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Crusaders 21 Chiefs 24
FULLTIME - CHIEFS TRY
Crusaders lineout, on the 5m line. Slater throws, Florence wins it and Sowakula has a run. Retallick attacks the line, before they go back to Sowakula.
There's an overlap on the left- and the Chiefs go to Rameka Poihipi - and he scores! The Chiefs have won it!
Gatland will have one last kick, but the result is sealed already.
And he gets it!
CRU 21 CHI 24
80 mins
Slater throws and Retallick wins it. The Chiefs work towards the 22.
Tupaea takes a tackle, before Gatland looks to break. They go wide to Tupaea again, this time on the right wing.
Florence has the ball on the left, and wins advantage. Cane picks and goes, as does Retallick. The siren goes, and we go back for the penalty.
The Chiefs will have a lineout in the corner to try and win this.
79 mins
The Chiefs have the ball again after the kick off, before Ratima box kicks down to Jordan. The Crusaders keep the ball alive though, as Tahuriorangi box kicks.
Klein is called for offside at the kick though, and the Chiefs have a penalty and a lineout.
76 mins - TRY CHIEFS
Chiefs advantage with Havili offside. Nankivell makes good metres as the Chiefs go back to the left.
Retallick has a go, but he's driven back. The Chiefs go wide through the hands, before Cane finds Stevenson with an overlap!
Stevenson dives for the corner, and he scores as Jordan looks to force him out! Great finish from Stevenson.
Gatland to convert from the left, and it's perfect!
CRU 21 CHI 17
74 mins
The Crusaders give away an offside penalty, and the Chiefs need to score a try here, and go for the lineout in the corner. Fergus Burke replaces Mo'unga.
Slater throws and Ah Kuoi wins it. The Chiefs go to the right wing, but it looks like Reece has turned it over!
The ball is cleared into touch for a Chiefs lineout.
72 mins
Slater throws, and the Crusaders go left. Retallick offloads to Ratima, before Gatland nearly slips Nankivell through! The Crusaders defence holds though.
Stevenson tries to dance through, as the Crusaders look to go wide. Retallick's pass is intercepted, but knocked on, so the Chiefs have the ball and advantage.
Florence finds Stevenson, who kicks along the ground for Nankivell, but Mo'unga gets back to ground it and force a dropout.
69 mins
Chiefs lineout on the 5m line. Slater throws and Florence wins it. Slater has the ball at the back of the drive, before Tupaea takes it and they go to the backs.
Ah Kuoi takes the ball left, as Retallick straightens the attack. Sowakula takes the tackle, as does debutant Dyer.
But Strange has turned the ball over for the Crusaders! Christie runs as they look to set a platform to clear, before Mo'unga finds touch.
67 mins
Ratima feeds, but the Crusaders surge. The referee calls for a reset after the front rows pop up.
Ratima feeds again, and runs off the back himself. Ta'avao has a run, as does Stevenson.
The Chiefs get to the 22, Cane wins advantage as the Crusaders don't release.
Gatland throws an intercept to Reece, so we go back for the penalty.
64 mins
The Chiefs win the ball from the lineout, and Gatland clears down to George Bridge. Jordan kicks downfield, and Gatland watches it go dead.
That'll be a Chiers scrum 10m inside the Crusaders' half.
62 mins
Chiefs lineout, but they've knocked it on. Is it just me, or has there been incrementally more errors to start this year? Slater replaces Taukei'aho for the Chiefs, as the Crusaders have a scrum.
Tahuriorangi has replaced Hall for the Crusaders, to feed the scrum.
He won't need to just yet, Ta'avao is penalised at the scrum.
Crusaders lineout.
61 mins
Taukei'aho throws, and Nankivell runs as first receiver from the lineout. Lienert-Brown hits the line, but the Chiefs have lost it.
Mo'unga clears to Narawa, before Stevenson puts the bomb up. Whitelock lets it bounce, before gathering and allowing Havili to return fire.
Tupaea runs and takes the ball close to the 22. Gatland breaks the line, and can put Ratima through to score - but Hall intercepts to save a try!
