CHRISTCHURCH – Wing Seta
Tamanivalu grabbed two tries as the Crusaders beat the Chiefs 27-13 in Christchurch on Saturday
to advance to their 12th Super Rugby final.
The seven-time champions were brutally efficient in
demonstrating how to win a game without the ball as the Chiefs dominated
territory as well as possession, and split the defensive line on numerous
occasions, but were unable to finish.
The Crusaders, who have not won the title since 2008, now
face the winner of the later semi-final in Johannesburg between the Lions and reigning
champions Hurricanes.
Having slipped up in their last match of the regular season
against the Hurricanes, the Crusaders will be relying on their compatriots to
beat the Lions and give them a home final.
“I don’t know how Seta does it, he seems to make a try out
of nothing,” Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock said.
“We didn’t have the ball much and the boys were definitely
blowing and the legs were heavy, but full credit to the boys – they were just
hanging on and showed some real determination and grit.”
A 14-1 regular season record, which included a 31-24 victory
in May over the Chiefs, had made the Crusaders strong favourites to progress to
the final.
The Chiefs played the far more expansive game, however,
looking dangerous with the ball in hand and stretching the Crusaders across the
field, but their only reward for their first-half efforts was two penalties
from Damian McKenzie.
The home side, by contrast, capitalised on the few
opportunities they created with All Blacks Ryan Crotty and Israel Dagg sparking
a sweeping counter attack that ended with scrumhalf Bryn Hall scoring.
We are off to the Final! Thanks to our awesome fans for your support tonight! #CRUvCHI #wewill #crusadeon pic.twitter.com/pxB1gadmpl
— BNZ Crusaders (@crusadersrugby) July 29, 2017
Flyhalf Richie Mo’unga, who had slotted an earlier penalty,
converted to give the Crusaders a 10-6 lead at halftime.
The home side moved further ahead when Mo’unga created a try
by tackling James Lowe as the wing was trying to make a clearing kick, and the
ball popped into Dagg’s hands.
Chiefs wing James Lowe is tackled by Crusaders fullback David Havili during their Super Rugby semi-final in Christchurch. Photo: Mark Baker, AP
Tamanivalu stormed over from an attacking scrum to score his
first try, and then grabbed his second to give the Crusaders a 27-6 lead with
eight minutes remaining.
Brodie Retallick finally breached the Crusaders’ line for a
consolation try for the visitors before they bid farewell to stalwarts Tawera
Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, Lowe and coach Dave Rennie, who are all joining
clubs in Europe.
“Rugby is a momentum game and we thought we created a lot of
chances... but you have to give credit to the Crusaders, they scrambled really
well, and when we looked to have them on the ropes, they did enough to hold us
out,” flyhalf Cruden said.
“We gave everything we had. It was a great campaign... and
we can hold our heads up.”
Points-Scorers
Crusaders – Tries: Bryn Hall, Israel Dagg, Seta Tamanivalu (2). Conversions: Richie Mo’unga (2). Penalty: Mo’unga.
Chiefs – Try: Brodie Retallick. Conversion: Damian McKenzie. Penalties: McKenzie (2).