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Crusaders 17 Highlanders 14
9:01pm
Wow. A scoreless second half has seen the Crusaders come away with a victory, but it's a case of what if for the Highlanders.
Tony Brown's side had more than enough opportunity to win this, but they've ended up on the losing side for the sixth time in a row.
That'll be it for our coverage tonight, thank you for joining us - and until next time!
FULLTIME
The Crusaders have a lineout, but Bryn Hall will play hooker with Klein off.
The throw is shocking, but the Highlanders can't hang on! The Crusaders have it inside the 22.
Hall slows it right down, as Grace and Blackadder both run at the line. The ball goes back to Mo'unga - and the siren goes!
Mo'unga runs back before kicking into touch - the Crusaders have won!
79 mins
Right then. The Highlanders will clear into touch for a lineout into Crusaders territory, and have a lineout against 14 men.
Marshall throws, and Selby-Rickit, but Fakatava is tackled trying to play the ball - before Blackadder wins a penalty!
Have the Crusaders gotten out of jail?
78 mins - RED CARD CRUSADERS
Klein has gotten away with a high shot on de Groot, and is very lucky to not be red carded. The officials have called it accidental, but surely the TMO has to intervene.
De Groot is going off for an HIA, there won't be enough time for him to come back. We will now check for foul play against Klein.
This is a red card, every day of the week. Contact to the head, with the shoulder. It is.
Shilo Klein has been sent off, and the Crusaders will finish with 14 men.
78 mins
Klein throws, but Selby-Rickit wins it!
The Highlanders have the ball in their own half. Fakatava breaks from nowhere, and the Crusaders get back to make the tackle, and force a knock-on.
It looks like Matera's down the damage there.
76 mins
Klein throws, Gallagher wins it. Hall clears with a box kick, and there's a collision in the air but the Highlanders have it.
Gilbert runs and kicks, but it's out on the full!
Crusaders lineout.
75 mins
It feels like a classic schoolyard 'next try wins' here.
Highlanders' scrum, Fakatava feeds, and throws a pass between his legs to Solomona at first receiver.
The Highlanders work towards the left flank, but Reece has won another turnover!
The Crusaders will have a lineout as Mo'unga clears.
74 mins
Crusaders lineout as Mo'unga clears into touch.
Klein throws, and Matera wins it. Mikaele-Tu'u steals it though, and the Highlanders can run.
Frizell breaks upfield, before Fainga'anuku stops him from scoring. They go wide to Paea, before Gregory goes quickly.
They go back to Frizell, but has Jordan won the turnover - no! He's knocked it on!
Highlanders scrum inside the Crusaders half.
71 mins
Hang on. Hunt has cooked his kick, and the Highlanders' chance is gone! The Crusaders will have a scrum instead.
Hall attempts to feed, but the Highlanders give away a free kick. The kick's not out though, and the Highlanders return fire down to Jordan.
Mo'unga puts a bomb up that Dawai wins, as Fakatava puts Josh Dickson away. The Highlanders go wide to Gregory before going the other way to Mikaele-Tu'u.
Ma'u takes the line on, but the Crusaders have turned it over! Reece the hero there.
68 mins
More changes. Shilo Klein replaces Codie Taylor, Folau Fakatava replaces Aaron Smith.
Highlanders lineout, Marshall throws and Evans wins it. They're inside the 22, as Fakatava has a go towards the 5m line.
The Highlanders go wide to Gilbert, but Mo'unga makes the tackle. Advantage for the Highlanders for offside.
Play stops, the Crusaders are warned the next offside is a yellow.
Penalty Highlanders, and they want the lineout rather than the points.
66 mins
Marshall to throw, and Selby-Rickit wins it.
Gregory runs in midfield, before Miakele-Tu'u has a go. Gilbert throws a loose pass that Reece intercepts, but offside is called against Gallagher.
Reece doesn't hear the whistle, and runs away to score, but has to come all the way back.
The Highlanders will have another penalty and lineout.
65 mins
Taylor throws, and Gallagher wins it again as the Crusaders drive.
Taylor peels off the back and attacks the blind side, but Evans is over the top and wins the penalty!
Hunt clears for another lineout.
63 mins
Change for the Crusaders, Pablo Matera is on for Christie.
Hall feeds the scrum. Advantage at the scrum for the Crusaders, as Jordan clears into touch so we come back for the penalty.
Mo'unga clears for a lineout.
62 mins
Withy comes off after his debut, Gareth Evans replaces him.
The Highlanders win their lineout, before Hunt goes to the air where Solomona wins it right on the five-metre line!
Loose ball and the Highlanders are driven back, but they've still got it. Mikaele-Tu'u's dropped it though, but the Crusaders have lost it too.
Double knock on, so we go back for a Crusaders scrum.
