Crusaders outlast fast starting Blues to reach another Super Rugby final

The Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals got underway at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on Friday evening, where the Crusaders have booked their place in next week’s final, after a narrow, but thrilling, 21-14 win over the Blues.

It was only in the 86th minute that the Crusaders managed to clinch the victory at home, but a Will Jordan double was the difference on the night where two long-time rivals battled out an absolute blockbuster.

The Crusaders have now extended their winning playoff run in Christchurch to 31 games without a loss, booking their place in next week’s final against either the Chiefs or the Brumbies, which will be hosted in Christchurch after the Crusaders gained home field advantage when the Blues beat the Chiefs last Saturday.

The semi-final matchup began with both teams kicking from the base of the ruck, trying to put field pressure on the opposition.

It was the Blues who were able to get on the front foot off a Crusaders error, through a cross-field kick to Blues winger Caleb Clarke. Clarke couldn’t find support from any other Blues player, but the intent was positive early from the away side.

Vern Cotter’s Blues were the first to strike at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch, after some solid breakdown work from the Blues forwards.

AJ Lam received the ball in some open space, nudging a perfectly placed grubber kick in behind the Crusaders defence, forcing Sevu Reece to make an error close to his own line.

The Blues forwards managed to get some stable go-forward close to the line, before the away side found some space on the right wing, as Beauden Barrett fired a wide pass to Blues winger Mark Telea to score in the corner. Barrett’s sideline conversion sailed over the posts, giving the Blues a 7-0 lead.

Immediately after the Blues try, Crusaders centre Braydon Ennor was penalised for head-high contact on Hoskins Sotutu, resulting in a yellow card for the Crusaders centre.

Once again, it was the Blues who were able to pounce on another Crusaders error. This time, it was Zarn Sullivan with a pinpoint grubber kick for Lam, who kicked it once more and dragged Reece out of the field of play.

The Blues scrum set a solid platform, and a slick move from the Blues backs saw Rieko Ioane go through a huge hole in the Crusaders defence. Ioane powered over, scoring under the posts and giving Barrett an easy conversion from in front. 14-0 to the Blues after 20 minutes.

The home side finally found themselves with the ball in hand close to the line, on the back of a penalty advantage after the Blues were pinged for illegally sacking the lineout maul.

Rob Penney’s Crusaders swung the ball wide, forcing the Blues to make a countless number of tackles in front of their own line. Tom Christie eventually barged his way over the line, rewarding the Crusaders for their persistence close to the line. Reihana converted, taking the score to 14-7 after 24 minutes.

The Blues thought they got the ball back after a Reihana kick that landed out on the full, but Blues prop Joshua Fusitu’a was ruled to have initiated head-on-head contact, resulting in a yellow card for the prop for the same reason Ennor was carded earlier on in the match.

Momentum then shifted to the Crusaders, as they put pressure on the Blues at the breakdown, forcing them to give away multiple penalties in a row.

The home side’s driving maul proved hard to contain as the Crusaders forwards went close, before the ball was shifted wide to Will Jordan, who stepped past one defender and powered through another to score just to the right of the posts.

Reihana had the easy task of converting the try from close, levelling the scores at 14 apiece going into halftime.

HT: 14-14.

The opening seven minutes of the second half in Christchurch was tense, with neither team really taking control of the game with ball in hand, opting for the in play kicks instead.

The Crusaders were then pinged for coming through the side on a Blues lineout maul, giving the Blues the opportunity deep inside the Crusaders’ 22.

It was messy from the Blues at lineout time, but they managed to work their way close to the line through a number of pick and go’s. Ricky Riccitelli went close, but was held up over the line by multiple Crusaders defenders.

A dominant Crusaders scrum gave the home side the opportunity deep inside the Blues’ 22, where the Crusaders muscled up at set piece.

Multiple lineout and scrum penalties against the Blues mounted even more pressure on their defence, before it was that man again, Will Jordan, putting the ball down to give the Crusaders a five point lead.

Reihana continued his perfect night off the tee, extending the lead to seven points with just under ten minutes to go.

The Blues got their chance to tie the game, slowly working their way up the field in the dying moments. The Blues’ attacked for over 40 phases, before failing to capitalise on a number of opportunities close to the Crusaders line.

Christian Lio-Willie was the quickest to react close to the line after the ball was loose, before the Crusaders kicked the ball out to clinch yet another Super Rugby Pacific final.

FT: 21-14 to the Crusaders.