FT | Super Rugby Pacific final: Chiefs 20-25 Crusaders

Crusaders win Super Rugby final to claim 7th straight title

The Crusaders claimed a seventh straight title with a 25-20 win over the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final Saturday on Scott Robertson's swansong.

That's seven straight titles for the Crusaders!

Incredible, really. 

Codie Taylor is emotional during his interview. He scored two crucial tries in the final. 

80' - PENALTY kicked by the Crusaders!

Mo’unga slots a penalty with the final kick of the match, and the Crusaders are 2023 Super Rugby Pacific champions!

Chiefs 20-25 Crusaders

79' - The Chiefs have the ball, but they are deep in their own half.

Penalty to the Crusaders, as the home side is holding on at the breakdown. 

75' - The Chiefs have a penalty, and McKenzie attempting a 50m penalty.

It is right in front, but it's going to be the limit of his range one would think. 

73' - TRY to the Crusaders!

Lineout. Rolling maul. Try-time!

It's Codie Taylor with his second of the match. 

Mo’unga slots the conversion.

The Crusaders lead by 2.

Chiefs 20-22 Crusaders

72'- YELLOW CARD to the Chiefs!

Co-captain Sam Cane is sent to the bin for playing the ball which wasn't out of the ruck.

70' - The Crusaders are camping on the Chiefs' line.

Held up! But they have a penalty as the home side are pinged for offside. 

55' - The Chiefs think they've scored through Emoni Narawa, but the TMO intervenes.

McKenzie, who took the ball from a long lineout, had started moving and was within 10m of the lineout and, therefore, offside when the movement started, so the try doesn't stand.

49' - PENALTY to the Chiefs!

McKenzie makes no mistake off the tee as the Chiefs extend their lead. 

Chiefs 20-15 Crusaders

43' - TRY to the Chiefs!

Just the start they needed as they work space down the right before Emoni Narawa speeds away and dots down in the right-hand corner.

McKenzie slots the conversion!

Chiefs 17-15 Crusaders

HALF-TIME

What a pulsating half.

The Crusaders have dominated possession, the Chiefs have struggled with their discipline and had two yellow cards, but they still in this.

Chiefs 8-15 Crusaders

35' - TRY to the Crusaders!

After a penalty miss by the Chiefs, the Crusaders move downfield and strike out left.

Scrambling Chiefs' defence initially stops the Crusaders' attacking effort, but from the resulting ruck, Mo’unga gets the ball at 10 and slips through a gap and over the line. 

The pivot converts his own try.

Chiefs 10-15 Crusaders

28' - TRY to the Crusaders!

The extra man pays as the Crusaders rumble a rolling maul over the line. Hooker Codie Taylor comes up with the ball.

Incredibly, that's his 41st Super Rugby try!

Mo’unga misses a relatively easy conversion.

Chiefs 10-8 Crusaders

26' - YELLOW CARD to the Chiefs

Jacobson is sent to the bin as the Chiefs are pinged in the red zone. 

To be fair, they were still on a warning, so the ref is quite within his rights.

The Crusaders set up an attacking lineout. 

23 '- TRY to the Chiefs!

A massive tackle by Luke Jordanson sees the Chiefs turn the ball over from the Crusaders.

Numerous phases follow, and eventually, Shaun Stevenson scythes through the Crusaders' defence to score his 12th try of the season.

McKenzie adds the extras!

Chiefs 10-3 Crusaders

19' - PENALTY kicked by the Chiefs

McKenzie makes no mistake from the tee.

Chiefs 3-3 Crusaders

18' - Finally a sustained period of pressure from the Chiefs and they have a penalty.

Damian McKenzie will kick at goal. 

14' - Lienert-Brown's yellow card remains just that.

The TMO ruled that the Crusaders player was dropping down, which resulted in the head-on-head contact. 

14' - Another penalty, and here's the warning for the Chiefs.

Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho is singled out by the ref.

The Crusaders set up a lineout in the Chiefs 22m area, but the Crusaders lost the ball and the home side clear. 

12' - Another penalty against the Chiefs...

That's five so far.

The Crusaders haven't conceded one yet.

10' - YELLOW card for the Chiefs

Anton Lienert-Brown is in the bin for head-on-head contact in a tackle. 

It will still be reviewed by the TMO, and if deemed serious enough, it could be a red card which means Lienert-Brown can't come back on the field but can be replaced after 20 mins. 

9' - PENALTY kicked by the Crusaders

Mo’unga makes no mistake from pretty much in front.

Chiefs 0-3 Crusaders

8' - Another breakdown penalty conceded by the Chiefs. That's two in the red zone, but no warning yet.

Mo’unga will kick at goal. 

6' - A fairly laboured attack by the Crusaders' backs, but they have a penalty as the Chiefs are pinged in the ruck. 

Mo’unga sets up a lineout just outside the Chiefs' 22m area. 

0' - Richie Mo’unga of the Crusaders gets the game underway...

Here we go!

We are around 10 minutes away from kick-off.

Who will come up trumps, the Chiefs or the Crusaders?