The Christchurch-based Crusaders maintained their seemingly unstoppable progress towards a ninth Super Rugby title when they overwhelmed the Wellington-based Hurricanes 30-12 in a one-sided semifinal in Wellington yesterday.
Winger George Bridge scored his 15th try of the season, briefly equalling the season record, as the defending and eight-time champions improved their record to 20-0 in home playoffs, reaching the final for the 14th time from 18 semifinal appearances.
Hurricanes winger Ben Lam reclaimed the season try-scoring record at 16 - an all-time high - with the last try of the game, but it was too late to change its outcome.
"It was great. The boys really dug in," Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock said. "We knew it was going to take an 80-minute performance and we were spot on, we didn't give up.
DOMINATED FROM START
"We concentrated all week ... and I was really proud of the boys. They did what they said they were going to do."
While the Crusaders dominated from the start, winning 80% of possession in the first half, the match pivoted on periods of play immediately before and after halftime.
The Crusaders opened an 18-7 lead with tries to Bridge and flyhalf Richie Mo'unga, who also added a conversion and two penalties in the first half.The Hurricanes had the last possession of the first half and, trailing by 11 points, needed to score to keep their hopes alive. But they conceded possession and the teams went to halftime with that margin intact.
That made it imperative the Hurricanes score first in the second half. They had possession again but another error, a botched restart from the 22, gave the Crusaders the chance they needed to make the game safe.
Centre Jack Goodhue made a long run back into the Hurricanes' 22 and linked quickly with All Black captain Kieran Read, who drove the ball towards the line. The Crusaders instantly recycled the ball for scrumhalf Bryn Hall and he found fullback David Havili running into the line at pace to score the try that made the game safe at 25-7.
FLAWED KICKING GAME
The Hurricanes came into the match as underdogs and knowing that, on the evidence of the Crusaders' wins in their last 13 matches, they couldn't afford to make mistakes.
Instead, their handling was poor and they played into the Crusaders' hands with a flawed kicking game. Once the best attacking team in the tournament, the Hurricanes could think of no way to break down the Crusaders defence. All they had was a first-half try to Julian Savea.
The Crusaders were able to absorb the pressure and there was no point of weakness on which the Hurricanes could focus their attack.
The Crusaders were guided to victory by Mo'unga, whose cross-kick created a late try for Braydon Ennor and who kicked four of six shots at goal...