61 mins
Highlanders scrum, where de Groot wins a penalty against Tamaiti Williams.
Hunt clears the ball downfield for a Highlanders lineout.
60 mins
Young lock Zach Gallagher comes on for his debut, replacing Quinten Strange.
Gallagher wins the lineout as the first action, and gets it to Blackadder who's tackled into touch.
Highlanders scrum.
59 mins
Highlanders scrum, Smith feeds.
The Highlanders go to the backs where Gilbert clears it.
Crusaders lineout now.
58 mins
Taylor throws and Blackadder wins it. The Crusaders look to use the ball, but Hall's lost it.
That'll be a Highlanders scrum them.
Poor start to the second half, from both teams.
57 mins
Garden-Bachop is off, Denny Solomona comes on for his Highlanders debut.
Taylor throws, and the Crusaders drive and win advantage. Mikaele-Tu'u the culprit as the Crusaders take another lineout.
56 mins
Taylor's throw misses everyone, and Garden-Bachop toes it through the Crusaders line.
The Crusaders return the kick, before Dawai kicks into touch. Crusaders lineout.
55 mins
Highlanders lineout, Marshall to throw his first of the night. Play is stopped as a ball from the crowd is thrown onto the field.
Marshall throws again, but Grace disrupts it as Havili clears to halfway.
Huge boot, but real injustice against the Highlanders after that first lineout was scrapped.
54 mins
Crusaders lineout. Ethan de Groot replaces Lienert-Brown.
Taylor throws, but Havili throws a loose pass that Gilbert snaps it up, or has he? The Crusaders have turned it over before Mo'unga kicks deep for Hunt.
Hunt clears, but we go back for offside against the Crusaders.
53 mins
Hunt looks in a bit of trouble here. We'll have a break as he's treated. Elsewhere, Ennor replaces Bridge and Hall replaces Drummond. Rhys Marshall replaces Makalio for the Highlanders.
Taylor throws and the Crusaders bring it down and drive. Hall looks for the penalty, but gets nothing.
Barrett is taken out by Marshall, and the Crusaders do have a penalty.
52 mins
Mo'unga kicks down to the Highlanders after the penalty. Garden-Bachop kicks and puts his whole team offside, shocker.
The Crusaders spill it though and the Highlanders have it back. Smith box kicks and Paea challenges Mo'unga in the air. Neither win it and the Crusaders have the loose ball.
Drummond box kicks, where Garden-Bachop wins it. The Highlanders go wide, where Mikaele-Tu'u kicks straight to Mo'unga.
Jordan has a run, but Lienert-Brown turns it over. Garden-Bachop throws a cutout pass for Dawai, but he's tackled. Smith goes quickly down the shortside and finds Dawai again, but he's tackled into touch.
Crusaders lineout.
49 mins
Scrum or lineout? Neither. Smith calls for the shot at goal.
Hunt lines it up, but he's missed!
The Crusaders stay ahead!
47 mins
Hunt finds touch, and the Highlanders take the lineout right in the corner. Great kick.
Makalio throws and they go for the drive. The Crusaders defend it but give away advantage.
Frizell has a go, but is stopped so we go back for the penalty.
45 mins
Short delay, but the invaders have been apprehended. Highlanders scrum.
And they run off the back before Hunt switches to the blind side. Gregory is tackled and wins a penalty.
Garden-Bachop has a run, but doesn't get anywhere, so we go back for the penalty.
Meanwhile the Waisake Naholo chant has broken out.
44 mins
The Crusaders win the lineout, before Mo'unga kicks - where Reece knocks on trying to win it.
Highlanders scrum.
Oh hang on, there's a streaker.
Crowds. Are. Back.
43 mins
Taylor throws, Barrett wins it and the Highlanders are called for obstructing the lifter. Lienert-Brown the culprit.
Mo'unga clears for a lineout.
42 mins
Grace wins the kick-off, and the Crusaders bring it under control before Mo'unga goes to the air.
The Crusaders knock it on, and the Highlanders have a go. Smith kicks in behind Reece, as the ball trickles into touch for a lineout in the corner.
41 mins
We're back after halftime, both sides appear to be unchanged after the break.
Mitch Hunt will kick off to start the second half, and he does.
HALFTIME
Crusaders scrum before halftime. Drummond feeds, and the Crusaders have advantage.
They go wide to Bridge's wing, where Smith tackles Fainga'anuku to avoid any danger.
We'll go back for the penalty as the siren goes, and Havili wants a shot at goal from about 55 metres out.
Havili lines up the shot just in from the right touchline.
He's got the power, just not the accuracy.
And that's half time.
39 mins
Crusaders lineout, Taylor throws and Dickson steals it.
Hunt goes to the air, a Jordan beats Paea in the air for the ball. Bridge tries to step through the line, before Drummind box kicks - and Hunt drops it!
