Defending Super Rugby champions Crusaders ended a five-game losing streak with a home win over the Chiefs on Friday.
The Crusaders outscored the visitors by five tries to four in Christchurch to avenge their 33-29 defeat away to the Chiefs in Hamilton on the opening day of the season.
“It’s amazing. The boys fronted up, really lifted from what we have had in the past,” said Crusaders stand-in captain Tom Christie with regular skipper Scott Barrett and his deputy David Havili both injured. Scrum-half Noah Hotham darted down the blindside from a breakdown before Fihaki sprinted onto his perfectly-timed chip to open the scoring, then McNicholl crossed untouched after a quick ball from a ruck.
Chiefs centre Anton Lienert-Brown barrelled over for a converted try making it 27-19 with an hour gone.
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