OPINION: While Super Rugby Pacific final provided thrills and heroics across the park, three particular performances stood out - not all for the right reasons.
Shaun Stevenson
He was again at his very best for the Chiefs, scoring tries and setting up tries, and sending a real message to the All Blacks selectors that he should have been included in that original Rugby Championship squad.
That was the sort of performance that will get Shaun Stevenson gametime for the All Blacks during the Rugby Championship, as injury cover.
You can bet coach Ian Foster was taking some pretty sharp notice of Stevenson last night.
Sam Whitelock
One of the other standouts. At the start of the week, he was 50-50 to play and the advice out of the Crusaders was for Whitelock NOT to play with that Achilles injury.
To put in that sort of performance, he was such a key part of that Crusaders pack, such a calming influence and a real key reason they were able to get over the line.
Sam Cane
A disappointing end for Sam Cane. His decision not to front up to the media afterwards was really disappointing.
That was unbecoming of Cane and unbecoming of the All Blacks captain.
Sam Cane is a much better leader than that, and you would expect him to front up in good times and bad.
A disappointing end for Sam Cane, after a disappointing result for the Chiefs.
Ollie Ritchie is Newshub's rugby reporter
