Latest news with #Crusaders'
1News
4 days ago
- Sport
- 1News
Crusaders steamroll Reds in the rain to earn home semifinal
The Crusaders are hard to beat at home at the best of times but they go to a different level in the playoffs – their 32-12 victory over the Reds tonight in a rainy and cold Christchurch preserving their perfect record in Super Rugby's post-season. It means they have earned a home semifinal next weekend against either the Brumbies or Hurricanes, who will play in Canberra tonight. The Chiefs play the Blues in Hamilton earlier tonight in the other playoff match. The Crusaders' record in home playoffs now reads 30 from 30 and the foundations were once again laid by a dominant pack which nullified the visitors' set piece, earning five scrum penalties in total – three in the first half. Throw in the Crusaders' line speed on defence and a willingness to attack the Reds' breakdown, and it was truly one-way traffic in the first half, the red and blacks going ahead through close-range tries from lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams. Christian Lio-Willie of the Crusaders is tackled by Lachie Anderson of the Reds during the Super Rugby Pacific Qualifying Final (Source: Photosport) ADVERTISEMENT Williams burrowed over despite receiving treatment from a knee injury and it was an issue that forced him from the field in the first half and will raise concerns not only for Crusaders head coach Rob Penney but also his All Blacks' counterpart Scott Robertson. The big loosehead was a dominant force before his departure and Robertson will be eager to name him in his first Test squad of the year on June 23. The fact that Williams could continue after treatment may be a good sign but Penney indicated more will be known about the extent of the problem during the week. The Reds were having their own issues in terms of the casualty ward, with first-five Tom Lynagh going off for a head injury assessment, which he failed, after clashing heads with Crusaders wing Sevu Reece in a tackle. It was clearly accidental but penalties, and even cards, have been given for less. As it was, the Reds were finding it tough enough and the Crusaders should have been ahead by more than their 12-0 advantage at the end of the half but for a mistake by replacement James O'Connor, a first-five who played 68 games for the Reds, who kicked the ball dead from a penalty when going for the corner with time almost up. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen of the Reds and Ryan Smith of the Reds drive the maul during the Super Rugby Pacific Qualifying Final. (Source: Photosport) The Reds, who made only one memorable line break in the first half, were up against it from the re-start, with the Crusaders pinning them in their half, and halfback Noah Hotham was the first to make them pay with an excellent re-gather to dive over under pressure. First-five Rivez Reihana, back from passing his own HIA, pushed his side further ahead with a long range penalty before the Crusaders' first serious discipline issue of the match: a high tackle by the otherwise impressive flanker Ethan Blackadder from a defensive lineout. ADVERTISEMENT The visitors immediately capitalised with a try from the lineout drive for replacement hooker Josh Nasser and Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight, the two talented Wallabies loose forwards, then combined for an excellent try for McReight to give the scoreboard some respectability. There was still time for replacement halfback Kyle Preston to intercept a desperate Reds pass for a try in the corner for the home side. John Bryant of the Reds during the Super Rugby Pacific Qualifying Final (Source: Photosport) This was always going to be a difficult evening for a Reds team who lost in Christchurch during the regular season and who appeared to be flummoxed by the conditions. They were too passive in the contact and played too narrowly – perfect for a Crusaders team attempting to make up for their woeful season last year. All the Crusaders' forwards - Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Barrett, Antonio Shalfoon, Blackadder, Tom Christie and Christian Lio-Willie played with a sense of purpose that suggests they will be very hard to beat again next Saturday. Will Jordan also looked extremely assured at fullback after his return from a knee injury. ADVERTISEMENT Crusaders 32 (Scott Barrett, Tamaiti Williams, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Kyle Preston tries; Rivez Reihana 2 cons, pen) Reds 12 (Josh Nasser, Fraser McReight tries, Filipo Dungunu con) Halftime: 12-0
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
My music students will play at CMA Fest. More kids need this opportunity
I was 11 years old when I first played with a brass band on a big stage outside my home city of New Orleans. I can still remember the thrill of hearing our jazzy, rhythmic sound meet the roar of applause from an appreciative audience. This weekend, 62 adolescents and early teens from the Tremé and surrounding neighborhoods of New Orleans will, like me, get their chance to perform away from home at the CMA Fest here in Nashville. It's a big deal. These kids, part of the Marching Crusaders band program, come from low-income communities and under-resourced schools. Our afterschool program gives them the opportunity to learn the foundations of music, join a marching band, and perform live — while also getting academic tutoring, hot meals, and the chance to forge connections with their peers and the adults who care about them. I started