Six moments that swung the Super Rugby final
The Crusaders 38-17 victory sealed back-to-back championships and completed a dominant season, officially bringing in the third dynasty in the franchise’s history.
With the Lions heavy underdogs, they needed everything to go right to unsettle this clinical Crusaders side. Here are six defining moments that wrote the script for the Crusaders ninth title.
Lions early pressure unrewarded
The Lions needed a fast start and early reward to build confidence that they could pull this upset off.
They almost had it when Ruan Combrinck sliced through in the early stages for a big line break. They were able to work their way down inside the Crusaders five but after 13 phases they knocked on, blowing a golden opportunity to get an early jump and start with a 7-0 lead.
They did open the scoring with a penalty in the 12th minute, but with the majority of possession and territory in the first half they will rue not being able to come away with more, especially in the first quarter when they had the run of play.
Jantjies brain fade
The Lions needed a flawless game from their Springbok playmaker Elton Jantjies to be a chance in this final. Things were going smoothly before an unraveling series of events after twenty minutes.
Already inside the Crusaders half, Jantjies overcooked a questionable bomb that was easily marked by Mo’unga inside the 22 with no pressure. He wasted no time and hoofing the ball back down the field while the Lions had no players back.
Jantjies waited and waited for the ball to roll over the try-line and casually picked the ball up and dotted down inside the goal line, thinking of a 22 restart. Unfortunately he ended up giving the Crusaders a five-metre scrum as the ball never crossed the chalk.
It was exactly the kind of mental error the Lions couldn’t afford.
Mo’unga magic
Jantjies kicking game continually failed to create pressure against the Crusaders. Their bombing strategy seemed inspired by the Waratahs early season effort which helped them build an early 29-0 lead in that game. The key difference – the Lions don’t have the best jumper in the game, Israel Folau, like the Waratahs do.
Down 13-3 Jantjies tried another contested bomb from his own 35. The Lions kick chase over estimated the arrival time, allowing Richie Mo’unga to expertly time his jump with a perfect launch at top speed.
Mo’unga came down with the ball with momentum and found a crease to weave through the Lions staggered defence, putting on a lethal step on the cover tackle. He found support in Jack Goodhue, who was brought down inches short but they scored a phase later through fullback David Havili.
The converted try stretched the Crusaders lead to 20-3 and had the Lions reeling with five minutes left in the first half.
Lions maul gets mauled
There was a sense of building intrigue when the Lions kicked to the corner to setup the first lineout maul inside the five.
The Lions knew what they were going to do. The Crusaders knew what the Lions were going to do. All that was left to see was whether it would work. Unfortunately for the Lions, they were stopped in their tracks multiple times by a world-class pack that had their best weapon disarmed and dismantled by the end of the first half.
Unbeknown to the visitors, the Crusaders had statistically the best goal line lineout maul defence of any team in the competition. An astounding 96.3% of opposition lineout maul drives failed to score a try against the Crusaders this season. Just one try had been conceded all year in this fashion.
A strategy that has had a 3% success rate against the defending champions continued to fail on the biggest stage. When the Crusaders drove the third lineout maul in a row backward, the Lions were left perplexed and had to resort to plan B.
Decision to kick for three down 23-13.
A Cyle Brink try in the 52nd minute gave the Lions a glimmer of hope by cutting the Crusaders lead to 10 points. A rare missed tackle from Matt Todd allowed Brink to break free and scamped 20 metres to score unobstructured.
With the Lions clawing their way back into the contest, they earned a penalty in the roughly 40 metres out, hugging the left-hand touchline. An opportunity beckoned to kick for the corner again and perhaps play off the top of the lineout in search of another try.
Instead, the Lions opted for a long-range penalty kick through distance specialist Ruan Combrinck. He sprayed the kick wide left, giving the Crusaders a 22-metre restart which they successfully contested and won through Seta Tamanivalu.
A few minutes later they scored under the posts through replacement halfback Mitch Drummond to severely dent the Lions comeback hopes.
Havili’s quick lineout
The Crusaders continually threatened to pull away but the Lions were good enough to strike back each time to offer glimmers of a comeback.
A powerful Malcolm Marx try from short range with 14 minutes remaining gave the Lions a two-score deficit down 30-18.
As they had done all match, the Crusaders responded in emphatic fashion. A quick lineout by David Havili found George Bridge in the midfield. He evaded pressure and found some tired forwards in the defence, breaking through before linking with support.
Scott Barrett crashed over moments later for the definitive try, effectively sealing the match with a 37-18 lead.
Comments on RugbyPass
Best thing the Welsh clubs could do is apply to join Gallagher prem surely be more exciting matches for there support than they have now.
2 Go to commentsRugbyPass writers are useless! you guys should get a real job because you all suck at writing about rugby!!!
8 Go to commentslooking forward to RWC2027 …. Boks on mission impossible for the Three-in-a-row, ABs to prove they being on par, France wishing to crown the “DuPont-era”, Ireland knocking on the Semi-Door ….. until then we’ll probably have to deal with Weird Ben’s fantasy-RWC23 (fun fact is, the drivel always creates a flooding of comments) …..
221 Go to commentsBen Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
221 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
22 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
221 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
221 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
64 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
22 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
64 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
6 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
8 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
221 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
8 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
8 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
8 Go to comments