Super Rugby Pacific: Veteran prop Own Franks scores first try in 14 years, as Crusaders savour morale-boosting win over Rebels

While the desperate Crusaders earned a critical win over the Rebels to keep their Super Rugby Pacific title defence alive, it was veteran prop Owen Franks who stole the show at Orangetheory Stadium on Friday night.

The All Blacks centurion crossed the chalk on the back of a textbook lineout drive to claim his first Super Rugby try in 14 years, one of six on the night for the Crusaders in a 39-0 drubbing of the Australian side.

To be more precise, it was the 36-year-old's first in 4,943 days, dating back to a May 2010 win over the Brumbies in Christchurch. Joining Franks on the try-scoring sheet that night were the likes of Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Zac Guildford.

The try was Franks' third for the Crusaders in his 166 total appearances, having rejoined the franchise this season after stints with Northampton Saints, the Hurricanes, and Toulouse.

The two-time World Cup winner never registered a try for the All Blacks through his 108 tests, with his only other try at professional level coming for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship.

"As it got close to the line I was like 'I'm holding this, for sure'," Franks told Sky Sports after Friday's match.

Franks' effort off the bench capped a dominant evening for the Crusaders pack. Rebels coach Kevin Foote replaced his entire front row just 30 minutes into the contest, such was the hosts' superiority.

While it was far from perfect, the performance was hugely encouraging for the Crusaders, who had been mired at the bottom of the competition standings.

They now sit just a single point outside the playoff seedings in ninth place, with the rest of the round yet to be played.

Franks credits underfire coach Rob Penney for remaining steadfast in the face of some much external pressure to help get the team back on track.

"There's just been a lot of hard work go in behind the scenes and it was just great to see the discipline to exit really well and stack good moments on top of each other," he said.

"Just really happy for [Penney] actually. The way he turns up every week, his positivity with everything going on has been outstanding."

While the desperate Crusaders earned a critical win over the Rebels to keep their Super Rugby Pacific title defence alive, it was veteran prop Owen Franks who stole the show at Orangetheory Stadium on Friday night.

The All Blacks centurion crossed the chalk on the back of a textbook lineout drive to claim his first Super Rugby try in 14 years, one of six on the night for the Crusaders in a 39-0 drubbing of the Australian side.

To be more precise, it was the 36-year-old's first in 4,943 days, dating back to a May 2010 win over the Brumbies in Christchurch. Joining Franks on the try-scoring sheet that night were the likes of Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Zac Guildford.

The try was Franks' third for the Crusaders in his 166 total appearances, having rejoined the franchise this season after stints with Northampton Saints, the Hurricanes, and Toulouse.

The two-time World Cup winner never registered a try for the All Blacks through his 108 tests, with his only other try at professional level coming for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship.

"As it got close to the line I was like 'I'm holding this, for sure'," Franks told Sky Sports after Friday's match.

Franks' effort off the bench capped a dominant evening for the Crusaders pack. Rebels coach Kevin Foote replaced his entire front row just 30 minutes into the contest, such was the hosts' superiority.

While it was far from perfect, the performance was hugely encouraging for the Crusaders, who had been mired at the bottom of the competition standings.

They now sit just a single point outside the playoff seedings in ninth place, with the rest of the round yet to be played.

Franks credits underfire coach Rob Penney for remaining steadfast in the face of some much external pressure to help get the team back on track.

"There's just been a lot of hard work go in behind the scenes and it was just great to see the discipline to exit really well and stack good moments on top of each other," he said.

"Just really happy for [Penney] actually. The way he turns up every week, his positivity with everything going on has been outstanding."

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