CRUSADERS 20 CHIEFS 7
FULLTIME
80min - Robertson is making his way to the field to many applause from the Crusaders fans. Crusaders just need to win the scrum and find touch and they do! Game over.
78min - Crusdaders just looking to close out the result now, marching their way inside the Chiefs half with their maul. Drummond puts the grubber through but just a few phases later and the Chiefs knock on.
76min - Gatland tries a chip kick inside the Chiefs own 10m and Tupaea does well to pull it in before they clear down field for Jordan to cover.
74min - Strange wins the lineout ball for the Crusaders and now they roll their maul. The Chiefs look to counter on defence but concede another penalty.
72min - Ennor almost slips through after hitting the ball at pace but the Crusaders win the penalty at the breakdown anyway around halfway.
70min - The Crusaders pack put the pressure on at scrum time and win the penalty! Mo'unga will have a shot at goal after a chat with his captain. He hit it well but was always going left.
68min - Chiefs look a little lost what to do with it now. Christie looks close to turning the ball over at the ruck but does enough to pressure Weber into knocking on.
66min - Weber looks to snipe after the ball spilled free from the ruck but the Crusaders defence do well to scramble and force another turnover! They're just so good at picking their spots when to counter on defence,
64min - Another steady scrum as Weber releases Gatland to launch the Chiefs attack. Vaa'i is tackled just a few metres out. Crusaders are rushing out on defence and counter-ruck to win the penalty at the breakdown. Incredible.
62min - Tiatia puts the after-burners on but a brilliant tackle around the ankles keeps him from breaking the line. Crusaders look to force the turnover at the ruck but are penalised.
60min - Chiefs win the lineout ball and are just 5m out after a powerful run by Tupaea. Crusaders looking to counter-ruck and rip the ball free before clearing down field.
58min - Tupaea puts his head down and charges at the Crusaders defence from the Chiefs lineout win. They're just 10m out and the Crusaders are pinged for being offside.
56min - Crusaders looking to play their way out of danger but instead concede the penalty at the breakdown. Barrett blown for holding onto the ball. Gatland finds touch for the Chiefs lineout.
54min - Sam Cane has made his way onto the field as the Chiefs charge into the Crusaders 22m. They shift left and Lowe cuts back inside and is tackled just 5m out. The Chiefs have heaps of space on the right, Tupaea has an open player to his right but fires it over his head into touch! A wasted opportunity.
52min - Chiefs looking to keep it tight, but guilty of trying too much of the same. Crusaders defence front up well and rip the ball free from the carrier for the turnover.
50min - Ioane shows great footwork to find some space up the middle but Jordan drills him. Chiefs just 10m or so from the try line! The ball squirts out of the ruck and the Crusaders clear!
48min - Crusaders do well to number up on defence with one less player. Gatland does well and puts his support runner in half a gap.
46min - Another steady scrum and the ref yells use! Gus Sowakula looks to pick up from his bootlaces but can't do so and instead knocks on for the Crusaders to clear.
44min - A steady scrum shown by both sides before Weber finally takes it out. Gatland sees space and kicks for his winger to chase but Jordan's there to gather and take it inside his own try line for the Chiefs put-in just 5m out.
42min - We're back underway and the Crusaders fumble the kick-of take but do well to regather. Bower is crunched in the tackle and the clearing kick has gone straight up in the air for the Chiefs to counter. We'll come back for a Crusaders knock on.
HALFTIME
40min - Chiefs guilty of going across field a bit too much but they're inside the Crusaders 22m now as they look to now keep it tight with their forwards. Tupaea beats a couple and is just a metre out! They try a cutout pass of their own but Fainga'anuku leaps and intercepts! Mo'unga finds touch and that's halftime!
38min - Chiefs win the penalty just inside the Crusaders half, and it's Gallagher again that's pinged, this time at the breakdown.
36min - CRUSADERS TRY GRACE
Mo'unga shows the ball and sells the Chiefs for the dummy and he's away! He somehow finds Bower in support with a pass out of the back of the hand and he's tackled just a couple of metres out! They have a huge overlap on the right and Mo'unga finds Grace and he's over for his second try. Crusaders at their counter-attacking best!
