The defending champion Crusaders defeated the NSW Waratahs 35-20 on Friday night to kick off the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific “Super Round.” The five-try bonus point victory snapped a frustrating run of form for the sixth-place squad. They secured the win while christening their brand new, $683 million indoor arena, One NZ Stadium, in Christchurch.
The Waratahs fought hard early. Sid Harvey kicked two narrow penalties to give NSW a brief lead. He later scored a try, and Teddy Wilson added another. They ultimately faded fast. The Crusaders applied brutal set-piece pressure and strangled the visitors in the second half.
Wing Dallas McLeod made history by scoring the first-ever try at the new venue. He finished the night with two tries. Midfielder Leicester Fainga’anuku stepped into an experimental loose forward role and dominated the contact zones. He crossed the line for a try, alongside scores from Codie Taylor and Macca Springer. The physical encounter was marred by poor discipline, as Dallas McLeod drove the offense while captain David Havili and Waratahs players Miles Amatosero and Ioane Moananu all received yellow cards.
The massive facility will host several major sports matchups this weekend. Ten Super Rugby teams have converged on Christchurch to play five matches over three days.
What the Move to an Indoor Fortress Means for the Crusaders
This match permanently ends a 15-year transitional era for Canterbury rugby. The Crusaders finally depart the temporary Apollo Projects Stadium in Addington. They occupied that venue out of necessity after the devastating 2011 earthquake destroyed their legendary Lancaster Park home.
The transition into Te Kaha fundamentally alters the team’s home-field dynamic. Opposing clubs historically dreaded traveling to Christchurch due to the harsh, exposed weather conditions that heavily favored the Crusaders’ grinding forward pack. The new enclosed, climate-controlled roof neutralizes that environmental advantage.
The indoor environment also forced the immediate retirement of the Crusaders’ famous pre-match galloping horses. The live animal procession was a 30-year franchise tradition. Space and safety constraints inside the $683 million arena made the practice impossible to continue.