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CRUSADERS 45-13 BULLS
7:00am - Thanks for tuning in. We will have a game wrap and post match news on our website later in the day. Just to recap, the Crusaders won 45-13.
FULLTIME - The game is over. The Crusader have won 45-13 in a one-sided match. The end was scrappy, but the Crusaders were all class when all their stars were on the field. They scored seven tries to one, with Sevu Reece scoring three of them.
82mins - Still waiting for this scrum, and finally the ball comes out.
80mins - Time is nearly up here. But first, we must have another scrum.
77mins - Typical ending here as it has turned very scrappy, with bad passing and knock-ons and the rest of it.
75mins - TRY CRUSADERS - Scott Barrett scores a well-deserved try. I think they have scored seven now. I've lost count. Mitch Hunt can't kick the conversion.
73mins - Play resumes but it doesn't take long for the ball to spill into touch.
72mins - The Crusaders go close to scoring, but they can't find their way over the line.
70mins - Crusaders scrum and they kick straight away and pin the Bulls deep in their half. The Bulls are then tackled back into the in-goal, so it is now a scrum to the Crusaders.
68mins - TRY CRUSADERS - Sevu Reece has a hat-trick as he leaps through the air to catch a cross-field kick to score the Crusaders sixth of the night. The conversion goes over and the Crusaders lead 40-13.
66mins - A magical cross-field kick by the Crusaders puts the visitors on the attack, and they look like they will score.
64mins - But Handre Pollard's kick goes dead-in-goal so it is now a scrum to the Crusaders. No luck for the Bulls it seems.
62mins - Some sloppy play by both teams and eventually play comes back for a penalty to the Bulls, who kick for touch.
60mins - But as I'm typing away, the Bulls make a mistake, and the Crusaders go on the counter-attack. Scott Barrett makes a break, and a kick is put forward. Jack Goodhue gets to the ball and offloads it to George Bridge or David Havili (can't tell exactly) and the ball, and it goes to ground deep inside the Bulls' half.
59mins - The Bulls are back inside the Crusaders 22. That try has given them some confidence it seems.
57mins - TRY BULLS - A massive roar erupts around Loftus Versfeld as Burger Odendaal scores the Bulls' first try of the game, and their 24th this season. Handre Pollard kicks the conversion and the Bulls only trail by 20.
55mins - Instead of going for goal, the Bulls kick for touch which seems rather odd from them...
54mins - Referee Rasta Rasivhenge is having a word to Crusaders captain Matt Todd over the one-sided penalty count. They have given away 10 so far.
52mins - The Bulls are close to the line. This could be their best chance of the game to score a try. But the blow it once again.
50mins - Bad news Crusaders fans, Joe Moody has been assisted off the field and he looked in some pain. He's had numerous injury problems of late so some concerning signs for the All Blacks prop. Harry Allan comes on.
48mins - TRY CRUSADERS - Try number five for the Crusaders are Sevu Reece scores his second of the game and his eighth this season. Conversion goes over, and the Crusaders lead 33-6.
47mins - This match as turned very scrappy as the ball bounces all over the place. For Harry Potter fans, it's like the Bludger chasing Harry in the Chamber of Secrets movie/book at the moment.
45mins - But another mistake lets the Bulls off the hook once again.
44mins - But the Crusaders win a penalty at the scrum. They kick towards touch as they look for try number five.
42mins - It doesn't take long for the Crusaders to get in good field position, but Kieran Read knocks the ball on. Scrum to the Bulls.
40mins - The second half is underway. Handre Pollard kicks the ball and it doesn't go 10, so the Crusaders will get the ball on the halfway line.
HALFTIME - Forty minutes down and 40 remain as the Crusaders lead the Bulls 26-6 in Pretoria.
39mins - The Bulls are looking to score just before the break as the clock winds down.
37mins - TRY CRUSADERS - And would you look at that, the Crusaders are over for their fourth. Sevu Reece dots down for another try. Nice simple break down the right edge and the winger scores under the posts. The extra two goes over and the Crusaders lead 26-6.
36mins - But the ball is lost forward at the lineout and the Bulls clear the ball downfield.
35mins - Another penalty to the Crusaders and they kick for touch. They have a lineout 20 out from the line as they look for their fourth try.
33mins - Penalty to the Crusaders and play resumes on the halfway line.
31mins - TRY CRUSADERS - Once again, the Crusaders score quickly after the Bulls score points. Mitchell Dunshea scores his first Super Rugby try after a barnstorming run down the wing. Mo'unga can't add the extra's and the Crusaders lead 19-6.
29mins - PENALTY GOAL BULLS - Handre Pollard lands the penalty goal and the Bulls only trail by eight.
28mins - Another penalty to the Bulls about 45 out from the line, so they opt to go for goal, despite trailing by 11.
26mins - The Crusaders are under pressure as Duane Vermeulen changes down Richie Mo'unga's kick. The Crusaders get a penalty after David Havili slipped into Burger Odendaal arm.
24mins - The Bulls have an attacking lineout, just outside the 22, and it goes over everyone, but Burger Odendaal swoops on the ball and makes a strong run and the hosts are 10 out from the line, but Andre Warner knocks the ball on five out from the line, and the Crusaders survive.
22mins - TRY CRUSADERS - Richie Mo'unga has his second of the game as he uses his magic feet to get over the line. The kick goes over the invisible black dot, and the Crusaders lead 14-3.