the program in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which left our city bereft of so much — including music education. Our marching bands, a mainstay of our schools and a highlight of community events, were struggling. Fast forward two decades and the tradition is as popular as ever, particularly in high schools. More: Can music education boost grades, attendance? A new case study suggests it might Our program enrolls both elementary and middle school students and aims to get them ready for high school and college band opportunities, and — for those with the dream — life as professional musicians. But there are plenty of other reasons to provide wraparound services and music programs to students nationwide. Too many families who need aftercare programs don't have access to them. And music education isn't reaching many kids from low-income backgrounds who would benefit from the training and the support services that organizations like ours provide. We designed the Marching Crusaders program for students ages 9-14, because it's a formative time in a child's life when they can use help beyond what's available in the traditional school day. Risk taking increases, and mental health challenges are up. The Nation's Report Card shows middle schoolers are experiencing major academic declines and having difficulty making up lost ground related to the pandemic. Learning music helps children develop discipline and has been linked to positive academic outcomes. Our program also offers daily tutoring and celebrates the Crusaders' academic progress on a weekly basis when our staff distributes prizes, provided by our generous partners, to top academic achievers. I really enjoy having the kids run over to pass me their report card and get a photo of us showcasing their accomplishments. I always try to learn from others, and there are nonprofits in Music City worthy of attention and public support. I'm impressed with the work of W.O. Smith Music School, which provides low-income students with high-quality music instruction; the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Words & Music program, focused on songwriting; and Notes for Notes, which provides youth access to instruments and recording studios, to name just a few. More: Inside the nonprofit studio that lets Nashville kids make music for free. 'When you walk in here you're an artist' And. of course, there's the CMA Foundation, which invests the proceeds from CMA Fest into music education programs, including the one I lead. But there's no question kids need more, and perhaps we should all be looking for ways to provide it. The Marching Crusaders program serves around 200 kids, but we have a waitlist that garners hundreds of applications within days of opening, even if we only have 20 slots to fill. It hurts to have to turn kids away every year. Especially at this moment of economic uncertainty and proposed education funding cuts, communities can strengthen music education. That can happen when nationally known artists, like those who call Nashville home, use their voice for good, or when communities find a way to expand and fund in-school and out-of-school music education. Helping can also mean letting young artists take the stage during events like CMA Fest — even when those kids look and sound a little different from other performers. More: Country stars share how music teachers changed their lives. Top moments from CMA Foundation awards It's also so valuable to mentor kids and provide space for them to practice and play. I got my start learning drums in the childhood home of famed jazz musician Trombone Shorty. His mom, Lois Nelson Andrews, had a big heart and open door for budding musicians. Later, trumpeter Milton Batiste put me on the stage with the Olympia Brass Band. Today, I'm just paying it forward. The Crusader Marching Band is the largest of several programs that fall under our nonprofit, The Roots of Music. The others include an in-school kindergarten and elementary program and a high school audio engineering and production program. I believe children are the roots of music. We must nourish and take care of our roots. We'll all be better off for it. Derrick Tabb is the founder and Executive Director of The Roots of Music nonprofit. An acclaimed musician, he plays the snare drum with the Grammy-award winning Rebirth Brass Band. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville CMA Fest is a great lesson, chance for children | Opinion
IOL News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Crusaders hail former bad boy James O'Connor as Wallabies trump card in Lions series
Primed for Wallaby selection? Crusaders' James O'Connor runs with the ball during their round 10 Super Rugby Pacific match against the Blues. Photo: Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto via AFP The Canterbury Crusaders say veteran fly-half James O'Connor still boasts international quality and would be a potential Australian match-winner if named to face the British and Irish Lions. O'Connor, 34, has been a revelation for the Crusaders in their climb to second place on the Super Rugby standings, impressing again off the reserves bench in a 48-33 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Friday. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said last week he is considering the merits of the versatile back, who played the last of 64 Tests nearly three years ago. Crusaders captain David Havili believed O'Connor could be a trump card in the three-Test series against the Lions starting in July.
