James Slipper Hits 200, Brumbies Beat Crusaders

Slipper's 200th game sparks Brumbies' win in Christchurch

Brumbies end 26-year winless streak in Christchurch, beating Crusaders 50-24 with James Slipper's 200th game.

“It's massive for us to come over here and win. It's all building towards something special, I think.”

James Slipper made his 200th Super Rugby appearance a memorable one, scoring a try as the ACT Brumbies ended a 26-year winless streak in Christchurch with a 50-24 thrashing of the Canterbury Crusaders. Slipper's milestone match was further highlighted by Charlie Cale's brace, with the in-form loose forward scoring two of the Brumbies' eight tries.

The Brumbies' victory marked their first win in Christchurch since 2000, snapping a 12-game losing streak. Slipper, who became the second player to reach the 200-game milestone, expressed his delight, saying, “I'm super stoked to be able to do it for big Jimmy on his 200th.”

The Canberra-based team tops the standings after two rounds, having secured back-to-back bonus point wins. They're ahead of Australian rivals New South Wales Waratahs on points differential, with New Zealand's Waikato Chiefs rounding out the top three with two wins from two.

The defending champion Crusaders are struggling at the bottom, having lost both of their matches so far.

“We actually didn't speak about it too much in the buildup throughout the week,” Lonergan said.

"We just stuck to what we needed to get done.

"I'm super stoked to be able to do it for big Jimmy on his 200th. He got a try for it as well.”

James Slipper, retired Wallabies prop, achieved a milestone 200th game, becoming the first Aussie to hit this mark. He's eyeing the all-time record currently held by Wyatt Crockett, a former Crusaders and All Blacks prop.

Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan praised Slipper's achievement but emphasized the team's focus wasn't on his milestone or breaking the Christchurch drought. “He's an absolute legend,” Lonergan said, highlighting Slipper's impact on the team.

Slipper's try on the half-hour mark pushed the Brumbies to a 19-14 lead at halftime. Despite having a strong wind at their backs in the second half, the Crusaders were struggling to close the gap, trailing 31-24 with just 10 minutes left to play.

For the first time in 26 years, the @BrumbiesRugby defeat the @crusadersrugby in Christchurch 🤯#SuperRugbyPacific #SRP30 #CRUvBRU pic.twitter.com/j5kCZt2Yaz

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) February 22, 2026

“When we got up their end we knew it was crucial to come away with points and we did that throughout the whole game,” Lonergan said.

“It's massive for us to come over here and win. It's all building towards something special, I think.”

The Brumbies kicked off their season with a 56-24 demolition of Western Force in Perth and will host the Auckland Blues next.

The Crusaders, on the other hand, will face the Waikato Chiefs in a rematch of last year's final.