Blues 21 - 26 Crusaders
FULLTIME: The Crusaders are back on top of the New Zealand Conference with a 26-21 win. Highlights up now in the video above.
80 min: The hooter sounds and the Blues have won another penalty. Francis kicks the late penalty to rescue bonus point for the Blues.
77 min: The Blues win a penalty as the Crusaders scrum collapses. Needing to score twice, West will tee up a penalty to close the gap...and he pushes it wide.
75 min: Mo'unga adds another three to push the Crusaders out to a nice eight-point cushion.
70 min: Handbags have broken out after Piers Francis cleans out Mo'unga after the whistle. The first five-eighth was lying on the ground and got cleaned out by Francis. The referee pings him for it and instead of a Blues scrum the Crusaders will have a shot at goal...Mo'unga nails it! The lead is out to 23-18 for the Crusaders.
69 min: CHANCE! The Crusaders go close again as Crotty slides through a gap. He's dragged down 5m from the line, but the Crusaders knock it on in the following phase. Big chance slips through the fingers.
67 min: And the Blues win a penalty! They are giving themselves every chance of coming away with a win tonight behind a gritty defensive effort.
66 min: Blues once again find their backs against the wall. The Crusaders have an attacking lineout from 5m out, but the Blues remain strong and stop any potential drive. The Crusaders are going right to left trying to find any sort of gap in the Blues...
61 min: TRY CRUSADERS! The visitors needed to find something and a beautiful run from Fonotia sets up Andy Ellis. Fonotia broked the line, threw in a crafty step, then found his halfback who was running a fantastic line. The Crusaders edge back in front 20-18.
58 min: Steven Luatua makes a big tackle on Jimmy Tupou. He stood up him up and managed to hold his own as he took him to ground. Gets you thinking, does Luatua still have a place in the All Blacks side? He's taken the No.8 jersey like a fish to water but will he versatility be enough to earn him a recall?
55 min: Great breakout from Melani Nanai drags the Blues over halfway. The home side are rolling at the moment, trying to pick it up a gear.
50 min: West restores the Blues five-point margin with the boot. Bit of belief in this Blues team now, plenty of high-fives at the lead moves out to 18-13.
Ryan Crotty on the burst (Photosport)
47 min: The Crusaders will take the points, and why wouldn't they? It's a gimme kick for Mo'unga right in front and he closes the gap to 15-13.
46 min: CHANCE! The Crusaders move the ball from the scrum under the posts. There is a heap of bodies in the way and Nadolo attempts to dive over from close-range and he's held up. The referee was playing advantage and he'll come back for the penalty.
45 min: CHANCE! Kieron Fonotia is over the line...but Jerome Kaino is underneath him! He's done fantastic to take him in the tackle as he falls backwards and hold him up. News is Parsons is out for the remainder of the night with a head knock.
43 min: Blues captain James Parsons bangs his head in the ruck and he'll have to go down the tunnel for a concussion test.
42 min: The resulting penalty is hit wide by Mo'unga and the Blues five-point lead remains in tact.
41 min: The Blues start the second half by giving away a quick penalty. Obstruction is called after Duffie goes to clear the ball with the boot and the referee pinged Sam Prattley for getting in the way of a Crusader trying to charge it down.
Halftime: The Blues hold a five-point halftime lead thanks mainly to a strong defensive performance.
39 min: TRY BLUES! George Moala is too big, too strong, and he's over on the stroke of halftime! Moala went straight over the top of David Havili and the Blues snatch the lead back. 15-10.
37 min: And Mo'unga makes no mistake. Crusaders back out in front 10-8.
35 min: Blues have spent much of their night defending an making tackles. Mo'unga opts to mix things up with a kick over the defensive line, and he'll win a penalty after Faumuina obstructed his chase. He'll have the chance to kick the Crusaders back in front.
30 min: The Blues take the lead through a West penalty. Right out in front from about 38m out and he made no mistake. 8-7 lead.
27 min: Crowd giving Nadolo some stick after the big man gives himself some space for a kick, then fluffs it into touch only about 15m up the field.
21 min: A solid defensive showing from the Blues inside their own 22m as they hold the Crusaders back until an error is committed. The crowd appreciated that effort.
17 min: TRY BLUES! Mo'unga's clearance is charged and then Dagg is caught off guard when the ball falls at his feet. He's stripped off possession, the Blues swarm the ball, and it's flicked out wide for Ihaia West to step his way over. He can't convert his own try and it remains 7-5.
15 min: Blues not doing much to keep the ball in hand as Luatua throws a diving pass off the back of the scrum and Billy Guyton hammers it away for a bit of field position.
