Crusaders again come up short


On Saturday night it was once again a case of close but no cigar for the Crusaders as they agonisingly lost to the Waratahs by one point, and with it a chance to add the ever elusive 8th Super Rugby title to the franchise.

After dismantling the Sharks up front in the Semi final a week earlier, many had predicted that it was inevitable that the Christchurch based team would steam roll the Waratahs in similar fashion.

With a shaky lineout and an up and down scrum, the Crusaders seemed likely to lead from the front, dominate the set piece and live off mistakes from the Waratahs in their first final since 2008.

However it was the home team that responded early and with a vocal 61,000 strong crowd behind them, the momentum was well and truly in the blue corner for the majority of the first half.

The team with very little final's experience, (or big time wins on the international stage for many of their players) were looking like seasoned campaigners, playing off uncharacteristic Crusaders mistakes and using their slick backs to good use, capped off by Adam Ashley-Cooper scoring the first try within the first 5 minutes of the game.

Being on the back of a 14-0 scoreboard the Crusaders fought back, despite loosing Dan Carter to a leg injury before half time, seeing Tom Taylor take the field.

Despite coming out a new team in the second 40, and being the first to score a try courtesy of the flying Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo, it was a dog fight to gain the upper hand.

For Crusaders fans, the finish line was in sight with a Colin Slade penalty in the 73rd minute, taking the lead out to 32-30 and setting up sprint to the end.

Bernard Foley however had other ideas.

Surprisingly to many the Crusaders opted to kick possession back to the Waratahs after securing the kick off as well as stealing another Tahs lineout, giving the home team a chance to take their destiny into their own hands.

A dubious penalty by Richie McCaw in plain sight of referee Craig Joubert was enough to see the Waratahs given a chance to steal victory with 78 minutes up on the clock, right in front, just over 43m out from the goal posts.

Foley, arguably the best Australian number ten in the Super Rugby showed nerves of steel to win the home team their first ever championship title.

Whichever team you were supporting, it was a final for the history books. A close, brutal encounter that once again showed the best of the competition we all know and love.

The big question is now, can the Wallabies use any momentum gained from this victory to have their best chance of winning back the Bledisloe Cup.

A trophy they haven't held in over ten years.

What did you think of the final?

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