20mins - Time is off again, as the referees are checking for potential foul play for a neck roll. I think the penalty is against George Bridge, but it is just a penalty and no card.
18mins - PENALTY GOAL BULLS - Bull captain Handre Pollard slots the ball down the middle and the hosts are on the board. The first-five is the leading points scorer in Super Rugby, now with 139 this season, 41 more than his nearest rival.
16mins - The Bulls have the ball again and kick it downfield. David Havili gathers possession, and the referee blows his whistle. Penalty to the Bulls and they'll kick for goal.
14mins - TRY CRUSADERS: David Havili stabs a kick through, and the bounce is horrible for Handre Pollard and Richie Mo'unga gathers it and runs over the line. The first-five adds the two, and the Crusaders lead 7-0.
13mins - Time is off again as prop Michael Alaalatoa has a bump on his head.
11mins - Jack Goodhue intercepts the ball and goes to score, but the referee brings the play back.
10mins - The Crusaders are pinned deep inside their half, and Richie Mo'unga clears the ball away. Then Rosko Specman makes a break for the hosts, and he gets inside the 22, he then tries a chip over the top, but the ball doesn't go his way and the Crusaders survive.
8mins - Time is off as Bulls player, I think Schalk Brits, is down injured.
7mins - The Crusaders are under the pump now as the Bulls came close to scoring a magical try. Handre Pollard put in a risky kick and Rosko Specman nearly gets to the ball, but it bounces into touch, 10 out from the Crusaders line.
5mins - Great defence by the Bulls, as they win a penalty for not releasing the ball. Duane Vermeulen came up with a massive tackle on Kieran Read. The home side will have the ball in Crusaders territory for the first time.
4mins - Attacking lineout for the Crusaders, but the Bulls steal the ball.
2mins - The visitors make a mistake and the Bulls football kick the ball down the field. Then a few phases later, Kieran Read makes a break, but Scott Barrett is unable to control the offload and the Bulls regain possession before kicking it away again.
1min - The Bulls kick the ball into touch early and it isn't long before the Crusaders close in on the 22.
KICKOFF - We're underway in South Africa. The Crusaders get us started.
5:00am - Hello everyone, the match is about 10 minutes away from starting. No late changes for the Crusaders, but for the Bulls, Warrick Gelant is out and Divan Rossouw comes into the starting side with Dylan Sage added to the bench.
The team lists are below.
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Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's coverage of the Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and Bulls from Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
The Crusaders head into the match after playing out a 21-21 draw against the Sharks, while the Bulls beat the Waratahs 28-21.
It is a top of the table clash with both teams sitting atop their respective conferences.
Match stats and facts
The Bulls have won five of their last six Super Rugby matches against the Crusaders at home (L1); though, they succumbed to a 62-24 defeat in their last such fixture.
However, the home side have won only one of their last 12 Super Rugby games against New Zealand opposition, and have lost their last four such fixtures on the bounce.
The Crusaders have scored the most tries this season with 48, while the Bulls have scored the least with 23.
TAB Odds: Crusaders $1.28 Bulls $3.60 Draw $21.00
Lineups
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Michael Alaalatoa, 4-Mitchell Dunshea, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Jordan Taufua, 7-Matt Todd (c), 8-Kieran Read, 9-Bryn Hall, 10- Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-Ryan Crotty, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-David Havili
Reserves: 16-Andrew Makalio, 17-Harry Allan, 18-Oliver Jager, 19-Luke Romano, 20-Whetu Douglas, 21-Mitchell Drummond, 22-Mitchell Hunt, 23-Braydon Ennor.
Bulls: 1-Lizo Gqoboka, 2-Schalk Brits, 3-Trevor Nyakane, 4-Jason Jenkins, 5-RG Snyma, 6-Marco van Staden, 7-Jannes Kirstentt Todd, 8-Duane Vermeulen, 9-Andre Warner, 10-Handre Pollard (c), 11-Rosko Specman, 12-Burger Odendaal, 13-Johnny Kotze, 14-Cornal Hendricks, 15-Divan Rossouw
Reserves: 16-Jaco Visagie, 17-Simphiwe Matanzima, 18-Wiehahn Herbst, 19-Thembelani Bholi, 20-Paul Schoeman, 21-Embrose Papier, 22-Manie Libbok, 23-Dylan Sage
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Pre-game chat: Crusaders call on All Blacks trio for Bulls clash
The Crusaders welcome back three All Blacks for their Super Rugby clash against the Bulls in South Africa on Saturday (NZ time).
First-five Richie Mo'unga and fullback David Havili return, after being rested during last week's draw against the Sharks, while second-five Ryan Crotty slots into the midfield, after recovering from a head knock.
The return of the three internationals are the only changes coach Scott Robertson has made to his side.
The inclusion of Mo'unga and Crotty sees Mitch Hunt and Braydon Ennor move to the bench, and Jack Goodhue switch back to outside centre.
Havili starts in place of Will Jordan, who didn't travel to South Africa, due to a foot injury sustained in the Sharks match.
Flanker Matt Todd will again captain the team in the absence of Sam Whitelock, who stayed back in New Zealand to be with his wife, after the birth of their baby daughter.
Whitelock will link up with the Crusaders next week for their clash against the Stormers in Cape Town.
Newshub.
