The Crusaders hosting the Hurricanes in Christchurch is without doubt the Super Rugby match of round 12.
The Crusaders are the only unbeaten team left in the tournament and they are up against the Hurricanes who are the current champions.
While the Crusaders will have home advantage for this match they will have had to travel back from South Africa while the Hurricanes will only have had to travel from Wellington.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off.
Richie Mo’unga kicks off and the match is underway.
2.00:The Crusaders put the Hurricanes under pressure in their half but Jordie Barrett clears the ball into touch to the half way line.
3.00: The Crusaders win the line out but the Hurricanes turn the ball over and press the Crusaders back to their 22. The ball is however knocked on.
5.00: The Crusaders win a penalty from the first scrum of the match. It was a messy scrum but the Hurricanes infringed. Mo’unga kicks for touch.
6.00: The Crusaders win the line out, lose the ball and TJ Perenara gets a boot to it and kicks well upfield.
8.00: The Hurricanes attack down the wing and chip the ball ahead. There is a chase to the ball behind the line which the Crusaders win and dot the ball down. 22 drop out.
10.00: The Crusaders attack and run the ball to the Hurricanes 5m line where Brad Shields concedes a penalty for not rolling away. Mo’unga will kick for goal.
12.00: Mo’unga slots the kick and the Crusaders lead.
13.00: Penalty to the Hurricanes almost in front. Jordie Barrett takes the kick and nails it. The scores are level.
17.00: Ngani Laumape makes ground on attack for the Hurricanes. He is caught and the Hurricanes recycle the ball. The Hurricanes win a penalty near the touchline where Barrett will have a shot.
18.00: Jordie Barrett slots the penalty from 43m out. Hurricanes lead.
20.00: Penalty to the Crusaders – against Julian Savea. Mo’unga lines up the posts from well out.
21.00: Mo’unga nails the penalty and levels the scores.
22.00: As the Crusaders run the ball Jeffery To’omaga-Allen gets an intercept and runs for the line, he is caught and offloads to Beauden Barrett who is caught and gets the ball away. The Hurricanes continue the attack and the ball goes into touch.
23.00: The Hurricanes knock on at the line out so the Crusaders have a 5m scrum.
25.00: The Crusaders win the scrum and Mo’unga cross kicks for George Bridge who gets the Crusaders to the halfway line. The Hurricanes turn the ball over and go through 5 phases but concede a penalty for playing the ball on the ground.
26.00: Mo’unga kicks for touch and sets up a line out on the Hurricanes 22. The Crusaders win the line out. They go through five phases and lose the ball forward. The ball has become slippery with the dew.
29.00: A Huge scrum from the Crusaders plows through the Hurricanes and wins them a scrum. Mo’unga lines up the posts. Crusaders scrum is looking ominous for the Hurricanes.
30.00: Mo’unga slots the penalty and the Crusaders lead.
33.00: The Crusaders put the Hurricanes under pressure in their 22. Crotty chips across the field for Seta Tamanivalu who gets to the ball but loses it as he goes over. He JUST beat Jordie Barrett to the ball in the air. So close.
34.00: After several re-sets the Hurricanes come away with the ball from the scrum. They get the ball to the 22m line where they win a penalty. Barrett kicks for touch and sets up a line out well in the Crusaders half. Quinten Strange comes on for Scott Barrett.
37.00: The Hurricanes keep the Crusaders pinned in their 22. The Hurricanes win a scrum just inside the 22 and move the ball wide for Cory Jane. The ball is lost but there is a penalty for the Hurricanes on the 5m line.
38.00: The Hurricanes take the line out for the penalty.
39.00: Hurricanes win the line out – just as its messy – but then the Crusaders steal the ball and try to clear it. The ball doesnt even get out of the 22. The Hurricanes win another penalty at the breakdown. This time they will go for posts.
40.00: The siren sounds. Jordie Barrett takes the kick and nails it to level the scores.
It’s half time.
The half time score was Crusaders 9 Hurricanes 9
Beauden Barrett kicks off and the second half is underway.
42.00: The Crusaders make a powerful start by pressing the Hurricanes back to their line. The Hurricanes defend their line and win the scrum put in.
