Crusaders crowned U20 champions after powerful final win over Chiefs

The Crusaders are the 2024 U20 Super Rugby New Zealand champions after a dominant performance in the final in Taupo.

The next generation of Crusaders talent has produced some much-needed hope for their club as the senior side enters a new era following their dynasty under Scott Robertson. Plenty of the youngsters stood up and sent a message to the competition over the club’s promising future.

Both sides were struggling to retain possession in the opening minutes, with handling errors seeing play remain around the halfway line.

The Crusaders were the first team to go to the territorial game and profited soon after with some front foot ball in the Chiefs’ half.

Halfback Ben O’Donovan sold the Chiefs forwards a dummy from a metre out and dived over for the first points of the game. It was O’Donovan’s third try of the tournament and he was soon back in the action, applying pressure at the breakdown and winning the penalty for his side.

The Crusaders’ defence was in sync and rapid, closing down space and forcing the Chiefs backwards. That early upper hand extended to the set piece as well, where the Crusaders won penalties and looked to keep their territorial advantage.

The execution wasn’t quite up to scratch early and the Chiefs got themselves out of trouble multiple times in the opening quarter.

Play never really left the Chiefs half though and the Crusaders chipped away, finding their feet in the game and their forwards showed some clean skills with their passing in tight. That interchange eventually exploited an overlap down the right wing and flanker Tayne Hemopo profited, running in a try untouched.

Finding themselves down 14 with 25 minutes played, the Chiefs produced some clean set-piece play and won consecutive penalties, allowing a lineout maul drive which they finished in the corner.

The Crusaders were eager to respond and did just that off the back of a strong rolling maul of their own which afforded the team a chance to attack the line. The Chiefs were putting up a stoic fight on their line but couldn’t hold out hooker Maua Letiu who crashed over.

It was then the Chiefs’ backs turn to stretch their legs and left winger Frank Vaenuku sprinted down the sideline to get his team into the Crusaders 22. From there, a rolling maul got them even closer and halfback Rui Farrant sold an even more outrageous dummy than his opposite and cantered in under the posts untouched.

The Chiefs had kept themselves in the match but couldn’t capitalise on the momentum they had generated, with a couple of poor exits handing the Crusaders more attacking opportunities. The defence held steady though and the score remained 21-12 at the half.

The second period started in a similar fashion to the first, with the Crusaders attacking the Chiefs line relentlessly, but the Chiefs defence again put up an almighty fight and repelled phase after phase, holding their opponents out by millimetres on many consecutive attempts.

It wasn’t enough in the end as the Crusaders finally drove over to extend their lead to 14 after 10 minutes of consistent attack.

Momentum swung back and forth but it was the Crusaders who looked the more well-rounded outfit and could press into the Chiefs half more consistently. They extended their lead with another rumbling run in tight.

The Chiefs’ frustrations started to show and ill-discipline featured, which was punished with a penalty. The Crusaders’ forwards continued to be mobile and effective with their phase play attack as well as set-piece contest.

The Chiefs had opportunities but every time they overcame the Crusaders’ front line, fullback Issac Hutchinson was more than up to the task whether it be in defence or with a raking clearance.

Just five minutes was remaining and the Chiefs were looking at a scoreless second half, but they pinned their ears back and executed to get themselves down in front of the Crusaders’ line. Brooke Mitchell spied a gap and was able to get the ball on the chalk, igniting a slither of hope with the lead cut to 14.

It was too little too late though as the Crusaders held on to their lead and claimed a strong win. Final score: 31-17.