SKY SPORT
Crusaders march into Super Rugby final after epic struggle.
Same place, same time next week.
The Crusaders will host the Jaguares in the Super Rugby final next weekend, having edged the Hurricanes 30-26 in their semifinal in Christchurch on Saturday night.
What a thrilling semifinal it was, one which the hosts had to dig mighty deep to bag.
But, on the back of a clutch performance by first-five Richie Mo'unga, who kicked over a penalty goal with seven minutes remaining to give his side a four-point buffer, they stubbornly held on.
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Crusaders wing Sevu Reece scores out wide against the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Mo'unga also nailed a couple of critical conversions from out wide in the win, which ensured the Crusaders will have a shot at winning their 10th title in front of their home fans next weekend.
You'd be a brave man to bet against them making it a three-peat, given they're now 23-0 in home playoff games.
The Hurricanes, who turned in a fine second half, will be filthy TJ Perenara was ruled to have lost the ball forward inside the Crusaders' 22 at the death, given Sam Whitelock made a play at the ball.
Three tries in first 11 minutes of the second half lit a spark under what was a bruising match.
HAGEN HOPKINS/GETTY IMAGES
Crusaders No 8 Kieran Read carts the ball forward against the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Saturday night.
It was frantic stuff, as the teams traded punches - the Hurricanes pulling to with 20-19 inside the last half hour with tries to wing Ben Lam and bruising midfielder Ngani Laumape.
Lam struck first, touching down inside the left-hand corner after Beauden Barrett put Matt Proctor through a gaping hole in the second minute of the half.
As was the story of the second half, the Crusaders hit back immediately through Mo'unga, who ran a Sevu Reece pass under the posts after Hurricanes substitute James Marshall made a hash of a kick.
Back came the Hurricanes, this time through Laumape, who didn't have to contend with Ryan Crotty in the last half hour, after he left with field with a hand injury.
It was Crotty's replacement - Braydon Ennor - who setup the Crusaders' next try, after he flung a peach of a pass wide for Sevu Reece to run in his 15th of the year.
However, the hosts botched the kickoff and Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara darted over near the base of the ruck to make it a one-point game yet again
HAGEN HOPKINS/GETTY IMAGES
Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara was ruled to have knocked on late in the semifinal against the Crusaders but replays show Sam Whitelock appeared to play the ball illegally.
The Hurricanes would have no doubt been content when they jogged into the sheds trailing 13-7.
After all, they spent the majority of the first half defending, much of it deep inside their own half, before they scored a crucial try through Laumape to close out the first 40 minutes.
Moments before Laumape carried a few Crusaders over the line, the hosts sniffed more points after first-five Mo'unga turned the Hurricanes around with a deep kick for wing Sevu Reece to chase.
However, Hurricanes fullback Jordie Barrett did exceptionally well to bolt 60 metres into the Crusaders' 22, before Laumape, having ignored an open man outside him, cut inside and got the visitors on the board.
JOHN DAVIDSON/PHOTOSPORT
Crusaders wing George Bridge is tackled by Beauden Barrett.
It was without a doubt the highlight of the first half for the visitors, who trailed 10-0 after 14 minutes, and 13-0 after Mo'unga slammed over a 34th minute penalty from about 30 metres.
Having hurt the Highlanders with their rolling maul last week, the Crusaders wasted little time uncorking it this week, earning a penalty for Mo'unga to ping over in just the second minute.
It was then time for Reece to nab his competition-leading 14th try of the season, and what a beauty it was.
The Fijian-born was the beneficiary of a sublime Ryan Crotty kick, after the mid-fielder latched onto a George Bridge off-load and spotted acres of space in behind the Hurricanes.
Bridge, who had not long soared above Jonah Lowe to nab a Bryn Hall box-kick, then watched from the other side of the turf as Reece pounced on the kick and touched down out wide.
Crusaders 30 (Sevu Reece 2, Richie Mo'unga tries; Richie Mo'unga 3 pen, 3 con) Hurricanes 26 (Ngani Laumape 2, Ben Lam, TJ Perenara tries; Beauden Barrett 3 con). HT: 13-7