43.00: The Hurricanes win the scrum and clear the ball into touch. The Hurricanes win the line out and attack from their 22. They run and then kick upfield so the Crusaders run the ball back at them.
45.00: The Crusaders put the Hurricanes line under pressure again – this time after a run by Ryan Crotty who is caught and the ball is lost.
47.00: Crusaders on attack again in the Hurricanes 22. The Crusaders go through 5 phases and make ground ever edging closer to the line. 8 phases and 5m out. On the 9th phase Joe Moody goes for the line but is short.
49.00: The Crusaders keep the ball alive and go wide where the ball is lost. The Crusaders are called back for a penalty – offside. Crusaders take the line out option.
50.00: The Crusaders win the line out and use the maul which powers over the line. The referee checks with his assistant and awards the TRY! That maul was moving at pace!
51.00: Mo’unga takes the conversion kick but misses.
55.00: Wyatt Crockett comes on for Moody and Mitchell Hunt also comes on. The Hurricanes change their whole front row.
56.00: The Crusaders win a line out and the ball gets to Pete Samu who makes huge ground in a run for the line. He is caught and the Crusaders go wide. Julian Savea gets a warning and the Hurricanes concede penalty for offside. Mo’unga will have a shot at goal.
58.00: Mo’unga takes the kick and nails it extending the lead.
59.00: The Hurricanes win a penalty back for offside. Barrett will have a shot at posts.
60.00: Barrett slots the penalty.
64.00: High tackle by Wyatt Crockett so the Hurricanes have a penalty. Beauden Barrett kicks for touch and sets up a line out in the Crusaders 22.
66.00: The Hurricanes win the line out and kick across the field. It’s too big and goes straight into touch. The Hurricanes do however have a penalty and kick for touch and the line out again.
67.00: Jordie Barrett and Julian Savea join the line out. Barrett wins the line out but the ball is lost in a mass of players and goes into touch again. The Hurricanes get the line out put in its skew and knocked on.
68.00: Crusaders win a penalty from the scrum on their 5m line. Matt Todd who went off for a concussion test has failed the test. Crusaders kick for touch.
69.00: The Hurricanes win the line out but the Crusaders win it back after 1 phase. The ball is loose and the Hurricanes get the ball back. The Hurricanes run the ball and lose it forward.
71.00: The Crusaders win the scrum and Bryn Hall takes off for the line. He is caught and the Crusaders concede a penalty. Barrett kicks for touch.
72.00: Penalty to the Crusaders. Crotty won the penalty. He has had an exceptional match.
73.00: Mo’unga will go for posts.
74.00: Mo’unga slots it. Crusaders lead by 8.
76.00: Scrum penalty to the Crusaders. Mo’unga kicks for touch.
78.00: The Hurricanes have the ball on attack but in their half. After 5 phases they briefly get into the Crusaders half and then get pressed back.
80.00: The siren sounds. The Hurricanes knock on and the Crusaders have won.
The full time score is Crusaders 20 (9) Hurricanes 12 (9)
Scorers
Crusaders
Tries – M.Todd
Pen – R.Mo’unga 5
Con –
Drop –
Cards –
Hurricanes
Tries –
Pen – J.Barrett 4
Con –
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Ref 1: Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 2:Cam Stone
TMO :Glenn Newman
Teams
Crusaders
1. Joe Moody , 2. Codie Taylor , 3. Owen Franks, 4. Luke Romano , 5. Scott Barrett , 6. Pete Samu, 7. Matt Todd (C), 8. Jordan Taufua, 9. Mitchell Drummond , 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. George Bridge , 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Jack Goodhue, 14. Seta Tamanivalu, 15. David Havili
Replacements : 16. Ben Funnell, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Michael Alaalatoa, 19. Quinten Strange , 20. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 21. Bryn Hall, 22. Mitchell Hunt , 23. Manasa Mataele
Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Brad Shields, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Vaea Fifita, 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Jeffery To’omaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Chris Eves
Replacements : 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Ben May, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Toa Halafihi, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Otere Black, 23 Wes Goosen
