The game was broadcast live for free on YouTube from 3.15pm.
The final score was Crusaders 33 (Manumau Letiu 2, Toby Bell, Ethan Blackadder, Xavier Treacy tries; Taha Kemara 4 con) vs Highlanders 10 (Caleb Tangitau 2 tries). It was 28-5 to the Crusaders at halftime.
Head Coach Rob Penney said there was a spark around the Crusaders camp that only comes with the start of a new season.
"You can feel it in the way the boys talk about one another, the way the young players bounce around training, and the way the leaders carry themselves as they head into the first pre‑season clash in Timaru."
The game kicked off at 3.30pm on Friday and Penney said the Crusaders showed a familiar hunger to win.
"We just want to see the building cohesion and our game unfolding," he says.
"There are some exciting elements to what we’ve been working on, so this pre-season game is about the evolvement of our game and rewarding the boys who’ve put in such a hard effort during pre-season.
"At some point you’ve got to start doing it against opposition. There aren’t many secrets in this game."
That belief in letting players express themselves is something Ethan Blackadder believes in. Blackadder was captain for the first half.
"Fresh faces, a new year – we’ve had a really good pre-season,” Blackadder says.
"This game is all about opportunity and the boys are fizzing."
Blackadder was "pumped" to see the younger Crusaders step onto this stage for the first time.
"We’ve got a number of guys around that 20 to 22 age mark who haven’t had a crack at this level. It’s all about them getting a shot and us pressure testing our systems."
The captaincy baton was passed to Rivez Reihana in the second half.
"I haven’t really thought about it too much this week," Reihana says.
"Being a first five, you’re kind of expected to lead, so I’ve just taken it as a normal week, but I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.
"We were pretty hungry last year, and it still feels the same. We’re not defending a title; we’re looking to win another one."
-Allied Media
