Mo’unga, the Crusaders launched an attack in the 12th minute midway between Moana’s 22 and their 10-metre line.
The 29-year-old gathered a pass from Dallas McLeod and set off on a mazy run in which he beat three defenders with fancy footwork before throwing an inside pass to Taylor, who had an easy run-in for the opening try.
Some fancy footwork from Richie Mo'unga sets up this @crusadersrugby try for Codie Taylor ✨#CRUvMOA #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/237Aj9vCgZ
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 7, 2023
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Mo’unga slotted the conversion, which gave his side a 10-0 lead, but Moana struck back with a brace of tries from Levi Aumua, which were both converted by Lincoln McClutchie.
The rest of the half was a close battle, and although the Crusaders regained the lead with another converted try from Taylor, Moana held a 21-17 lead at the interval after Timoci Tavatavanawai scored their third try.
That was the last time the visitors would score points, however, as the hosts took control of proceedings in the second half.
Their dominance was rewarded with further five-pointers from Dom Gardiner, Dallas McLeod and Willi Heinz, with Mo’unga succeeding with all his conversion attempts to finish his milestone match in style with a 13-point contribution.
Video credit: Moana Pasifika