Crusaders are Super Rugby champions yet again
Melissa Woods |
The Crusaders are again the kings of Super Rugby Pacific after consigning the Chiefs to a third-straight loss in the title decider.
Playing in Christchurch, the Crusaders claimed a 32nd successive play-off home match victory over three decades of Super Rugby as they downed the Chiefs 16-12 in Saturday’s final.
It’s the Crusaders’ 13th title in a combined competition while the Chiefs, who were minor premiers, become just the second team in history to lose three straight Super finals, joining the Lions from South Africa (2016-2018).
The victory was all the more remarkable given the Crusaders missed the top eight play-offs in 2024, winning only four matches in their worst-ever season to end their run of seven-straight titles.
“Where we were at the end of last year, the start of this year we had a mountain to climb,” said Crusaders fullback Will Jordan, who won his seventh Super Rugby title.
“Everyone had to dig deep and it hasn’t been easy.
“This title is right up there for me, I just think even at the top.”
The victory came in a disappointing week for Australian veteran playmaker James O’Connor, who missed selection for the Wallabies’ squad to face Fiji and likely the British and Irish Lions, seemingly drawing the curtain on his Test career.
Used off the bench for most of the season, O’Connor, who joined the Crusaders this season from Queensland, only came on the field to replace rising star Rivez Reihana with just over a minute remaining.
Hunting their first title since 2013, the Chiefs opened the scoring through prop George Dyer, who crashed over while Crusaders skipper David Havili was sent to the sin bin in the 11th minute for a high tackle on Emoni Narawa.
The lead lasted until the 26th minute when All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor scored a brilliant try after peeling off a maul on the 22 and raced down the sideline.
Reihana converted and kicked two penalties in six minutes to open up a 13-7 lead before the Chiefs hit back just before halftime.
Fullback Shaun Stevenson went over for a try in the corner but Damian McKenzie failed to nail the conversion from wide out and the Crusaders retained a 13-12 lead at the break.
Under relentless physical pressure from the Crusaders, McKenzie then missed an opportunity to put his side ahead with a wayward penalty strike in the 55th minute.
The arm wrestle continued as the Chiefs held up Christian Lio-Willie over the line to repel the Crusaders after 25 phases.
A dominant scrum earned the Crusaders a penalty seven minutes from fulltime and man of the match Reihana sealed the victory, bringing his tally to 11 points.
The Crusaders have now won 13 full editions of Super Rugby, including three of the last four on offer, as well as two New Zealand-only versions played in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID pandemic.
The defeat was a bitter blow for the Hamilton-based Chiefs.
“It was a classic final, two great teams going at it and a small margin,” Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson said.
“It’s just down to us winning the territory battle, being clinical in our half, being efficient and I think Crusaders did a good job of that tonight.
“We were good at times but we just weren’t good all the time and it cost us.”
The Crusaders’ triumph came in the last match at their “temporary” stadium that has been their home ground since their former headquarters was destroyed in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
They will defend the title from a brand new 30,000-seat stadium in 2026.
AAP
