Visitors open Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign with bonus point
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The Crusaders blitzed the Hurricanes 39-25 to open their Super Rugby Aotearoa season in ruthless fashion.
Visitors the Crusaders ran in five tries to one to claim the bonus point at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Sunday.
Two late tries from Richie Mo'unga and replacement David Havili ensured Super Rugby champions the Crusaders left New Zealand's capital with the points.
The Hurricanes were right in contention with 15 minutes remaining against the Crusaders, the scores level at 25-apiece.
Billy Harmon with some great hands but the Hurricanes still struggling at the line out pic.twitter.com/YavZMvfc4e
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) June 21, 2020
However, errors proved costly for the winless Hurricanes – who slumped to their second defeat from two games in the domestic Super Rugby competition following the coronavirus crisis.
Kobus van Wyk's mistake helped Mo'unga and the Crusaders break the deadlock 12 minutes from the end before Havili sealed the win.
Sevu Reece, Brayden Ennor and Jack Goodhue had scored first-half tries for the Crusaders, while Jackson Garden-Bachop's 20 points kept the Hurricanes in the mix.
