The Crusaders have won their 11th Super Rugby title with a dominant 21-7 victory over an out-gunned, outplayed and fumbling Blues.
On a cool, occasionally rainy Saturday night at Eden Park, the visitors dominated in all facets, most notably the lineout where they stole the ball eight times from Blues throw-ins, while not losing one on their own throw. If there was a tale of the tape, that was it.
Yet on all other statistical markers as well, the Crusaders owned the final.
“Right from the opening whistle, this Crusaders performance has been faultless,” former All Blacks and Crusaders No.9 Justin Marshall said on Stan Sport.
“They’ve won the breakdown, they’ve played in the right areas of the field, they struck when they needed to. It’s been a complete performance.”
Though the Blues threatened to make a game of it in the second half, it was only the margin that gave home fans hope. And when Sevu Reece latched onto an unlikely long grubber by moustachioed Argentine No.6 Pablo Matera, it was over.
At the anthem, the Blues held each other’s shorts as song-men with liquid larynxes did their thing, firecrackers shot into the sky, flames shot from geysers and smoke sat in the bowl of Eden Park like a thick fog on the Waikato River.
But in the first five minutes of the real stuff, it was all Crusaders. Big men, big contact.
Sam Whitelock, a tough and wise Kodiak bear, was typically ever-present, a major factor. His lock partner and captain Scott Barrett was a similar tower of doom. With No.8 Cullen Grace and Matera, the ‘Saders had more timber than the Waipoua kauri forest.
Early doors, the Blues hit back out of their 22, only for the Crusaders to hit back at them from their own. The two best counter-attacking teams in the competition could counter-attack each other to death.
The Blues lost two lineouts on their own throw. See above, re. the big bear in the forest.
Richie Mo’unga landed a 40-metre field goal for something to do, opening the scoring in the 14th minute.
The Blues lost another lineout. David Havili launched a 50/22. And the red-and-blacks came like the rapids of the Tongariro.
Leicester Fainga’anuku strong-armed his way over the line, but referee Ben O’Keeffe didn’t see him do it and the video ones didn’t either.
The chances of anything coming from Mars were a million to one, they said. But still they came; the Crusaders, after all, are one of a handful of provincial sides in the world (the other three are Kiwis, too) without particular fear of Eden Park.
Two props come together, bent low at the waist – the blue one’s shoulder hit the red one’s head. No harm, no foul, according to the video men and O’Keefe.
Men have been sent off for the same. But the gods of rugby nodded: good call.
They nodded again when Jack Goodhue tackled Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, the former reeling back as if charged by a big feral pig. The video was analysed; Goodhue was deemed ‘upright’. The analysts looked at it many times, before deciding it was rugby.
No one wants to be sued, one surmises.
After 20 minutes, somehow, it was only 3-0 Crusaders. The Blues hit back with counter – they’re good at it. They won a lineout, then lost one – the big Kodiak bear plucking another one from the black Auckland skies.
“That tells you Sam Whitelock has their lineout calls figured out,” commentator Tony Johnson reckoned.
“He’s a professor in the lineout,” Justin Marshall agreed.
Still, they came again, these Crusaders, high skill at speed in the rain. Havili bunted for Mo’unga who regathered. Havili looped around, and won a penalty. Six-nil the visitors.
They were winning everywhere: metres (221 to 116), carries (53-27), passes (93-33) and defenders beaten (15-4).
Then the Blues, under more pressure than for most of this season, lost another lineout.
“The lineout’s a disaster for the Blues,” Johnson declared; he wasn’t wrong.
Sevu Reece of the Crusaders celebrates after scoring a try during the Super Rugby Pacific Final. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Beauden Barrett kicked a penalty kick into touch, his first involvement in an otherwise invisible first half.
The Crusaders sent waves of big bodies at the Blues’ line. Their smallest man, halfback Bryn Hall, scored a try with millimetres to spare from the base of a ruck.
After all that, at half-time it was 13-0, the first time the Blues had been kept scoreless in a half of rugby since 2015. In the Super final. At Eden Park.
Of course, it was against the Crusaders, who haven’t lost a final since 2016 in South Africa.
The second half began where the first one left off – the Blues lost a lineout. It had become a thing. Blues hooker Kurt Eklund looked almost yippy, like a nervy putter.
The Blues hooked a lock and Tuivasa-Sheck; neither looked injured. Perhaps they thought Bryce Heem was more likely to have an impact.
Mo’unga landed a penalty goal. The Blues lost another lineout. Phases rained. The Blues were good in defence. Somehow they held on.
There were 29 minutes to play. The Crusaders hadn’t used anyone on the bench.
Beauden Barrett kicked another penalty into touch, still more anonymous than an American on Twitter called Grant Nisbet. The Blues replaced their lineout thrower, but still lost yet another lineout on their throw. That made it seven.
The worm turned – a charge-down put half the Blues’ forward pack onside. There followed several phases of attack.
Flame-haired nine Finlay Christie scrapped for the pill at the back of a scrum, and ran five metres to score.
It should not have been, not with all the play against them – but the Blues trailed only by nine.
The Crusaders emptied their bench, conotinuing to squeeze and pressure the desperate Blues. Matera and Reece ripped off their party trick with five minutes to go. And that was that.