The ball goes back to Fainga'anuku for a Chiefs lineout.
57 mins
Crusaders scrum. Hall feeds. Grace takes the ball off the back of the scrum with his first touch and finds Reece.
Whitelock has a carry, but Sowakula turns it over! Chiefs lineout inside the 22.
56 mins
The Chiefs attack after the drop out, but Narawa knocks on looking to find Retallick.
Crusaders scrum. Matera is replaced by Cullen Grace.
55 mins
Taukei'aho throws, and Boshier wins it. He finds Sowakula - who charges at the line, but Havili does brilliantly to get under him and save the try!
That'll be a goal line dropout.
54 mins
Taukei'aho throws, but too far and Retallick can't get there. Matera does, and the Crusaders go back to Havili who clears.
It's not out though, and Narawa goes on a run. The Chiefs have advantage, as Gatland kicks over the top.
Mo'unga claims it so we go back for the penalty. Gatland clears for another lineout.
52 mins
Ratima feeds, and the Chiefs have advantage from the scrum.
They go wide to Narawa, who's tackled and we go back for the penalty.
Gatland finds touch. Chiefs lineout just shy of the 5m line.
51 mins
Ratima box kicks from the back of his first scrum. The Crusaders have the ball, but George Bower knocks it on.
Chiefs scrum.
50 mins
Taylor throws over the top for Havili and the Crusaders have the ball again.
Tom Christie knocks it on though, and the Chiefs breathe a sigh of relief.
Cortez Ratima replaces Roe at halfback for the Chiefs, and will feed a scrum as his first act in Super Rugby.
49 mins
Taylor throws and Strange wins it. They go to the right flank and Reece, who darts back infield before being tackled.
Lienert-Brown gives away a penalty for not rolling away. Mo'unga clears for another lineout.
47 mins
Replacements in both front rows. Tupaea gives away a penalty for taking the man in the air from the kick-off.
Mo'unga clears into touch. Crusaders lineout on halfway.
46 mins - TRY CRUSADERS
The Crusaders take the ball to the Chiefs' 22 as Jordan, Reece and Mo'unga combine. Advantage for a high tackle.
Taylor throws a no-look pass back inside him for Ennor, and he's through to score! Where did that come from Codie Taylor?!
Mo'unga converts from in front.
CRU 21 CHI 10
44 mins
Taukei'aho throws and again the Chiefs win it. They go wide to the right where Nankivell is stopped by Matera.
Reece forced Lienert-Brown to mishandle before Havili toes the ball forwards. The Crusaders have it and go wide to Fainga'anuku, he looks to offload back inside him and Jordan tidies up.
Fainga'anuku has another go at the line, but he's held up to force a line dropout.
42 mins
Chiefs lineout, Taukei'aho throws and Retallick wins it. The Chiefs go wide to the left where Lienert-Brown breaks the line. He looks for Nankivell inside him, but the Crusaders turn it over.
Mo'unga clears into touch.
41 mins
We're ready for the second half, it looks like both sides are unchanged after the break.
Gatland kicks off to start the second half.
HALFTIME - PENALTY CRUSADERS
One last scrum to end the half. Hall feeds and Matera runs off the back and kicks over the top, and he's taken out after the kick!
The kick amounts to nothing, so we go back for the penalty and the Crusaders want the points.
Mo'unga with one last kick in the half. And he slots it from just in from the left touchline!
CRU 14 CHI 10
40 mins
Hall feeds the scrum, and the Crusaders go to the backs. They try to run out of their own half - before Mo'unga puts Ennor into a gap! Ennor finds Hall, who's tackled but pops it up for Blackadder! Blackadder's through - but he loses it!
The Chiefs can counter! Sowakula does well to take the ball towards halfway! He bumps off Mo'unga, but the Chiefs have lost it forward!
Crusaders scrum.
39 mins
Gatland kicks for the corner, but it's not out as Mo'unga has it - but is tackled into touch for a Chiefs lineout.
Taukei'aho throws, and there's a knock on from the Chiefs. Crusaders scrum.
