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2018 Super Rugby Final: Crusaders vs Lions live scores, blog

Roar Guru
4th August, 2018
When: 5:35pm AEST
Where: AMI Park, Christchurch
TV: Fox Footy

Crusaders
15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody

Replacements: 16 Sam Anderson-Heather, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor

Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen

Replacements: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 23 Howard Mnisi
Kieran Read of the Crusaders looks on during the Super Rugby Semi Final match between the Crusaders and the Chiefs at AMI Stadium on July 29, 2017 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
Roar Guru
4th August, 2018
244

Match result:

The Crusaders have won their ninth Super Rugby title in dominant fashion, defeating the Lions 37-18 at home in Christchurch.

» Click here to read the full match report

Final score
Crusaders 37
Lions 18

Match preview:

The Crusaders host the Lions Saturday night at AMI Park, Christchurch. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:35pm AEST.

The Lions beat the Crusaders by almost 30 points, two years ago. But that was at home in South Africa. Both teams were coached by different people who have since moved to the UK. That was the only win by the Lions in their past eight games.

This season, Scott Robinson’s Crusaders have looked as invulnerable as his team last year, losing only twice. Their last loss was five months ago. This year, the Lions lost seven.

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The Crusaders is the second highest point scorer, 15 points behind the Waratahs 557. They are the dominating defending team of the competition – the only team conceding less than 300 points.

Swys de Bruin’s Lions are third best in defence conceding 345 points. They are also third best in attack, scoring 23 points less than the Crusaders.

Their last encounter was a close affair, with Crusaders winning by only six points. Their previous game was also in “Jozi” resulting in any another close antipodean win, by eight points.

Their only match played in Chirstchurch was 2015, where Johan Ackermann’s Lions were smashed by 28 points though a comprehensive display of power, speed and smart.

The Lions have improved since then. Therefore, the three things I look forward to in this match are:

1. Set piece. Both teams are excellent extremely good scrummagers and line-out pilferers

2. Lions defence around the edge of the field

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3. The speed of the Lion’s backrow versus the speed and power of the Crusaders backrow

Prediction
Both Crusaders and Lions are ensemble teams. Harry Jones predicted that the Lions have an excellent chance to raise the silver Octopus the if they win the LOTTO, which is Line-Out and Turn-Over. I tend to agree. However, I believe they have the same chance of doing that as winning the real LOTTO itself.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:35pm AEST.

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