Yet it had already been over for 75 minutes. The Blues were never in it.
If there was a turning point, it was kick-off.
Spew_81
Roar Rookie
It would be good if there was an All Black trial after Super Rugby finished. With the All Blacks being picked afterwards. I would back Robertson to out coach Foster's team; even if Robertson get second picks. Looking at the final from the weekend Foster doesn't seem to know who the best players are.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Not a massive PT fan. To much U delivered upon promise.
Lazer
Roar Rookie
All the media hype (spin) behind the recent blues run of form couldn’t mask what most honest rugby fans already knew. The Blues were not and are not in the same League as the Crusaders. Since their Trans-Tasman final win (claymans title: avoided Crusaders) last year the media were trumping them up as the team to beat this year. Add to that their 15 wins on the trott including a rare win over the Saders in Christchurch and all of a sudden people were sure that this was going to be the Blues year. In reality they were, and still are, miles off the pace. The scary thing for all the other teams is that this Crusaders team is just as young and as hungry as ever to protect their legacy. They have moved past just playing to win finals. They’re playing for legacy and dynasty now. That’s a scary thing. They’ve created such a dominant empire (rivaled only by other super clubs/teams such as the Lakers, United, Patriots, ABs, Real, Rabbits) that the fear of losing a title is just as motivating as adding another one. That’s the same cycle the ABs find themselves in year after year. The Red jersey has now taken on a new level of mysticsm, almost like a holy-artifact, and with each passing year the romanticism and awe around the Crusaders empire just gets stronger and stronger. Retired legends are cherished in the same way the church worships the dead Saints, Apostles and Prophets (Blackadder, Thorne, Mehrtens, Marshall, Carter, McCaw, Read). The legacy is now set in stone. A perpetual empire has been created.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
More so Conrad, or even Ma'a
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
yeh i’m criticising the doctor…and you wouldn’t need GPS to see he was unquestionably concussed.
nroko
Roar Rookie
I think Patrick Tuipulotu is still in the plans but not sure if he will be considered for Irish series. They probably have enough cover with 4 locks.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
TBH Crow, my crystal ball, shows that some still live in a dream!!
Nick
Roar Rookie
He's actually tightened up ALOT this year but he went totally missing this game. Hoskins stood up in thought. Big Red was very disappointing as well.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Hoskins played very well I thought. Big Red was disappointing.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Any other locks worth bringing in though?? I'm a big PPP fan but he's still injured.
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
Looking forward to watching The Breakdown tonight to see what JK says.
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
Il's the way he plays. He waits around for a pass or loose ball to get it and run. He doesn't get in and disrupt it to set up play for others. He can jump in LO's but somehow doesn't do enough. In loose games like Blues play he can be great. But tight evenly contested games waiting around isn't the answer.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Razor has won other comps too. He’s won the ITM cup with Canterbury. More importantly he won the World Champs U20. He did become the first ‘rookie’ coach to win his first two seasons of SR after Dave Rennie did it first. But he has continued winning titles. SR might be seen as soft, but his first two wins came against the Lions - home and away from memory. Results aside though, as a coach we also need to see how they develop players, use them infield, and devise game plans. I don’t think there can be any doubt that Razor has excelled in that department.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Always liked that quote from Tyson :happy: Can apply it to so many things. Not quite as literally as he did but still.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Bigdog (that’s a little self serving, but ok), I think what you’re trying to say is… “Sometimes my team loses, and I don’t like it. The ref made some decisions I don’t like or don’t understand. It must be his/her fault. They must be corrupt” Now, I skipped some steps in the there for sale of space, and because I think you’re missing a few cogs yourself. But I think the point is made. Actually, you might be into something. I bet next time Wngland play the Wallabies, those Poms get smashed. Eddie is Australian and it’s impossible not to be bias, I bet he’s been playing the long game. Damn, I just realised Rennie will be doing the same for the Wallabies - corrupt too no doubt. That does explain Castle kicking Folau out - corrupt to the core (ludicrously some people probably actually believe that one). And as I stated. Leon McD is a Cantab and worked directly with Razor. Totally corrupt, Blues never had a chance. In fact, Leon even said about the Lineouts, ‘it’s like they had our playbook’ He is literally admitting how he did it, and laughing at us right in our faces!!! Corrupt corrupt corrupt. Or you know…. The refs just made some decisions you don’t like or understand…
CUW
Roar Rookie
SA sides had a leg up in URc by not playing in the Heinecken cup - all those weeks of rest helped in an attritional game like rugger. lets see how they fair against the french and english top sides and then play in the urc also - i think from next year. and if u call winning against a side by 1 or two points after extra time is dominating - then wonder what a crusasders win is called :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
CUW
Roar Rookie
that ground was atrocios = i mean throw a few rice seeds and u could make it a paddy field !!!! but my main worry was some guy slipping at the last moment and getting clothslined to nextlife !!!! wet ball is ok - but when the ground resembles an ice rink - thats no place to play a final !!! :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
Harry Jones
Expert
Dobbo owns Jake! 3-0
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
C'mon BigDog, move on.
Mo
Guest
Mal did it towards the end of Gary’s career. He said sorry or something similar in a tv interview. Didn’t know Robert’s did too. Don’t know anything personal about Jack except he doesn’t get along with his son who was a very good AFL player