37 mins - PENALTY CRUSADERS
Taylor throws and the Crusders win it and bring it under control. Reece ends up on a slaloming run, and then knocks on. We'll go back for a penalty against Cane though, and Mo'unga will have a shot.
And he nails it.
CRU 11 CHI 10
35 mins
Crusaders lineout, Taylor throws. Whitelock wins it and they go to the backs.
Jordan tries his luck at the line but is tackled, as does Ennor. Advantage for the Crusaders against Lienert-Brown, and we go back for the penalty.
Mo'unga clears for a lineout inside the 22.
34 mins
The Chiefs look to attack from inside their own half through Narawa, as Vaa'i also attacks the line. Gatland kicks for the corner - and nails it for a 50-22? Nope, it went out on the full.
Crusaders lineout. Elsewhere, Joe Moody is staying down hurt.
32 mins
Reece is penalised for hands in the ruck. Chiefs penalty on their own 22. Gatland clears for a lineout.
Taukei'aho throws. Vaa'i wins it, but drops it. The Chiefs regather though.
Taukei'aho and Roe combine, and put Boshier away down the left wing! Mo'unga gets across and tackles Boshier's foot into touch though.
Crusaders lineout.
30 mins - PENALTY CHIEFS
Chiefs scrum, Roe feeds.
Hall gets in the way of Roe's attempt to play the ball to give away a penalty. This time the Chiefs want the points.
Gatland lines up the kick, and gets it!
CRU 8 CHI 10
28 mins
Taukei'aho throws, and Vaa'i wins it, but can't get it cleanly to Roe. The Chiefs run through Taukei'aho, Ta'avao does the same.
They go wide to the right, as the Crusaders turn it over through Hall, but then he loses it forwards.
Chiefs scrum.
26 mins
Taylor throws, but Vaa'i knocks it on trying to steal it. Crusaders scrum.
But the Chiefs win a penalty against Moody at the scrum, and will clear it for another lineout.
24 mins
Crusaders scrum, Hall feeds. Hall takes the ball off the back and clears it. Chiefs lineout, 10m inside the Crusaders' half.
Taukei'aho throws over the top and Tupaea wins it, before Christie turns the ball over for another lineout.
23 mins
Chiefs lineout, 10m inside the Crusaders' half. Taukei'aho throws, Boshier wins it. Tupaea runs in midfield, before Gatland feeds Narawa.
Taukei'aho runs at the line and pops it up for Roe, as Boshier makes a strong run. Lienert-Brown has a run, but then knocks on.
Crusaders scrum.
21 mins - TRY CRUSADERS
Crusaders scrum, Hall feeds and wraps with Mo'unga off the back.
Mo'unga kicks through for Blackadder, who's in a race with Sowakula to the tryline. Sowakula can't hang onto it, and Havili is there to snap the ball up and score in the left corner! The Crusaders score from nowhere!
Mo'unga to convert from the left touchline, but he pushes it to the left.
CRU 8 CHI 7
17 mins
Chiefs' lineout on their own 22 after Fainga'anuku takes the ball out. Taukei'aho throws and Boshier wins it.
Roe clears with a box kick, and Stevenson gets there first - but knocks on.
Crusaders scrum, 10m inside the Chiefs' half.
15 mins - TRY CHIEFS
Taukei'aho throws and Ross wins it. Another advantage for the Chiefs as they go wide to Nankivell, but he's tackled.
They go to the right as Narawa takes the line on. He finds Stevenson outside him, and Stevenson beats Mo'unga and Hall's attempted tackles to score in the corner! First try of the night for the visitors!
Gatland to convert from the right touchline.
And he does!
CRU 3 CHI 7
13 mins
Taukei'aho throws and the Chiefs win it, and have advantage and then a penalty against Blackadder for not rolling away.
Gatland clears for another lineout.
12 mins
Taukei'aho gives away a penalty and the Crusaders have a lineout inside the Chiefs' 22.
Taylor throws over the top, and the Crusaders scramble to secure the ball. Whitelock offloads to Moody, who offloads to Hall in a gap! The Crusaders are on the five, but Havili gives away a penalty as Gatland clears for a lineout.
