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Champions again! Crusaders too good in Super Rugby Aotearoa final

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8th May, 2021
11

The Crusaders have defended their Super Rugby Aotearoa title with a 24-13 win over the Chiefs in Christchurch.

Thanks to early tries from Sevu Reece and Will Jordan, the Crusaders were never headed, the win adding another trophy to their burgeoning cabinet.

Remarkably, they were two players down for much of the second half, with both Reece and Codie Taylor spending time in the sin-bin. Yet the champs held firm, a Richie Mo’unga drop goal with just minutes left sealing the result.

A packed house was treated to an exhibition of the best of New Zealand rugby from both sides before the hosts secured a 12th Super Rugby title, a second in the domestic edition and a fifth in a row.

Reece and Jordan scored their tries in the first 16 minutes but thereafter the Crusaders – reduced to 13 men in the second half – had to rely on the boot of their fellow All Black, five-eighth Mo’unga, to keep the Chiefs at arm’s length.

Damian McKenzie scored all the points for the Chiefs, converting his own try and kicking two penalties, but the fullback will rue his usual accuracy from the tee deserting him for a period around halftime when he missed three shots at goal.

© AAP

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