Leigh Halfpenny's big Super Rugby debut ends in disappointment amid rare sight

Leigh Halfpenny finally made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders on Saturday but there was to be no fairytale end to his remarkable comeback from injury.

The Wales centurion's new life in New Zealand suffered a false start when he tore his pectoral muscle just minutes into his club debut against Munster in pre-season back in February. It was feared that the injury would keep him sidelined for up to four months, with doubts raised over whether he would return in time for the season's end.

But having defied medics and - in the words of coach Rob Penney - "trained the house down" alongside his new teammates, Halfpenny finally got to experience Super Rugby as he started at full-back against the Queensland Reds. However, things didn't exactly go to plan for the Welshman.

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It was an important game for both sides, with the Crusaders - who headed into this season looking to defend their title for the eighth successive year - sitting in 10th having made their worst-ever start to a Super Rugby campaign. Meanwhile the Reds were in sixth and looking to win in Christchurch for the first time in 25 years.

While he has played on some of the biggest stages in rugby, there were signs that Halfpenny was feeling the pressure having pulled on his new jersey again. After Cullen Grace's early try was ruled out for a knock-on in the build up, the Crusaders were awarded a kick at goal in front of the posts with the Welshman stepping up to the tee.

Given his accomplished goal-kicking, many would have bet their house on the 35-year-old slotting the kick to get himself off the mark. But few could have predicted what happened next, as he shanked the penalty well wide of the left post, with the match commentator remarking: 'Oh dear'.

Halfpenny would recover from his early miss, however, as he converted Dallas McLeod's try just before half-time to get his first points on the board and reduce the deficit to five points for his side, with the Reds 14-7 up. But that would ultimately prove to be the extent of his contributions, as he was replaced just five minutes into the second half after the Reds scored a further try.

Those reporting on the game in New Zealand were left a little underwhelmed by the Welshman's first Super Rugby appearance, with the New Zealand Herald saying it "proved to be an ineffective debut".

In Halfpenny's absence, the Crusaders fought back to level the scores before the hour mark, thanks to tries from Corey Kellow and Quinten Strange. But scores from Harry Wilson and Tim Ryan took the game away from Halfpenny's side, with Sevu Reece's late try not enough to stop them from falling to a 33-28 defeat.

After such an early setback to his new life Down Under, the Welshman will be happy to have finally made his first Super Rugby appearance, but will be hoping to give a better account of himself next time as his side look to find their way out of their current rut.