Did it go backwards? We're playing on so it must have. Frizell bumps off Christie, before Smith box kicks.
No one can claim it, and the ball bounces into touch, apparently off the Highlanders after a change of decision.
37 mins
Just as an aside, the students have packed in tonight, and it's awesome to see.
Highlanders scrum, Smith feeds and then kicks it miles into touch for a Crusaders lineout.
36 mins
Taylor throws, Blackadder wins it.
The Crusaders are inside the Highlanders half as Jordan goes wide to Reece, before they go back the other way.
Mo'unga puts Blackadder down the left flank, but Drummond knocks on.
Hunt looks to go under advantage, before Smith looks to find Garden-Bachop. He can't hang on, so we go back for the advantage.
Highlanders scrum.
34 mins
Hunt kicks off, less than 10 minutes to half time.
Drummond box kicks down to Gilbert. Lienert-Brown has a run, but Barrett wins a turnover.
Mo'unga clears for a lineout.
32 mins - TRY CRUSADERS
The Crusaders take the lineout on the five-metre line.
Taylor throws and Blackadder wins it as the Crusaders drive. Taylor has the ball at the back, before the Crusaders go to the backs.
Drummond finds Havili, who puts Fainga'anuku away - and he scores! He goes through Withy and holds off Dawai to score to put the Crusaders ahead for the first time tonight!
Mo'unga to convert, and does.
CRU 17 HIG 14
30 mins
The Highlanders give away a free kick at the lineout, so the Crusaders take the scrum.
Drummond feeds, and the Crusaders have advantage. Havili runs as first receiver, before Jordan is taken high.
Another advantage for the Crusaders. Havili looks to put Fainga'anuku away, but the Highlanders defend, so we go back for the penalty.
28 mins
Hunt kicks off, Strange wins it. Drummond box kicks and Gilbert wins it.
The Crusaders turn it over where Jordan clears it down to Hunt. Hunt kicks it back and the Crusaders have it, as Mo'unga kicks it down to Gilbert.
Gilbert passes to Dawai, who can't get rid of it quickly enough, and is taken into touch for a Crusaders lineout.
26 mins - PENALTY CRUSADERS
The Crusaders want the points from the penalty. Right in front, and he lands it.
CRU 10 HIG 14
25 mins
Highlanders scrum, Smith feeds but the front rows collapse. Try again.
Smith feeds again and Mikaele-Tu'u runs off the back, but he's swamped by Grace and Blackadder.
Hohneck hits the line, before Smith clears with a box kick. George Bridge judges it perfectly to take it, before Mo'unga goes crossfield under advantage for offside.
Hunt wins it, so we go back for the penalty.
22 mins
Smith clears into touch from the kick-off, and the Crusaders have a lineout. Taylor throws, Blackadder wins it.
The Crusaders look to use the ball, but Taylor drops it.
Highlanders scrum.
21 mins - TRY HIGHLANDERS
What does Smith want to do here? He takes the lineout as Hunt kicks into touch.
Makalio throws, and the Crusaders stay down to defend the drive. Dawai runs as first receiver, before Frizell has a go.
Hunt delays the pass, before getting it away to Gregory - and he puts him in to score! Brilliant from Mitch Hunt!
Hunt looks to convert, right in front of the posts, and he does.
CRU 7 HIG 14
18 mins
Makalio throws, and Grace knocks it on. That's a five-metre scrum for the Highlanders.
Smith feeds, Dawai stands blind up against Reece. And he goes blind to Dawai, but the Crusaders read it and defend.
Makalio runs at the line before being tackled, as does Mikaele-Tu'u. They go wide to the right through Gilbert, but he's tackled.
Advantage to the Highlanders for offside. Hunt puts a kick through, where Dawai races with Reece to ground it, but the ball goes into touch.
We go back for the penalty.
15 mins
Hunt kicks off, and Grace wins it.
Mo'unga clears downfield to Mikaele-Tu'u, he gets a pass away to Gilbert, who catches the Crusaders out with a kick over the top!
It's a race to the tryline, and Jordan gets there first to run into touch. Highlanders lineout.
14 mins - TRY CRUSADERS
Taylor throws, Blackadder wins it and the Crusaders drive.
Advantage Crusaders as the Highlanders collapse the maul. The Crusaders go wide to Havili, who chips over the top and collects his own kick!
Drummond gets the ball away to Newell, and he's over for a try! We'll just have to check with the TMO for if Havili knocked his own kick on. Aaron Smith is also complaining of shepherding from Fainga'anuku.
No evidence of a knock-on, so the try will stand, and it does.
Mo'unga to convert, and does from in front.
CRU 7 HIG 7
12 mins
Smith feeds, but the front rows come up and we'll have to reset.