10 min: TRY CRUSADERS! Nadolo marks his return with a try! Some quick hands close to the line and Read flicks on a short pass for the winger to reach out and score in the corner. Phoar, an impressive conversion from Mo'unga in the corner makes it 7-0.
8 min: CHANCE! Nadolo, under pressure on his own goal line, fakes a kick and steps his way out of trouble. He then finds Israel Dagg and the Crusaders are out and running! The Blues are scrambling across on defense and eventually Tevita Li drags Drummond into touch. An opportunity from nothing but the Blues managed to scramble them into touch after a good 65-ish gain.
3 min: Early mistakes both ways as the Blues knock it on from the resulting lineout. First scrum of the game packs down, which the Crusaders hold, but then they pass it back inside the 22m and kick it out on the full. Sloppy start to match the sloppy conditions.
1 min: We're straight into that Kaino-Taufua battle as the Crusaders man tugs on his opposite number's arm during the lineout and that's the first penalty of the game. West will kick for touch and the Blues will look to get something started.
Kick-off - And the Blues get us underway as the showers start to ease.
7:33pm - Kieran Read, who we all expect to be named All Blacks captain tomorrow, leads out the Crusaders. One last bit of business to take care of before All Blacks duty, and that'll be winning tonight and reclaiming top spot back in the NZ Conference. Plenty of Blues flags about for the hometown side and we're ready to get underway here in Auckland.
7:30pm - You'd have to imagine the All Blacks selectors have made their mind up on their squad, but could tonight's contest shuffle the pecking order? Jerome Kaino and Jordan Taufua will be an interesting contest with the veteran All Black coming up against the hopeful. With Elliot Dixon also in the mix, it's hard to say who'll be handed the jersey for the first Test against Wales on June 11.
7:25pm - The Blues return to action on New Zealand soil after going two-for-three on their road trip to South Africa. Topping the Kings 34-18, the Blues were hammered the following week 43-5 by the Lions and bounced back with a 17-13 win over the Western Force in Perth on the way home. Despite winning six of their 11 matches, the Blues are rooted to the bottom of NZC.
7:23pm - The rain has been hold off for most of the day, but unfortunately the skies have finally opened up and it's pelting down at Eden Park. Knowing Auckland it will be over in ten minutes, but for now it's going to be a rain-soaked affair.
Commentary will start at 7:25pm. In the meantime, click on the video above for a wrap up of Friday night's Super Rugby action.
Blues: 1. Sam Prattley, 2. James Parsons (c), 3. Charlie Faumuina, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Josh Bekhuis, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Kara Pryor, 8. Steven Luatua, 9. Billy Guyton, 10. Ihaia West, 11. Tevita Li, 12. Piers Francis, 13. George Moala, 14. Matt Duffie, 15. Melani Nanai.
Replacements: 16. Quentin MacDonald, 17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18. Sione Mafileo, 19. Hoani Matenga, 20. Jack Ram, 21. Bryn Hall, 22. Male Sa'u, 23. Lolagi Visinia.
Crusaders: 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Scott Barrett, 6. Jordan Taufua, 7. Matt Todd, 8. Kieran Read (C), 9. Mitchell Drummond, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. Nemani Nadolo, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Kieron Fonotia, 14. Johnny McNicholl, 15. Israel Dagg.
Replacements: 16. Ged Robinson, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Mike Alaalatoa, 19. Jimmy Tupou, 20. Tim Boys, 21. Andy Ellis, 22. David Havili, 23. Marty McKenzie.
Head-to-head: Blues $4.25, Crusaders $1.21 (Points start: Crusaders -10.5).
Pre-match banter:
This season one of the Jerome Kaino's biggest challenges is coming from two young bucks, Jordan Taufua and Elliot Dixon.
Kaino admits he's been keeping a keen eye on them.
"You have to, to be able to evolve your game," said the All Black.
"All these young boys bring a different dynamic to how loose forwards play."
Kaino is certainly no mug out-wide, but he says the emerging blindsides are taking things to a whole new level.
"A lot of loose forwards these days are just like midfield backs with the skill set that they have."
Crusaders stand-out Jordan Taufua will line up against him Saturday night at Eden Park.
Giant Crusaders wing Nemani Nadolo will make his Super Rugby return against the Blues after completing a four-week suspension for a dangerous tackle.
His inclusion for fellow Fijian flyer Jone Macilai is one of three changes to the side that started in the 29-10 home win over the Waratahs last weekend.
While Nadolo comes back in, the Crusaders, who sit just one point behind overall competition leaders the Chiefs, will be without experienced lock Sam Whitelock at Eden Park on Saturday night.
The 72-Test All Black picked up a hamstring injury against the Waratahs and has been replaced by Scott Barrett.
Newshub.
