The Crusaders have played the Blues 33 times in Super rugby since 1996 and the Crusaders have won 22 times, lost 11 matches and drawn none.
The Crusaders 22 wins out of 33 matches gives them a record of winning 67% of their matches against the Blues regardless of venue.
- The Crusaders have won 10 of their last 11 Super Rugby matches against the Blues (L1), including the last nine matches on the bounce.
- The Blues have won four of their last 39 Super Rugby matches against New Zealand teams (D1, L34); though, all four of those wins came on home turf on the day.
- The Crusaders are undefeated in their last 26 Super Rugby games on home turf (W25, D1); three of their last four such wins have come after trailing at half-time.
- The Blues have enjoyed an average of 18 minutes and four seconds time in possession per game this Super Rugby season, more than any other team in the competition.
- The Crusaders’ Sevu Reece and Blues’ Rieko Ioane have each made 24 clean breaks this Super Rugby season, more than any other players in the competition.
Match detail
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The Blues kick off and the match is underway.
2.00: The Crusaders make a strong start to the match by attacking the Blues in their half. The Blues defend but the Crusaders knock on.
3.00: The scrum goes down and the Crusaders get the put in – inside the Crusaders 22.]
4.00: After a couple of resets the Crusaders win the scrum, dab the ball through but it goes too far and they are called back for a penalty. The Crusaders choose the line out for the penalty.
5.00: The Crusaders win the line out on the 5m line. They get the ball to the line but then concede a penalty for “dropping the shoulder”. The Blues clear the ball into touch.
7.00: The Crusaders steal the line out and after a ruck is formed they win a penalty. Richie Mo’unga lines up the posts for a shot.
8.00: Mo’unga slots the penalty.
11.00: The Blues get the ball from a scrum and work through 10 phases gradually getting the ball closer to the Crusaders line. However on the 12th phase the Blues concede a penalty so the Crusaders kick for touch and will have the line out.
14.00: Penalty to the Crusaders.
15.00: Mo’unga lines up the kick and nails it.
19.00: Harry Plummer tries to clear the ball but puts it out on the full giving the Crusaders a line out. They win the line out and chip the ball through. Ryan Crotty gets to the ball and passes to Bryn Hall who dashes away and scores. TRY!
21.00: Mo’unga adds the conversion.
22.00: Penalty to the Blues. Plummer lines up the posts. He nails it and the Blues are on the board.
26.00: The Crusaders win a line out on the Blues 5m line. They form a maul but the Blues keep it stationary. The Crusaders move the ball out and the whistle goes for a penalty to the Crusaders.
28.00: The Crusaders take the scrum. It collapses so they get another scrum.
30.00: The Crusaders win the scrum but the Blues defend well and get the advantage. The Blues clear the ball into touch.
31.00: The Crusaders win the line out and set up a maul in the Blues 22. They change sides and then move the ball back to where they started. The Crusaders try a chip kick for George Bridge but its too far. 22 restart.
36.00: The Blues get the ball in the Crusaders half. They go through 6 phases and lose the ball forward. So far the Blues defense has been better than their attack.
39.00: The Crusaders have a scrum near the half way line. They win the scrum and chip the ball ahead. The Blues get to it first and run it. The Blues go wide as the siren sounds but there is a knock on which ends the half.
It’s half time.
The half time score was Crusaders 13 Blues 3
The Crusaders kick off and the second half is underway.
42.00: The ball is chipped ahead for the Crusaders, Sevu Reece gets to it and the Crusaders move the ball to the other side where George Bridge scores. Or does he ? The TMO review reveals that there was a knock on by Reece. No try.
44.00: Penalty to the Crusaders. Mo’unga lines up the posts.
46.00: Mo’unga takes his time but misses.
51.00: Both teams kicking a lot of ball away. The ball goes from side to side as they test each other.
52.00: The kicking continues as the Blues boot the ball well back to the Crusaders. Bryn Hall kicks it from the half way line. Richie Mo’unga chases and gets to the ball – he is tackled (high) as he goes over the line by Melani Nanai but he loses the ball. The TMO review is that the tackle is not too high so the try is not awarded and no penalty. No try. Blues 5m scrum.
56.00: Penalty to the Blues. Plummer lines up the posts.
57.00: Plummer takes the kick and nails it.
59.00: The Crusaders get a penalty back. Mo’unga takes the kick and nails it. The Crusaders lead by 10 again.
62.00: Both teams have changed their halfbacks.
68.00: Penalty to the Blues inside the Crusaders half. They choose to kick for touch and will have the line out.
69.00: The Blues win the line out and move the ball to in front of the posts. The Blues slow the ball and then recycle and move it quickly out on the wing to Rieko Ioane who scores in the corner ! TRY! But wait. The TMO wants to have another look after a replay on the big screen. After a review the try stands.
70.00: Plummer lines up the conversion from the touch line. He misses.
74.00: The Crusaders work the ball into the Blues 22. The Blues however turn the ball over and kick it into touch to clear.
76.00: The Crusaders are awarded a penalty. Mo’unga lines up the posts. This will help wind down the clock for the Crusaders.
77.00: Mo’unga slots the kick and the Crusaders lead by 8.
79.00: The Blues have the ball inside the Crusaders half. The Crusaders get an advantage though.
The whistle goes after the siren so the Crusaders kick the ball into touch and end the match.
The Crusaders have won.
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The full time score is Crusaders 19 (13) Blues 11(3)
Scorers
Crusaders
Tries – B.Hall
Pen – R.Mo’unga 4
Con – R.Mo’unga
Drop –
Cards –
Blues
Tries – R.Ioane
Pen – H.Plummer 2
Con –
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 1: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 2:Glen Jackson
TMO :Aaron Paterson
Teams
Crusaders
15 David Havili, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Isi Tu’ungafasi, 18 George Bower, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor
Blues
1 Alex Hodgman, 2 Leni Apisai, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 5 Scott Scrafton, 6 Tom Robinson, 7 Blake Gibson ©, 8 Akira Ioane; 9 Jonathan Ruru, 10 Harry Plummer, 11 Rieko Ioane, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 TJ Faiane, 14 Caleb Clarke, 15 Melani Nanai.
Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Lua Li, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Otere Black, 23 Levi Aumua.