CRUSADERS 37 BRUMBIES 26
Crusaders: Taylor, Reece, Hall, Jordan tries
Brumbies: Simone x2, Fainga'a, Wright tries
FULLTIME
80th minute - Brumbies with one last effort to at least secure the losing bonus point. Lonergan bizarrely kicks the ball but with no chase, it's an easy clean up for the Crusaders and they kick the ball out to end the game.
79th minute - Simone goes right through the Crusaders defence! He's struggling to find support though, before linking up with Fainga'a. The Brumbies look good to score again but the lose the ball at the breakdown and the Crusaders can breathe again.
78th minute - Crusaders concede another penalty and the ref warns Barrett. Brumbies just a metre out as they go through their forwards but the ball comes out and Reece clears!
76th minute - A break from Banks has the Brumbies just 5m out from the try line. The Crusaders are under all sorts of pressure and concede the penalty at the breakdown. We'll have a lineout just 5m out.
74th minute - Brumbies playing with bit more energy now, and the fans are sounding their appreciation. Crusaders concede the penalty the Brumbies have a lineout insidet their half.
72nd minute - TRY BRUMBIES to Tom Wright
Jordan runs across field, tries to find support but instead passes it right to Wright! The winger only has Mo'unga to beat, and runs back inside before going right again to crash over for the try. Great footwork from Wright.
70th minute - Both teams making a few changes now. Brumbies have the lineout throw with Fainga'a taking his time. The throw finally goes up and the Crusaders knock the ball on.
68th minute - Crusaders peppering the Brumbies try line once again as Matera makes yet another good run, he's been immense this game. Williams looks to go over and the ref rules he's held up and the Brumbies will have the drop out.
66th minute - CRUSADERS TRY to Will Jordan
Crusaders forwards rumbling their way towards the try line. Havili makes a thumping run and somehow gets the ball away to Will Jordan who goes in untouched for the try. Great play from Havili to find the flyer. Mo'unga converts yet again.
64th minute - Brumbies look to make the exit from the Crusaders kick-off but fluff it and concede the scrum inside their own 22m. Their coach looks livid.
62nd minute - BRUMBIES TRY to Folau Fainga'a
Mo'unga doesn't find touch as far as he'd like and the Brumbies have a lineout inside the Crusaders 22m. Ikitau makes a strong run after the lineout. They shift right to Fainga'a and he's too big from so close and he crashes over for the try.
60th minute - Fainga'a goes close to crashing over but the Crusaders do well to keep him out. The Brumbies shift right to Wright but he knocks on and the Crusaders will have the scrum.
58th minute - Brumbies win the penalty immediately from the kick-off just 20m out. Banks finds touch for the lineout and the Brumbies have a great chance to hit right back.
56th minute - CRUSADERS TRY to Bryn Hall
A strong Crusaders scrum sees Goodhue make a great run up the middle before linking up with Jordan. They're just a metre out! Hall reaches for the line and scores the try! Mo'unga makes no mistake with the conversion - he's 6/6 tonight.
54th minute - Havili puts up the kick and Banks knocks on and now the Crusaders can counter. A poor pass results in another loose ball but we'll come back for the scrum for the previous one.
52nd minute - Brumbies putting together some phases and are just 5 metres out. Matera makes a huge hit or push even and the Brumbies concede penalty at the ruck. Commentators aren't too happy with it.
50th minute - Brumbies on the attack again! This time Ikitau makes a good run and the under-pressure Crusaders concede the penalty. Brumbies kick for the corner.
48th minute - TRY BRUMBIES to Irae Simone
Some clever play from the lineout and the Brumbies are just a few metres out. Simone runs a beautiful line and White finds him at pace and he crashes over for his second try. Conversion is good and the Brumbies make a great start to the second half.
46th minute - Goodhue tries to find a support runner with a pass from out the back of the hand but can't link up. Crusaders then concede the penalty and Brumbies kick for the corner.
44th minute - Crusaders stringing together phases now and are near the Brumbies 22m. Visitors defence looking well organised though and win the penalty at the breakdown!
42nd minute - We're back underway as Mo'unga kicks deep for White to return up towards halfway for the Crusaders lineout.
HALFTIME
40th minute - Crusaders looking to run out the clock, going through their forwards as we approach halftime. Hooter sounds and the Crusaders put the ball into touch.
38th minute - Terrible throw-in from Taylor but it somehow works for the Crusaders. Brumbies struggling to number up and the Crusaders are given the penalty. Mo'unga slots his third penalty goal of the match.
36th minute - The Brumbies this time are guilty of infringing and the Crusaders are on the attack. Mo'unga goes high with the kick and Jordan is deemed to have knocked on after a collision with Banks in the air.
34th minute - This time the Brumbies complete the lineout and begin to march their maul towards halfway. The Crusaders buckle and concede the penalty.
32nd minute - Brumbies really struggling to put their phases together as they knock the ball on from the lineout for the Crusaders put-in.
30th minute - Wright makes a great break down the right wing for the Brumbies and the home fans finally come alive! A Crusaders player is deemed to have gone off their feet at the breakdown and the Brumbies will kick for the corner,
28th minute - Mo'unga makes no mistake and slots the easy penalty goal to extend the Crusaders lead. Clinical performance so far from the Kiwi team.
