Macca’s Five-Try Showcase Leads to Crusaders’ Dominant Victory Over Force

Macca Springer has etched his name in Super Rugby history as only the second player to score five tries in a single match, leading the Crusaders to a commanding 55-33 victory over the Western Force under the dazzling Christchurch sun on Saturday.

Despite leading only 20-18 at the break, the Crusaders, known for their dominance in the competition, significantly ramped up their attacking efforts in the second half.

Among Springer’s remarkable five tries, the standout was his fourth. He exhibited incredible talent as he used his left foot to kick the ball forward, before deftly evading touch, showcasing remarkable speed to regather and cross the line.

The only other player to accomplish five tries in a Super Rugby match was the late Sean Wainui, who achieved the milestone for the Chiefs against the Waratahs in 2021.

Wainui tragically passed away in a car accident later that year at the young age of 25.

Braydon Ennor, a centre for the Crusaders, hailed the 21-year-old Springer as “the fastest player in the competition,” despite the fact that he is not a regular starter.

The back three of the Crusaders were pivotal, contributing all nine of their tries, with Sevu Reece netting a hat-trick while Will Jordan added another to his tally.

Reece, now with 64 tries to his name, is just one try shy of equalling Hurricanes legend TJ Perenara on the all-time Super Rugby scoring list.

With this stellar performance, the Crusaders have vaulted to second on the ladder, boasting a 3-1 record, while the Force languishes in eighth with a 2-3 record.

Wallabies legend James O’Connor made an impact off the bench, successfully converting four attempts in the second half as the score widened.

Force captain Jeremy Williams expressed satisfaction with their performance in the first half, stating, “We matched their physicality, which was our goal all week. I’m really pleased with that first half, but our second half has let us down in the past few matches and that’s something we need to address.”

“It was fast-paced out there and we made mistakes that allowed them to gain territory, with penalties and unforced errors contributing to our defence line being too narrow,” he added. “We’ve started the season well and will learn from these recent games as we look forward to returning to Perth.”

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