Another touch of Will Jordan brilliance has carried the Crusaders to a hard-earned 34-19 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Highlanders at Dunedin.
Rallying from an early 13-point deficit after as many minutes, the visitors were ahead 17-16 at halftime and arm-wrestled with their southern rivals to lead 20-19 with little more than 10 minutes remaining.
Jordan, who has fashioned an impressive tryscoring record at Super Rugby and international levels in his brief career, began the game's decisive movement, when he kicked deep from his own half and a return kick was fielded on his own side of halfway.
As play moved right, he took off upfield in support of winger George Bridge and was there to take a return pass outside the Highlanders 22, splitting the defence and carrying two despairing tacklers to the tryline to score.
That blow finally broke the back of the underdog Highlanders' spirited resistance and moments later, giant prop Tamaiti Williams barged over from close range to put the result beyond doubt, giving a slightly lopsided look to the scoreboard that wasn't evident through most of the contest.
Taking confidence from victory over the Crusaders in their last meeting, the home side were unstoppable early, with first-five Mitch Hunt on target with his kicking boot and Sam Gilbert charging over for a well-taken try off an attacking scrum.
But All Blacks winger Sevu Reece brought the Crusaders back into contention with a brace of first-half tries, taking a sneaky tap-kick to himself to score from close range, then outskirting the Highlanders defence for his second.
Hunt and counterpart Fergus Burke swapped penalties after the restart, before Jordan's killer blow swung momentum for good.
The Crusaders are scheduled to face Moana Pasifika next Friday, with the expansion team's first two games postponed, after a COVID-19 outbreak. The Highlanders will seek their first win of the season against the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Crusaders 34 (Reece 2, Williams, Jordan tries, Burke 2 conversions & 2 penalties, Hickey 2 conversions) Highlanders 19 (Gilbert try, Hunt conversion & 4 penalties)
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