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Crusaders 19 - 11 Blues
Full-time.
80 min: The Crusaders win a penalty just before the hooter, they decide to knock it into touch and take the win.
79 min: Forward pass from Matt Todd and if the Blues are to win - they need to score ASAP.
75 min: Crusaders win a penalty and will kick the goal to try and seal the win, it's good. Crusaders 19 - 11 Blues.
73 min: Akira Ioane gathers the ball off the kickoff and tries to link with hia brother - but the pass goes out.
71 min: TRY - Blues, simple from the Blues - really good hands from Faiane and Nanai who sets up Rieko Ioane. Kick is wide. Crusaders 16 - 11 Blues.
69 min: Penalty won by the Blues - will likely need to score here.
65 min: Just when the Blues look likely a pass goes wide and into touch.
63 min: Now the Blues give up a penalty - Crusaders clear.
61 min: Just when the Blues get into the Crusaders 22 for the first time in what seems like years - they knock it on, giving the Saders the scrum feed.
58 min: The Blues give a penalty straight back, and the Crusaders will say please and thank you - three more points. Crusaders 16 - 6 Blues.
57 min: Blues win a penalty and Plummer kicks the goal. Crusaders 13 - 6 Blues.
54 min: The Blues clear through Ruru and the Crusaders will charge forward again.
53 min: Melani Nanai saves the day to deny the Crusaders what would've been a great try - Mo'unga gets above Plummer and takes an up and under off the kick from Bryn Hall but he loses the ball, Blue scrum.
53 min: If that's a try, what a try! Going upstairs.
51 min: Knock on from the Crusaders - unlike them to be making these mistakes.
50 min: 3 Blue is offside and the Crusaders kick for the corner.
49 min: Nanai makes a mini break and his offload goes out - nobody was on the wing.
48 min: Impressive counter ruck from the Blues after a big tackle from Ofa Tuungafasi - Blues lineout on the 22.
46 min: So much kicking - it's like a South African derby... The Crusaders win another penalty at the breakdown, they take the shot. Kick is wide.
44 min: Massive scrum from the Crusaders but the Blues gather and clear.
43 min: Close by the Crusaders, Bridge scores a try but it's called back after a knock on from Sevu Reece. The right call.
Andrew Makalio is down injured after a late hit from Nonu.
42 min: Melani Nanai makes a very good break for the Blues but his kick goes straight to George Bridge. Blues clear.
41 min: Back underway in Christchurch.
40 min: The Blues gather the ball on hooter and Plummer nearly throws an intercept - Sevu Reece gets a hand to it but can't gather. Half-time called.
38 min: Mistake from Ruru as he slips going for the kick the Crusaders win a penalty from it and will look to press just before half-time.
37 min: Tom Robinson gathers a kick from Sevu Reece and the Blues clear.
35 min: A knock on from Plummer deep in his own half - not a good passage of play from Plummer after missing touch.
32 min: A little grubber from Goodhue is just to heavy for Bridge. Its goes out - Blues ball.
31 min: Crusaders drop the ball just metres out from the line and the Blues clear the ball - Nonu doing lots of kicking tonight.
28 min: Crusaders win yet another penalty - Blues get a warning.
26 min: Crusaders win a penalty and go for the corner.
24 min: Lovely defensive work from Faiane who saved the Blues there. Crusaders scrum feed.
22 min: The Blues head down to the Crusaders' 22 and win a penalty - surely they take the kick, yea they do. Kick is good. Crusaders 13 - 3 Blues.
20 min: TRY - Crusaders, a lovely kick from Mo'unga sees Crotty gather and find Bryn Hall who scores the opening try. Kick is good. Crusaders 13 - 0 Blues.
19 min: Now a mistake from Harry Plummer who puts a bang average kick out of touch on the full.
18 min: Mistake from Jack Goodhue as he kicks the ball dead - Blues scrum on halfway.
16 min: Nonu messes up a pass but the Blues re-gather and kick it down field.
14 min: Another penalty for the Crusaders, kick for goal the call, kick is good. Crusaders 6 - 0 Blues.
12 min: Big defence from the Crusaders here as the Blues work 11 phases at them, then Matt Todd wins his side a penalty.
10 min: Crusaders knock on and the Blues will have a scrum 25 metres out.
8 min: Penalty to the Crusaders again at the ruck - this time they take the shot, kick is good. Crusaders 3 - 0 Blues.
8 min: Crusaders steal the lineout and are charging forward.
7 min: Blues win the penalty at the breakdown - Scott Barrett is penalised and the Blues will get the chance to clear.
5 min: Early penalty won at the scrum by the Crusaders - kick for touch is the call.
4 min: Lots of kicking early on in this game - conditions are dewy and slippery.
2 min: The Crusaders go close but a grubber is too big - Blues knock on called, Crusaders scrum.
2 min: Great break with his first touch for David Havili and he gives it to Mo'unga but the Blues cover defence comes to the rescue - Saders ball.
1 min: Kick off here in Christchurch is what promises to be a cracker!
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It's do or die tonight for the Blues - can they do the almost impossible and topple the champs at home? Just minutes away from kickoff.
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and the Blues.
TAB Odds: Crusaders $1.14 Blues $5.50
Pre-match chat: Richie Mo'unga and George Bridge to start for Crusaders against Blues
Under-fire Crusaders duo Richie Mo'unga and George Bridge will play this weekend.
The two All Blacks were allegedly involved in separate incidents during the sides' recent two-week trip to South Africa.
Those incidents are currently under an independent review been conducted by top lawyer Steph Drhyberg.
- Business as usual for Crusaders
- Dyhrberg urges Crusaders accusers to step forward
- Crusaders order independent review of South African accusations
But coach Scott Robertson has named both to start against the Blues on Saturday night as the Crusaders go about business as usual.
All Blacks captain Kieran Read is on an All Blacks rest week, although he is dealing with a minor neck complaint, so the week off should allow the number eight to return to full fitness as the playoffs approach.
The talent-rich Crusaders backline should pose a real threat to one of the best defences in Super Rugby this season.
Mo'unga and Bridge are joined by fellow internationals David Havili, Jack Goodhue and Ryan Crotty while in-form winger Sevu Reece continues to push his case for higher honours.
Up front, Read is replaced by Whetu Douglas at the back of the scrum where he will form a loose forward trio with Jordan Taufua and Matt Todd.
Joe Moody, Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock add to a talented pack that will face the most dominant scrum in Super Rugby.
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Michael Alaalatoa, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Jordan Taufua, 7-Matt Todd, 8-Whetu Douglas, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-Ryan Crotty, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-David Havili
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-Isi Tu'ungafasi, 18-George Brewer, 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
Reserves: 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
