Macca Springer made history by becoming only the second player in Super Rugby to score five tries in a single game, leading the Crusaders to a commanding 55-33 victory over the Western Force in superb Christchurch weather. Despite a narrow 20-18 lead at half-time, the Crusaders stepped up their offensive game in the second half.
Among Springer’s five tries, his fourth stood out for its remarkable execution; he deftly kicked the ball forward, sidestepped into touch, and then sprinted to regather and score. This performance places him alongside the late Sean Wainui, who recorded a similar achievement for the Chiefs in 2021 before his tragically early death later that year.
Crusaders centre Braydon Ennor praised the 21-year-old Springer, calling him “the fastest man in the competition,” despite Springer being a sporadic starter. In addition to Springer’s exploits, the Crusaders’ back three was prolific, with Sevu Reece achieving a hat trick and Will Jordan adding another try. As of this match, Reece stands at 64 career tries, just one behind Hurricanes legend TJ Perenara on the all-time Super Rugby leaderboard.
Crusaders secured all nine of their tries through their backline, with Springer scoring at the 12th, 15th, 52nd, 55th, and 60th minutes. With their latest win, the Crusaders improved to a 3-1 record, placing them second on the ladder, while the Force sit eighth at 2-3. Wallabies icon James O’Connor contributed significantly from the bench, successfully converting four tries in the second half as the score widened.
Force captain Jeremy Williams acknowledged their strong performance in the first half, matching the Crusaders’ physical play but expressed concern over their second-half performance, which has been a recurring issue. He noted that penalties and unforced errors allowed the Crusaders to exploit gaps in their defence.
The final score reflected the dominant performance of the Crusaders, who look to maintain their momentum as the season progresses. The Force aim to regroup and learn from their latest encounter as they head back to Perth for future matches.
Final Score: Crusaders 55 (Macca Springer 5, Sevu Reece 3, Will Jordan tries; James O’Connor 4 con; Taha Kemara con) defeated Force 33 (Mac Grealy, Will Harris, Jeremy Williams, Harry Potter tries; Max Burey 3 pen, con; Coby Miln con. Half-Time: 20-18).