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REACTION: Crusaders forced into insane Super Rugby record for gutsy triumph, but suffer final blow with red card 'absurdity'

10th June, 2022
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10th June, 2022
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The Crusaders produced a rock solid defensive effort, including the highest tackle count in Super Rugby history, and overcame a red card to Pablo Matera to blunt the Chiefs and reach a 16th final.

The Crusaders, winning for a 27th time in 27 home finals, made 222 tackles and the Chiefs enjoyed 64 percent of the ball and 68 percent of the territory but couldn’t find a way through as the hosts won 20-7 with no points scored in the second half.

One of Super Rugby’s greatest ever defensive displays was a fitting tribute to coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson in his 100th match in charge of the club.

“Behind the number of tackles is effort,” said Crusaders captain Scott Barrett.

“You have to give credit to the Chiefs. They threw 120 percent at us. There is going to be a lot of sore bodies in the next couple of days. We were down to 14 men and we really had to front. Finals footy is about defence.”

Overall the Chiefs spent 10min21sec in the Crusaders’ 22 and the Crusaders were in theirs for just 56 seconds.

Chiefs skipper Brad Weber was crushed.

“The Crusaders had two or three opportunities and took them all – we probably had a few more and didn’t take them.

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“That one will hurt., there will be a lot of regrets. We feel like we lost it instead of them winning it. That one will take some getting over.”

Confronted with the 222 tackle stat, Weber recoiled.

“That doesn’t make me feel too much better – it probably tells me we should have scored more tries,” he said. “The conditions were seriously tough.

“I don’t think I’ve played in a game where passing was as difficult, hands are frozen. There was a lot to contend with.

“You think ‘damn man, we should have scored more points and won the game.'”

The Chiefs started nervously in windy conditions and Crusaders star Richie Mo’unga booted two penalties in the opening eight minutes, the second coming after Quinn Tupaea was sin binned after his shoulder collected Matera in the head.

Despite being a man down the Chiefs pinned the Crusaders defence in their own 22, having 100 percent possession for 12 minutes without scoring as the Crusaders put up a brick wall. Pita Gus Sowakula charged over but lost the ball and that was the just the first of several examples of poor execution that cost the team dearly.

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The Crusaders gave away seven straight penalties before Berry marched Matera for his first yellow and a Chiefs score looked inevitable.

George Bower of the Crusaders charges forward during the Super Rugby Pacific Semi Final match between the Crusaders and the Chiefs at Orangetheory Stadium on June 10, 2022 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)

George Bower of the Crusaders charges forward. (Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)

Instead, the game took a dramatic shift. Alex Nankivell spilt the ball and Sevu Reece hacked it long. Will Jordan’s chase was enough to wrap up Weber and force him back behind the try line and soon after the 5 metre scrum Cullen Grace reached out for the opening try.

“Huge momentum swings are so imperative,” said former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika on Stan Sport. “Long periods of defence then 90 metre swings. You saw the frustration on their faces and the reaction of the players. It killed them.”

The Chiefs struck back four minutes later with Angus Ta’avao crossing and then the momentum shifted their way when Matera was marched on 32 minutes when his shoulder drove into Bryn Gatland’s head.

It was deemed a second yellow card.

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Andrew Mehrtens, talking on the Stan Sport halftime coverage, said the red card was “an absurdity”, arguing that team fouls given for a side’s persistent infringements should not be grouped with individual yellows.

“He gets a team yellow card and then that second one is itself a 10 minute yellow card offence. The whole thing needs an overhaul.”

Despite Matera’s absence the Crusaders stormed further ahead. Mo’unga’s silky feet created the opening and then off the next phase he looped a long wide pass – timed to perfection despite the windy and greasy conditions – and Grace crossed for a second.

Right on halftime the Crusaders deprived a try with an intercept and their 13 point lead seemed incongruous and fortunate.

That left it at 20-7 at the break, and the Chiefs squandered several great chances. They had a 13-7 penalty advantage but failed to take any shots, and Tupaea blew a golden opportunity when his cutout pass sailed far into touch.

“It’s not a surprise the heart the Crusaders showed and the industry they showed,” said Mehrtens.

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“What is surprising is with 222 tackles against a team with an attack as good as the Chiefs that the Chiefs couldn’t score more points. Brad Weber talked about it.

“They spent an extraordinary amount of time in the Crusaders’ 22 without reaping the results, so they’ll be kicking themselves.”

The failure to convert chances left a heavy mark on the Chiefs, as did their failure to take easy points on offer, chasing the bigger pay off.

“You’re thinking negatively and the opposition’s thinking positively,” said Cheika.

“Then when you start to get more opportunities – here’s an easy three – they think ‘we’ve invested so much time pounding the oppositions’ line if I take three and go back the other end maybe that’s what the opposition wants, so we’ll stay there and keep doubling down’.

“When the opposition is as good in defence as the Crusaders you can double down all you like – it doesn’t seem to work.”

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