'Like a gazelle!' Prop shocks commentators with burst of brilliance as Crusaders get rocky title defence back on track
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On a night in which the classy Crusaders backs ran riot, unassuming prop Fletcher Newell somehow stole the show.
Playing his 50th match for the perennial Super Rugby champions, Newell lit up North Harbour Stadium with a surprising burst of speed and skill, leaving two Moana Pasifika defenders in his wake before popping an offload on the way to a George Bell try.
The All Blacks tighthead is more known for his scrummaging prowess and the commentary team were stunned.
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Fletcher Newell on the run. Stan
"Moving like a gazelle! Ball over the top, the full bag of tricks," caller Jeff McTainsh said on Stan Sport's coverage.
Ex-Test hooker James Parsons was proud of his fellow front-rower.
"This is just a thing of beauty. Fifty games, this will be remembered for sure. That is just so good," Parsons said.
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The Crusaders won 50-21 and even legendary All Blacks flyer Jeff Wilson was impressed.
"Something special. To have the gas in the tank - a change of pace and a sidestep," Wilson said.
The bonus point win lifted the Crusaders (3-3) to sixth on the standings.
Hooker Bell scored a double, as did winger Chay Fihaki.
All Blacks ace Will Jordan was excellent at fullback with decisive carries at speed that Moana struggled to contain, combined with the power the Crusaders exhibited with phase after phase wearing the hosts down.
Tana Umaga's men were desperate to arrest their slump, but they fell to their fifth defeat in a row.
As the autumn sun dimmed around their preferred home, there was a sense nothing but victory would do in pursuit of a first playoff appearance.
Braydon Ennor of the Crusaders dives over to score a try. Getty
Their hopes look faint, more so without the totemic Ardie Savea, and returning to North Harbour Stadium for the first time this year didn't improve their form, leaving them 1-5 and bottom of the standings after six rounds.
There was an electric atmosphere around the ground, albeit with just a few thousand in attendance, but their defence is a major concern. Four of their five defeats have been by huge margins against the Hurricanes, the Chiefs, the Blues and now the Crusaders.
The red and blacks were on the ropes at times, with confidence not brimming after a shaky start to their title defence under Rob Penney, although they improved to 3-3 and will be inside the top six before their bye next weekend.
Braydon Ennor of the Crusaders dives over to score a try. Getty
Compared to Moana, their outrageous depth was telling. Leicester Fainga'anuku, an All Black, was brought off the bench and ignited their dominant second half to devastating effect.
Bell's double flattened Moana's resolve. Suddenly, the Crusaders were 38-14 ahead. Winger Kurtis MacDonald came off the bench to score with his first touch as a Crusader in a comprehensive win that saw Jordan's scintillating running game cut the hosts apart.
Debutant No.10 Cooper Grant, back on the same pitch where he once played baseball for the defunct Auckland Tuatura, was steady with experienced heads like Dallas McLeod and halfback Noah Hotham around him, performing with great efficiency.
Moana's night began with a suspected dislocated shoulder for veteran Julian Savea. The former All Black, on his first start of the campaign at second five-eighth, trudged off to dampen the vibrant atmosphere and was taken to hospital.
The Crusaders pounced, but one of their own academy products, Moana's new starting halfback Joel Lam, was determined to make an impact. Lively around the ruck, Lam got a sweet personal moment with a first-half try as the hosts roared back into the contest.
No.8 Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, a turnover menace, stood out again. Skipper Miracle Faiilagi provided some inspiration, too, and Lalomilo Lalomilo's midfield runs had the Crusaders on high alert.
When Moana's attack does click, combined with a bounce from the stands, momentum can rapidly swing their way.
While the Crusaders jumped to a 12-0 lead, Moana's intense surges were troubling the visitors.
Faiilagi and Lalomilo sliced through for Tevita Ofa and Lam's brilliant tries to bring the Albany crowd to its feet.
Their scrum continues to prosper, an underrated attacking weapon the Crusaders' pack, dotted with All Blacks, learned when buckling in the early exchanges.
The red and blacks were more slick with their passing. Braydon Ennor and Sevu Reece's early tries were from sweeping moves. Their lineout functioned better and when Moana were scrambling backwards, the Crusaders looked capable of striking at will.
Reece's score will take some beating as a contender for the team try of the round. His opposite wing Fihaki was provided a much simpler finish from Grant's precise kick, as the Crusaders regained the lead before half-time and never looked back.
Moana had rattled their visitors, but suffered another worrying collapse — similar to their slump in last weekend's 43-7 defeat to the Blues at Eden Park — and could only celebrate Siaosi Nginingini's consolation try in the final stages.
