The Crusaders have iced their first win in Fiji over the Drua with a convincing 31-14 victory in Suva.

Rob Penney’s men scored 31 unanswered points to take down the Drua and head into second place on the ladder.

It was a fast start for the visitors when scrum half Noah Hotham took the offload from Will Jordan and raced to the corner for the opener inside three minutes.

Jordan had three try assists for the afternoon as the All Black proved unstoppable.

Fast hands from the Crusaders set up Antonio Shalfoon and when Jordan put Chay Fihaki into space, suddenly the powerhouse side had a 17-0 lead.

It would stay this way heading into half-time as both sides had chances but couldn’t capitalise.

The Crusaders eventually extended their lead in the 55th minute when Jordan sliced through a hole and put the kick ahead for Macca Springer to collect.

This was Springer’s eighth try in four games and continued his six-game scoring streak in Super Rugby.

Replacement Ioane Moananu dived over eight minutes later to seal the win for the Crusaders.

Isikeli Rabitu gave the Fijian Drua faithful something to cheer about when he collected Iosefo Masi’s kick and raced away for their first points of the day.

Etonia Waqa added their second try shortly afterwards when the athletic back-rower sliced through the defence and stepped the covering defence.

But the game was already wrapped up at this point, with the Crusaders doing enough to hold onto the bonus point.

It sees them leap the Queensland Reds on the ladder, sitting two points behind the top-placed Chiefs.

As for the Fijian Drua, they head to Dunedin next week, desperate to climb off the bottom of the ladder.

Crusaders 31 (Tries: Hotham, Shalfoon, Fihaki, Springer, Moananu; Cons: Kemara 2, O'Connor) def Fijian Drua 14 (Tries: Waqa, Rabitu; Cons: Armstrong-Ravula)

 

Fiji Drua: 15 Vuate Karawalevu, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 11 Ponipate Longanimasi, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Isoa Tuwai, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (Captain), 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Leone Rotuisolia, 20 Vilive Miramira, 21 Etonia Waqa, 22 Simione Kuruvoli, 23 Isikeli Rabitu.

Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Sevu Reece, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham; 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Corey Kellow, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Tahlor Cahill, 3 Seb Calder, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Mitch Drummond, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Levi Aumua.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Glenn Newman