34min - Chiefs look to launch their maul from their lineout win and force the penalty. Gallagher the guilty party this time around.
32min - Uh oh, Matera could be in REAL trouble here. We're having a look upstairs for a potential foul play. Matera made contact with Gatland's head with his shoulder. He's already on a yellow card! And he's gone! Matera is shown his second yellow card and his night is over.
32min - Late replacement lock for the game, Gallagher can't take in Taylor's throw from the lineout and knocks on and the Chiefs can breathe. Robertson not happy in the coaching box.
30min - Crusaders already into the Chiefs 22m after Havili intercepted a Chiefs pass. Gatland is penalised for a high tackle the Mo'unga will look for touch for the lineout.
28min - CHIEFS TRY TA'AVAO
Chiefs looking to strike right back and are quickly inside the Crusaders 22m. Chiefs keeping it tight, trying to bust their way up with their forwards. They're now just 5m out and switch right to Lowe and he's stopped just a metre from the line. Ta'avao puts his head down, charges and he's over for the try! Chiefs right back in this.
24min - CRUSADERS TRY GRACE
Grace coud be in for the try here! We're going to the TMO. The big number eight picked the ball up from the back of the scrum, charged the line and was tackled short but put the arm out and JUST manages to find the chalk. And it's given!
22min - Crusaders scrum do well to hold the Chiefs with just seven men packed down. Chiefs look to go wide but spill the ball and Reece kicks down field for Jordan to chase and he tackles Weber over the try line to force the scrum. Brilliant from the Crusaders.
20min - Weber just manages to get the ball out of the scrum and finds Gatland. Chiefs just a few metres out as Gus Sowakula has another lunge at the try line. Another penalty now, this time for no-clean release and Matera is shown a yellow card!
18min - Chiefs force another penalty and this time they play with the advantage. Gatland puts the kick through but the Crusaders scramble well to contain. Ref having a stern word with Barrett now for the series of penalties.
16min - Chiefs scrum looking solid again and force another penalty! Crusaders are under some real pressure here. We'll have another scrum! They're just 5m out.
14min - Chiefs again right on the Crusaders try line and are looking to bash their way over with their forwards. They're keeping it tight and win another penalty for offside.
12min - Chiefs showing great patience and ball control, driving their way up towards the Crusaders 22m. The finally do go wide and there's space! Lowe is stopped just a metre out. Gatland throws a WIDE pass to Gus Sowakula, he steps inside and he's over the line! But did he ground it? No, he's lost it over the line! We'll come back for the penalty.
10min - Mo'unga kicks LONG and Gatland drops it, but backwards. Chiefs looking to hit back and win the penalty after a Crusaders player was adjudged offside.
8min - CRUSADERS PENALTY MO'UNGA
Matera has gone down in a heap after copping a shoulder from Tupaea but the Argentine was slipping. We'e going to the TMO! Matera's knee was almost touching the turf before Tupaea made contact but it doesn't matter, he's been show a yellow card. Harsh. Mo'unga slots another three from the resulting penalty.
8min - Mo'unga does well to field the kick and runs across field before finally being tackled. Jordan goes long with the kick and Gatland's return can only find touch about 30m from the Chiefs try line.
6min - CRUSADERS PENALTY MO'UNGA
Jordan beats another first tackle as the Crusaders power their way towards the Chiefs 22m. Jacobson looks to be over the ball for the turnover but is penalised instead. Mo'unga will have a shot at three and he makes no mistake.
4min - A steady first scrum for both sides. Chiefs looking to exit through their fowards and work their way up to the 22m but Ta'avao drops the pill and the Crusaders will have a great attacking chance.
2min - Mo'unga gets underway with the kick-off! Gatland fields before finding his forward to take it into contact. Gatland gets it back before clearing to Jordan to run it back and he beats a couple of would-be-tacklers.
The Chiefs now make their way onto the paddock. Should be a tight affair, especially with the weather turning to custard.