10 mins
Another penalty for the Crusaders with the Chiefs all offside. Mo'unga finds touch for a Crusdaers lineout.
Taylor throws and Whitelock wins it. Blackadder runs from a pick and go, before Havili tries to put Jordan through, but he drops it.
Roe clears for the Chiefs and a Crusaders lineout.
7 mins - CRUSADERS PENALTY
Gatland clears, but it's not out! The Crusaders start again!
They're playing under advantage too, the kick's put through for Ennor to chase, but Stevenson gets back to ground the ball.
We'll go back for the penalty, and the Crusaders want the points. Mo'unga lines up his first kick of the night, relatively right in front.
Straight down the middle to open the scoring.
CRU 3 CHI 0
5 mins
Crusaders scrum. Hall feeds, and Matera plays halfback off the back. Mo'unga kicks down field to Narawa who kicks back to Jordan.
The Crusaders go wide to Reece who breaks, before going back infield to Mo'unga.
They go wide to the left, and then back to the right through Taylor and Havili. Moody runs but he's tackled by Cane, who wins the turnover.
That'll be a Chiefs lineout after some great defence.
3 mins
Gatland kicks inside the 22, and Ennor wins the ball in the air. M'unga has his first touch and nearly breaks the line.
Moody breaks the line! He offloads to Ennor with open space in front of him - but he drops it! The Chiefs clear but only as far as Jordan, who kicks back.
Gatland clears again, and Stevenson wins it in the air to take the Chiefs inside the Crusaders' half.
Sowakula has a run, but loses it forward.
KICK-OFF
We're away as Richie Mo'unga kicks off to start the evening!
7:05pm
And Sam Cane does the same to bring the Chiefs out of the sheds.
7:03pm
Codie Taylor leads the Crusaders out, captaining in place of Scott Barrett.
6:53pm
So again, the Crusaders have been forced into some very late changes. Here is their adjusted team sheet.
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Quentin Strange, 5-Samuel Whitelock, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Pablo Matera, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Shilo Klein, 17-Abraham Pole, 18-George Bower, 19-Dominic Gardiner, 20-Cullen Grace, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-George Bridge
6:42pm
Scratch that. The Crusaders have withdrawn four players on "medical grounds".
Captain Scott Barrett, Brodie McAlister, Tamaiti Williams and Mitch Dunshea will all sit this one out, replaced by Quentin Strange, Abraham Pole, Shilo Klein and Dominick Gardiner.
6:35pm
Good evening! After last night's COVID-chaos, fingers crossed tonight's match can be played without any off-field worries!
We're around 30 minutes from kick-off, so stay tuned for all the action!
*******
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific clash between the Crusaders and Chiefs at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium.
The home side arrives at this encounter with a perfect three wins from three outings so far this campaign, after victories over the Hurricanes, Highlanders and Moana Pasifika on successive weekends.
Coach Scott Robertson had the luxury of resting most of his frontline performers against the expansion side last week, while also introducing All Blacks stars Codie Taylor and Richie Mo'unga off the bench.
While most of their NZ-based counterparts have had to cope with COVID-19 in their camps or postponing fixtures, the Crusaders seem relatively unaffected and have named a near full-strength line-up. Perhaps the most notable absence this week is prop Joe Moody.
Meanwhile, co-captain Brad Weber and first-five Josh Ioane are the biggest ommisions from the Chiefs, who field an inside-back comibination of Xavier Roe and Bryn Gatland in their stead.
All Blacks loose forward Luke Jacobson is still missing with injury and Kaylum Boshier takes his place on the side of the scrum.
Join us at 7pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Crusaders $1.20, Chiefs $4.20
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Samuel Whitelock, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Pablo Matera, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo’unga, 11-Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-George Bower, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Mitch Dunshea, 20-Cullen Grace, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-George Bridge
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Angus Ta’avao, 4-Tupou Vaa'i, 5-Brodie Retallick, 6-Kaylum Boshier, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Emoni Narawa
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Tom Florence/Laghlan McWhannell, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Rivez Reihana, 23-Rameka Pohipi
