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As it happened: Crusaders v Stormers
Flyhalf Tom Taylor was the hero for the seven-time champions, landing a penalty with six minutes to go that sealed the victory after debutant Kieron Fonotia's try put the Crusaders within striking distance.
Taylor also produced a try-saving tackle to mow down the Stormers' Nizaam Carr with a minute on the clock as the match reached a nail-biting finale.
The Crusaders were fortunate to score their first win of the season against a Stormers' outfit that produced a stunning defensive effort to defuse the home side's All Black-studded backline for much of the match.
They looked set to lose their first ever home match to a South African side after dominating possession and territory but repeatedly bouncing off a solid wall of Stormers' defence.
Springbok flank Schalk Burger said he felt the Stormers had done enough to claim victory when Damian de Allende scored a converted try early in the second half to put them up 13-3.
Burger, who had an outstanding game, pounced on a sloppy Willi Heinz kick and offloaded to Jean de Villiers, whose chip kick was scooped up by de Allende on the run.
"We did enough to get a victory but unfortunately we were one point light tonight. Obviously they were desperate," he said.
The Crusaders remained persistent and were finally rewarded with a try in the 68th minute when Fonotia bustled over the line, dragging two defenders with him.
But the Stormers retained a narrow 13-11 lead when Taylor's conversion attempt drifted wide.
He made no mistake when Michael Rhodes conceded an offside penalty, nailing the kick to give the Crusaders the narrowest of wins.
Burger said the Stormers, who enjoyed a one-point win against the Hurricanes last week, would take confidence from the fact that they had come so close to upsetting the vaunted Crusaders.
"It was a massive effort not to get a victory and we'll have to bounce back from that and bring the same intensity against the Chiefs next week," he said.
Scores:
Crusaders - Try: Kieron Fonotia; Penalties: Tom Taylor (3)
Stormers - Try: Damian de Allende; Conversion: Demetri Catrakilis; Penalties: Catrakilis (2)
Teams:Crusaders
15 Colin Slade, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Reynold Lee-Lo, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Israel Dagg, 10 Tom Taylor, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Luke Whitelock, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Dominic Bird, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Tyler Bleyendaal, 23 Kieron Fonotia
Stormers
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Jean de Villiers (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Pat Cilliers, 19 Ruan Botha, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Peter Grant, 23 Sailosi Tagicakibau