France 24
17-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Crusaders hail O'Connor as Wallabies trump card in Lions series
O'Connor, 34, has been a revelation for the Crusaders in their climb to second place on the Super Rugby standings, impressing again off the reserves bench in a 48-33 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Friday. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said last week he is considering the merits of the versatile back, who played the last of 64 Tests nearly three years ago. Crusaders captain David Havili believed O'Connor could be a trump card in the three-Test series against the Lions starting in July. "He's been there, done it before, and certainly if I was picking a team, he'd be there," Havili said Friday of O'Connor, who has been used primarily off the bench by the 14-time Super Rugby champions. "I think him being able to come on and finish games is exactly what you need in big Test matches. "He's been around the world, played in massive games, big stadiums, and he knows what it's about." O'Connor started all three Tests at fly-half when Australia last hosted the Lions, in 2013 when the tourists prevailed 2-1. Havili said the Australian's experience and engaging approach had been invaluable to the development of the Crusaders' youthful fly-halves - Taha Kemara and Rivez Reihana. "He's just a great person to have on your team, regardless of the rugby and the fact that he's got a great mind on him." O'Connor's precision on attack in Sydney helped an under-strength Crusaders notch a ninth win from 12 games to guarantee they will qualify for the top-six finals in June. Without All Blacks forwards Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell, the visitors still had too much for the Waratahs pack, while former Wales international Johnny McNicholl performed ably at fullback for the injured Will Jordan. All Black Sevu Reece was among the seven Crusaders' try-scorers. It lifted the winger to 65 Super Rugby tries, level with former Wellington Hurricanes scrum-half TJ Perenara for the most by any player in the competition's history. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Crusaders hail O'Connor as Wallabies trump card in Lions series
The Canterbury Crusaders say veteran fly-half James O'Connor still boasts international quality and would be a potential Australian match-winner if named to face the British and Irish Lions. O'Connor, 34, has been a revelation for the Crusaders in their climb to second place on the Super Rugby standings, impressing again off the reserves bench in a 48-33 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Friday. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said last week he is considering the merits of the versatile back, who played the last of 64 Tests nearly three years ago. Crusaders captain David Havili believed O'Connor could be a trump card in the three-Test series against the Lions starting in July. "He's been there, done it before, and certainly if I was picking a team, he'd be there," Havili said Friday of O'Connor, who has been used primarily off the bench by the 14-time Super Rugby champions. "I think him being able to come on and finish games is exactly what you need in big Test matches. "He's been around the world, played in massive games, big stadiums, and he knows what it's about." O'Connor started all three Tests at fly-half when Australia last hosted the Lions, in 2013 when the tourists prevailed 2-1. Havili said the Australian's experience and engaging approach had been invaluable to the development of the Crusaders' youthful fly-halves - Taha Kemara and Rivez Reihana. "He's just a great person to have on your team, regardless of the rugby and the fact that he's got a great mind on him." O'Connor's precision on attack in Sydney helped an under-strength Crusaders notch a ninth win from 12 games to guarantee they will qualify for the top-six finals in June. Without All Blacks forwards Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell, the visitors still had too much for the Waratahs pack, while former Wales international Johnny McNicholl performed ably at fullback for the injured Will Jordan. All Black Sevu Reece was among the seven Crusaders' try-scorers. It lifted the winger to 65 Super Rugby tries, level with former Wellington Hurricanes scrum-half TJ Perenara for the most by any player in the competition's history. dgi/lb
