The Crusaders barely broke a sweat as they cruised to an easy 37-18 win over the Lions in the Super Rugby final in Christchurch on Saturday.
The hosts crossed for four tries, one each to Seta Tamanivalu, David Havili, Mitchell Drummond and Scott Barrett while fly-half Richie Mo’unga was faultless with boot landing four conversions and three penalties.
In reply the Lions mustered tries through flanker Cyle Brink and hooker Malcolm Marx, while Elton Jantjies landed one conversion and two penalties.
Here are the big moments from the match:
5 minutes: Lions dominate possession and territory for first five minutes. Ruan Combrinck is stopped just short but the Crusaders hold on. Crucial opening chance missed by the visitors. 0-0
13 minutes: Having completely dominated up until this point, the Lions come up with just a penalty from Jantjies. Lions 0-3
16 minutes: The Crusaders finally get into Lions territory and are on the board within a minute through a penalty to Mo’unga. 3-3
Seta Tamanivalu goes over for the Crusaders opening try.
20 minutes: Seta Tamanivalu dives over in the corner and Mo’unga coverts from the sideline. Already feels like game over. Crusaders 10-3
30 minutes: A long kick from Mo’unga and Jantjies mistakenly grounds it in-goal, giving the Crusaders a five-metre scrum. A penalty from the scrum which Mo’unga converts. 13-3
34 minutes: Poor kick from Jantjies, gathered by Mo’unga who puts Jack Goodhue into a gap. From the ensuing ruck Havili goes over. Mo’unga converts. Easy. 20-3
39 minutes: Lions on the attack close to the Crusaders’ line but they are going nowhere. Jantjies concedes defeat and takes the three points. 20-6
42 minutes: The Crusaders on the attack and they win a breakdown penalty. Mo’unga lands it. 23-6
Cyle Brink gets the Lions back into it briefly.
53 minutes: Brute power from Brink as he overpowers Matt Todd and finally the Crusaders defence is breached. Jantjies converts. 23-13
62 minutes: Sparkling attack from the Crusaders. Matt Todd makes a half break, and flicks the ball inside to Codie Taylor who finds replacement scrum-half Drummond in support. Superb try. Mo’unga converts. 30-13
65 minutes: Crusaders camped in their own territory and a cynical indiscretion sees Ryan Crotty sent to the sin-bin.
67 minutes: Marx, who has been well-contained, finally finds a little space near the line and bursts through two tackles to score. Jantjies misses the conversion. 30-18
70 minutes: Scorching break from George Bridge and the move is finished off by Scott Barrett who barges over under the posts. Mo’unga converts. 37-18
Scott Barrett wraps it up for the Crusaders.
80 minutes: The Lions pound away at the Crusaders’ line, desperate for the final word, but the hosts repel them like it is the first minute, not the last. Fittingly Todd rips the ball away at the breakdown and boots it into touch. Crusaders claim their ninth Super Rugby crown – and second in succession.