Smith goes to feed again, but the Crusaders win a penalty as Hohneck collapses.
Crusaders lineout.
10 mins
Mo'unga kicks off, and Dawai wins it.
Smith returns fire, and it's Dawai v Jordan in the air. And Jordan's dropped it!
That'll be a Highlanders scrum on their 10m line.
9 mins - TRY HIGHLANDERS
Do the Highlanders want the points or the lineout? The lineout. Hunt clears into the corner.
Makalio throws, and goes short to Frizell, who gives it back to Makalio down the short side - and he's over in the right corner!
Makalio scores against his old side, and it's a set piece Tony Brown would be proud of!
Hunt to convert from the right touchline, and he's nailed it!
CRU 0 HIG 7
7 mins
Dickson wins the lineout and the Highlanders have advantage inside the Crusaders' half, Strange is offside.
Hunt kicks and loses possession, so we go back for the penalty.
6 mins
Makalio throws to a short lineout, and the Highlanders attack.
Hunt goes to the air, as Mo'unga claims it and calls mark. Mo'unga kicks down to Hunt at the back, and Hunt returns fire to Jordan.
Jordan kicks deep to Gilbert, Gilbert kicks deep to Fainga'anuku.
Fainga'anuku kicks into touch for a Highlanders lineout.
4 mins
Drummond feeds the first scrum of the night, and goes to Havili as first receiver.
Blackadder takes the ball to the 10m line, before Grace is driven backwards. Jordan picks and goes, but the ball's turned over as the Highlanders kick down to Mo'unga.
Mo'unga kicks back, but his foot was in touch. Highlanders lineout inside Crusaders territory.
2 mins
Taylor's first throw is wayward, and the Highlanders can attack now. Paea makes good metres up towards halfway, but Gregory drops the ball. Crusaders scrum.
Wet conditions underfoot, so expect a few handling errors tonight.
1 min
Dawai fields the kick, before Smith goes to the air with a box kick. Jordan wins the ball in the air and the Crusaders can attack inside the Highlanders' half.
Havili kicks down as far as Hunt at the back, and he returns fire into touch for a lineout.
KICKOFF
We're away as Richie Mo'unga kicks off to start tonight's action.
7:04pm
Scott Barrett leads the Crusaders out onto Orangetheory, and the fans go off to welcome them.
And Aaron Smith does the same for the Highlanders.
Both sides out on the park, kick-off imminent.
7:00pm
Both sets of players are in the sheds for their final preparation, kick off just five minutes away.
6:52pm
A couple of late changes for the Highlanders. Sean Withy comes into the starting side in place of James Lentjes for his Super Rugby debut, and Saula Ma'u takes Jermaine Ainsley's place on the bench.
Here's how they'll line up:
Highlanders: 1-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Josh Hohneck, 4-Bryn Evans, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sean Withy, 8-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 9-Aaron Smith (C), 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Mosese Dawai, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Sam Gilbert, 15-Connor Garden Bachop
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Ethan de Groot, 18-Saula Ma'u, 19-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20-Gareth Evans, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Marty Banks, 23-Denny Solomona
6:30pm
Good evening! A big welcome back to fans tonight, after New Zealand's easing of COVID-19 restrictions. A healthy number of fans - of both sides - are already in the stands, so here's hoping for a few more as we approach kick-off!
There's 30-odd minutes before kick-off, so stick around!
*******
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of this Super Rugby Pacific round seven clash between the Crusaders and Highlanders, from Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch.
Now into the competition's seventh week, only one team across both Australia and New Zealand is yet to record a win - the Highlanders.
The men from the south are zero from their first five matches of 2022, and will have a tough task if they're to notch that first win tonight.
The visitors are coming up against a Crusaders side on a high after their revenge-victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton last week.
Scott Robertson's side are third on the overall table with four wins and one defeat, but only Australia's Brumbies (6-0) and Reds (5-1) sit ahead of the Crusaders in the standings.
And with the two conferences to merge later this month, don't be surprised if the table begins to turn towards Kiwi superiority sooner rather than later.
These two sides have already met once this season, where the Crusaders took a 34-19 victory under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium, back in round two.
TAB odds: Crusaders $1.13, Highlanders $5.25
Teams:
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Scott Barrett (C), 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Mitch Drummond, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-David Havili, 13-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Shilo Klein, 17-George Bower, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Zach Gallagher, 20-Pablo Matera, 21-Bryn Hall, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-Braydon Ennor
Highlanders: 1-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Josh Hohneck, 4-Bryn Evans, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-James Lentjes, 8-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 9-Aaron Smith (C), 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Mosese Dawai, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Sam Gilbert, 15-Connor Garden Bachop
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Ethan de Groot, 18-Jermaine Ainsley, 19-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20-Gareth Evans, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Marty Banks, 23-Denny Solomona
