Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

WATCH: Record win seals the Crusaders' Super Rugby final place

The Crusaders had plenty to celebrate on Saturday as they beat the Chiefs 27-13 to reach a 12th Super Rugby final, setting a record of 16 victories in the same season in the process.

ADVERTISEMENT

Scott Robertson’s side have dominated the 2017 competition with 14 wins in the regular season and the Chiefs could not halt their march towards an eighth title.

Early on the Chiefs enjoyed plenty of possession at AMI Stadium, but they were undone by the clinical Crusaders as Bryn Hall grabbed the first try after a thrilling team move.

Tim Nanai-Williams thought he had dragged the Chiefs back into the match before the break but his try was ruled out, and that proved costly for Dave Rennie’s men.

A four-point lead at half time quickly grew to 16 by the hour as Israel Dagg touched down thanks to some quick thinking from Richie Mo’unga, and Seta Tamanivalu barged his way through.

Tamanivalu added his second of the night to complete the win and secure a first final appearance since 2014 for the Crusaders.

A Mo’unga penalty gave the Crusaders a 13th-minute lead after they had soaked up early Chiefs pressure, and three minutes later Hall had extended their advantage.

ADVERTISEMENT

Good hands from the Crusaders’ backs began a flowing move from inside their own half before Dagg spotted a gap and broke for the line, he was held up but was able to hand off to Hall who ran in to score.

The first-half’s turning point came as the Chiefs thought they had got back into the contest as Nanai-Williams collected James Lowe’s delicate kick to score – however the TMO deemed he was not in control and had knocked the ball on.

Damian McKenzie eventually got them on the board but the Chiefs failed to make late pressure pay, the Crusaders resolute in their defence to hold a 10-6 lead at half time.

A tight encounter quickly turned the Crusaders’ way after the restart as the hosts ran in three unanswered tries to keep their sensational run going for another week.

ADVERTISEMENT

Eight minutes into the second half Mo’unga’s quick thinking gave Dagg his score.

Under pressure from the Crusaders, Chiefs wing Lowe looked to kick for touch having side-stepped Mo’unga, however the fly-half leapt back at his opponent to knock the ball out of his hands and into the welcoming arms of Dagg who had his easiest score of the season.

Wing Tamanivalu then took the game out of the Chiefs’ reach with two tries that showed his strength and dexterity.

His first came following a barn-storming run that brushed off three challenges in the 22, and he doubled his tally with a diving touch down in the corner.

Brodie Retallick restored some pride for the Chiefs with a late score after good work from Anton Lienart-Brown, but it was too little too late for the visitors as the Crusaders wrote their name into the history books.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kubota Spears vs Saitama Wild Knights | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 6 | Le Crunch

The Unexpected Journey to USA 7s Glory | Aaron Cummings | Sevens Wonders

USA vs Japan | Full Match Replay

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
Rafel Olszewski 3 hours ago
'Frankly insulting': The 2 clear trends in Lions' squad reactions

The Initial Coin Offering (ICO) I invested in appeared flawless, its website was sleek and authentic, the whitepaper was detailed and convincing, and the team boasted impressive credentials in cryptocurrency.I was eager to capitalize on a golden opportunity. Confident in my research, I invested $200,000, only to watch in horror as the entire operation vanished days later. Just as I was resigning myself to the loss, I discovered Muyern Trust Hacker by searching online ( web: ht tps://muyerntrusthacker . o r g /  ). Taking a leap of faith, I reached out, and from the very first interaction, their team stood out for their professionalism and urgency. Their experts meticulously followed the digital trail across multiple wallets and exchanges, leaving no stone unturned. After a week of relentless effort, they achieved the impossible: $175,000 was recovered. While not the full amount, it was a staggering victory considering I had assumed everything was lost forever. The relief was indescribable. Thanks to Muyern Trust Hacker,  I could repay a significant portion of what I owed my mother and regain some financial stability. This has taught me a harsh lesson about the risks of crypto investments but it also showed me the power of expert intervention. For anyone who has fallen victim to a scam, Muyern Trust Hacker ( Tele gr am: muyerntrusthackertech ) is the rescue team in an otherwise bleak situation. Their recovery services turned my crypto disaster into a second chance.

9 Go to comments
R
Rafel Olszewski 3 hours ago
Ilona Maher drops biggest retirement hint yet after loss to Canada

The Initial Coin Offering (ICO) I invested in appeared flawless, its website was sleek and authentic, the whitepaper was detailed and convincing, and the team boasted impressive credentials in cryptocurrency.I was eager to capitalize on a golden opportunity. Confident in my research, I invested $200,000, only to watch in horror as the entire operation vanished days later. Just as I was resigning myself to the loss, I discovered Muyern Trust Hacker by searching online ( web: ht tps://muyerntrusthacker . o r g /  ). Taking a leap of faith, I reached out, and from the very first interaction, their team stood out for their professionalism and urgency. Their experts meticulously followed the digital trail across multiple wallets and exchanges, leaving no stone unturned. After a week of relentless effort, they achieved the impossible: $175,000 was recovered. While not the full amount, it was a staggering victory considering I had assumed everything was lost forever. The relief was indescribable. Thanks to Muyern Trust Hacker,  I could repay a significant portion of what I owed my mother and regain some financial stability. This has taught me a harsh lesson about the risks of crypto investments but it also showed me the power of expert intervention. For anyone who has fallen victim to a scam, Muyern Trust Hacker ( Tele gr am: muyerntrusthackertech ) is the rescue team in an otherwise bleak situation. Their recovery services turned my crypto disaster into a second chance.

3 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Red Bull to give Newcastle Falcons wings Red Bull to give Newcastle Falcons wings
Search