Huge blow for the Crusaders with veteran lock Sam Whitelock a late exclusion from their team with a finger injury.
We're just minutes away from kick-off! Scott Barrett leads the Crusaders onto the field. It's absolutely terrible conditions in Christchurch, with heavy rain and strong wind.
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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of this Super Rugby Pacific semi-final between the Crusaders and Chiefs from Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium.
Both teams are coming off convincing quarter-final wins over their Australian counterparts, with the Crusaders putting the Reds to the sword, and the Chiefs steamrolling the Waratahs.
But the Crusaders will have to do without star flanker, Ethan Blackadder who has been ruled out for the rest of the year with a shoulder injury. Tom Christie has been tasked with filling the void.
The clash will also mark Crusaders coach Scott Robertson's 100th in charge, with a record of 83 wins.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs have welcomed back the return of All Blacks captain Sam Cane, but he will have to wait for his opportunity from the bench.
Josh Ioane moves to fullback in the only change to Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan's starting XV that bested the Waratahs, replacing Emoni Narawa.
TAB odds: Crusaders $1.27, Chiefs $3.50
Teams
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Zach Gallagher, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlisters, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Quin Strange, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Braydon Ennor, 23-George Bridge
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Angus Ta’avao, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Luke Jacobson, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber (c), 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Jonah Lowe, 15-Josh Ioane
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Sam Cane, 21-Xavier Roe, 22-Rameka Poihipi, 23-Chase Tiatia
Crusaders' Tom Christie ready to fill Ethan Blackadder's boots against Chiefs
Tom Christie is ready to fill the large void left behind star Crusaders back-rower, Ethan Blackadder for their Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Chiefs on Friday.
Christie's opportunity comes after Blackadder dislocated his shoulder in their knockout win over the Reds, which prematurely ended the All Black's season with the perennial title contenders.
Blackadder has been integral to the Crusaders' campaign and was voted player of the year at their annual awards evening.
But Christie is relishing the chance to fill the large boots of his teammate, and in particular, his head-to-head clash with Sam Cane, should the All Black make an appearance from the bench.
"You never want to see one of your mates get injured," said Christie. "Ethan's a huge part of this team so it is bittersweet, but it does bring opportunity as well.
"That's the nature of rugby sometimes - you never know when the opportunity is going to come or how it's going to come.
"To be starting in the semi-final is a great opportunity, so I'm looking forward to it, walking towards it and ready to attack this weekend.
"You always want to be playing the best and that's the true test of how good of a rugby player you are. You never want to go out there and face a second-strength team, you want to be playing their best team, then we can really earn it and get the job done that way."
The fixture will also serve as Crusaders coaches, Scott Robertson and Jason Ryan's 100th game in charge of the Christchurch outfit.
Christie heaped praise on the pair, and believes his success can be put down to their work with him on and off the field, which has been evident in the lead up to their match against the Chiefs.
"I'm incredibly lucky that my entire Crusaders career has been both under Razor and Jase. I wouldn't be the rugby player I am now without the coaching of those two," he said.
"They've both got amazing ability to coach and teach others, I am pretty fortunate the way my career has worked out.
"It's good to play New Zealand teams again, we've become accustomed to it the last couple of years. We know we can expect anything, they're going to throw something different and something we're not expecting.
"It's a matter of doing the best preparation as we can, coming up with a plan and then going out there and executing it.
Robertson echoed Christie's comments and admits their 24-21 loss to the Chiefs in March has been resonating within the camp all week.
"It's a firm reminder that a team like that on their day can test anyone," said Robertson. "Any Kiwi team can effectively have their moments that can change games. We've reminded each other from the last game.
"You've got to play everyone and you've got to beat everyone. Whoever is next week is next week and that's the great thing about finals footy.
"There's always a little bit of deep sighing moments. 'Have you done enough?' 'Have you prepared the boys well enough?'. My mind goes pretty deep anyway but probably more than others.
"I think the Queensland game on the weekend was physical enough as a reminder. They treated it as an Origin match and it felt like that. It was much more physical than the week before."
