Match Centre: Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders 39-0 Rebels

Crusaders 39-0 Rebels, Christchurch

Crusaders have made a statement of intent as they blanked out Rebels 39-0 in the latest round of the Super Rugby Pacific in Christchurch on Friday.

This is only the second win for Crusaders in the season under Rob Penney as they moved to ninth place in the table while Rebels are at fifth position.

The home side opened their account in the 10th minute as Sevu Reece sent a floating pass for Christian Lio-Willie to touchdown but the conversion drifted wide from Rivez Reihana. They doubled their tally by the 17th minute when Cullen Grace dived in the corner for their second try and once again Reihana missed out on the conversion making it 10-0.

The Rebels defence managed to keep Crusaders for the remainder of the first half but eventually they got their third try early in the second half when Lio-Willie completed his second with a glide in the corner. Reihana missed his third conversion but made amends with a penalty goal in the 50th minute to make it 18-0.

The bonus point came for Crusaders in the 63rd minute when Owen Franks dived over at the back of a maul and Reihana's conversion made it 25-0.

With hardly any response from Rebels, Crusaders continued to pile on as Reece claimed his eighth try of the season in the 73rd minute and Johnny McNicholl followed the suit to complete a convincing victory.

Team line up:

Crusaders XV: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Heremaia Murray, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 George Bower

Reserves: 16 George Bell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jamie Hannah, Corey Kellow, Noah Hotham, David Havili, Chay Fihaki

Rebels XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Maciu Nabolakasi, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 3 Sam Talakai (c), 2 Alex Mafi, 1 Matt Gibbon

Reserves: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Angelo Smith, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Matt Proctor, 23 Nick Jooste