26th minute - Jordan puts the chip through following the scrum and the Crusaders are playing with the penalty advantage. Referee Angus Gardner calls it back and Mo'unga will have another shot at goal for three.
24th minute - Will Jordan goes long with the kick and Simone fluffs the ball without any pressure and gives the Crusaders a scrum near the Brumbies 22m. Few heads down for the home team.
22nd minute - The Crusaders win the scrum penalty after a powerful push but Mo'unga fails to find touch as the Brumbies work their way towards the Crusaders 22m.
20th minute - Samu and Iona link up well and the first-five slices through the Crusaders defence! The Brumbies are just 10m out but a knock-on puts an end to the attack.
18th minute - Crusaders putting a few phases together, forcing the Brumbies to concede a penalty and Mo'unga slots the kick over from right in front to extend the lead.
16th minute - Codie Taylor is getting amongst it again and takes the quick tap! The Crusaders force a poor kick from Tom Wright and earn a lineout near the Brumbies 22m.
14th minute - TRY CRUSADERS to Sevu Reece
Codie Taylor puts the grubber through which causes some confusion at the back for the Brumbies as Rodney Iona doesn't commit, allowing Reece to grab the bounce and score.
12th minute - Havili clears long to Banks who puts up the high ball but it goes straight into touch and the Crusaders will have the lineout on the Brumbies 10m.
10th minute - Sevu Reece beats a couple of players as the Crusaders show good hands down left wing before conceding the penalty at the breakdown.
8th minute - TRY CRUSADERS to Codie Taylor
Will Jordan shows some beauitful feet before finding Sevu Reece who goes close in the corner. The Brumbies turn the ball over but their ball is charged down as the Crusaders attack right in front of the line. Matera goes close before Codie Taylor crashes over for the try.
6th minute - Cullen Grace and Pablo Matera make a couple of solid runs before the Crusaders earn the penalty around half way.
4th minute - BRUMBIES TRY to Irae Simone
Brumbies are peppering the Crusaders try line after a strong run from Len Ikitau. Crusaders in fringe at ruck and the Brumbies kick for the corner.
The Brumbies put some nice passes together and Irae Simone spins out of a couple of tackles and reaches out to score the try.
2nd minute - A nervy start from the Crusaders as the fumble the kick-off before clearing up towards their own 10m.
9:44pm - We're just about ready for kick-off. Weather is pretty steady and there's a decent turnout here for this clash.
9:42pm - The high-flying Crusaders make their way onto the field.
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Kia ora and welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific showdown between the Crusaders and ACT Brumbies at Canberra's GIO Stadium.
The Crusaders are coming off a resounding victory over Western Force and a win tonight could see them leapfrog their opponents into second place on the table.
Meanwhile, the Brumbies are undefeated against Kiwi opposition this season, with their last three wins coming over the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders.
A win again for them tonight would see them overtake the Blues, who face Queensland Reds on Saturday.
TAB odds: Crusaders $1.42, Brumbies $2.70
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Scott Barrett , 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Ethan Blackadder, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-David Havili, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Jackson, 17-Finlay Brewis, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Liam Hallam-Eames, 20-Tom Christie, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Braydon Ennor, 23-Leicester Fainga'anuku
Brumbies: 1-James Slipper, 2- Lachlan Lonergan, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 4-Darcy Swain, 5-Cadeyrn Neville, 6-Tom Hooper, 7-Jahrome Brown, 8- Pete Samu, 9-Nic White, 10-Rodney Iona, 11-Andy Muirhead, 12-Irae Simone, 13-Len Ikitau, 14-Tom Wright, 15-Tom Banks
Reserves: 16-Folau Fainga’a, 17-Scott Sio, 18-Tom Ross, 19-Nick Frost, 20-Luke Reimer, 21-Rory Scott, 22-Ryan Lonergan, 23-Ollie Sapsford
Crusaders out to snap Brumbies' unbeaten NZ streak, clinch home playoffs
The Crusaders realise the magnitude of their clash with high-flying ACT Brumbies this weekend.
A bonus-point win would move the Crusaders into second spot on the ladder and - crucially - set them up to play at home during the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs.
"Some round robin games are bigger than normal," said coach Scott Robertson. "When it's coming down to the pointy end, we understand this is currently No.2 and No.3 on the ladder.
"It's pretty simple the equation around the result."
But a win of any sort against the Brumbies has proven too tall an order for Kiwi opposition this season, with the Canberra-based side unbeaten against NZ teams.
"We're well aware of what's gone before and the way they're performing at the moment," said Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor. "They have huge emphasis on the physical game.
Following their shock loss to the Waratahs, the Crusaders found their feet at Perth with a win over the Force, but Robertson knows a hostile home crowd in Canberra won't let them have it their own way
"We want the Viking clap," said Robertson. "That's what we need a bit of hype, get a few [Canberra] Raiders fans in there."
Robertson may want to be careful what he wishes for, as the Brumbies eye four wins on the bounce over Kiwi opposition.
