By James Bennett
There can be only one… New Zealand team in the Super Rugby 2012 final that is, and tonight at the end of 80 minutes we’ll know who will face either the Sharks or the Stormers if the final.
The Crusaders have found form of at the back end of the season, while the Chiefs will be looking to turn around the 28-21 loss the team from Canterbury two weeks ago.
Waikato Stadium will be packed to the rafters in an effort to lift their side across the line.
Refresh your browser to see if we’ve added more of the action that we take live, streaming written updates along with all the video action as it occurs in the form of highlight clips. We’ll warn you with a VIDEO COMING and VIDEO UP when new footage has been added to the video player.
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LIVE COMMENTARY… Chiefs 20 – 17 Crusaders
80 mins - TIME UP, THE GAME IS OVER! CHIEFS WIN AND ARE IN THE FINAL.
80 mins - Time is up but the Crusaders are trying to work into drop kick range, they have gone backwards....Long way to go now...
77 mins - Short from Carter! That never happens from 40 odd metres! We are scrumming 30 metres out.
76 mins - PENALTY! Crusaders have a kickable chance after Clarke was offside at the ruck.
73 mins - A series of free kicks to the Crusaders, they opt for the scrum both times...We are bang on halfway, this is tight.
71 mins - Harsh obstruction call against the Crusaders, play moves to midfield and we will have another scrum, Chiefs ball. Time running out.
68 mins - Aww so close from Cruden! He hits the crossbar, another metre and he would've had it.
67 mins - Once again another passage of play where the ball changes hands several times... Eventually the Crusaders are put in poor position and Guildford throws an awful pass. Penalty Chiefs and Cruden to have a long range crack.
64 mins - Chiefs, here they come...Attacking position 25m out. This half has been very tit for tat, a lot of possession changing hands.
60 mins - PENALTY! Against the feeding side again... Presents Carter with a tough chance for goal, 30m out just in from touch.
58 mins - Chance for the Crusaders to get some position, a penalty works them down to the 10m line Chiefs side...Here come the red and blacks, blowout, obstruction at the lineout and it's a Chiefs scrum.
56 mins - A couple of fairly average kicks from both sides...Ends in a clearance ball from the Crusaders and the home side will feed an attacking lineout...
54 mins - Fruean tries to get on the outside of his man, he throws a loose ball that is eventually called forward.. Unlucky he could have set the outsides away there... Scrum, Chiefs ball.
51 mins - A couple of technical problems there folks but we are back up and running... All you missed - a penalty each way...Mixed start to the half from both sides. A real mix.
40 mins - TRY Crusaders on the stroke of halftime...They bust it up the middle though the forwards...then stretch the Chiefs backs, numbers the winner and Ryan Crotty slides over. Carter can't convert it from a handy angle...Video up of all the first half action.
39 mins - Great passage of play involving several hacks down field from the Chiefs comes to nothing as one of the chasers was offside...Enough of that though because...
37 mins - Nothing really comes from a chat with assistant ref Kaplan, 'settle down boys the party line', Crusaders get the scrum. Not long till halftime, they will want points.
35 mins - Crusaders struggling to make headway here, Chiefs are defending well... Eventually they pick up a penalty and kick down field. From the lineout drive there's a bit of a scuffle and play is stopped...
32 mins - Robinson with a massive break up the middle...Sparks the attack, then it's SBW and he finds his mate Liam Messam who dots down for the five pointer. Cruden converts and the Chiefs are looking good.
30 mins - Aww penalty against the feed, Tight head pinged for dragging it down. Easy kick for Carter and he makes no mistake, Crusaders stay in touch.
28 mins - Chiefs look to work out of their own half but a Robinson knock on halts progress...Red and Black attack looks sloppy and a knock on hands the ball back to the home side.
26 mins - Break through SBW up the middle, Chiefs on fire. From the resulting ruck Taumalolo goes over the line and has claimed the try, we are going upstairs...IT'S A TRY! TMO says that was fine, hard to tell but judge for yourself, video up.
25 mins - Cruden has another penalty attempt but doesn't strike it very well. Misses to the right. Territory and possession in Chefs favour.
22 mins - Huge break Messam! He makes massive metres and has Sonny Bill on his shoulder...Play breaks down though, Crotty gets in the way and once again the Crusaders scramble away. Chiefs really are on top in this one.
20 mins - More than 11 phases for the Chiefs, plenty of pressure, Cruden making himself known...They go to the backs and lose it, Andy Ellis clears for the Crusaders.
18 mins - Cruden strikes the penalty well but just doesn't have the legs... Crusades clear from their line through Dagg.More Chiefs pressure coming.
15 mins - Luke Romano has come to the sideline with a shoulder injury, big loss for the visitors...Penalty goes to the Chiefs, and Cruden is going to have a long range shot. Check out the video for the early push and shove as well as the early action.
13 mins - Looks like the Chiefs are targeting McCaw tonight! Carter comes in and nails the three pointer to level things up.
10 mins - Teams looking to give the ball some air, Crusaders in possession now, the red and black machine starting to rumble. Penalty. This is kickable for Carter and he'll have a shot.
6 mins - Penalty Crusaders at lineout time, a bit of push and shove in this one early...Carter kicks down town and we have a red and black lineout on the 22m. Knock on Crusaders and wow there's a lot of aggression, more push and shove.
1 min - Fast early passage of play end in the Chiefs picking up a penalty and Cruden nailing the penalty kick, good start for the home side.
Live rugby is not far away so in the meantime watch the highlights of the last time these two teams met.
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Pregame banter
The Crusaders expect the Chiefs to have stewed over their forward pack's trouncing the last time the teams met when they clash in tonight’s Super Rugby semi-final.
It's less than three weeks since the same teams met at the same Waikato Stadium venue, where the Crusaders won 28-21 - a scoreline that didn't reflect the dominance of their forward pack.
The Chiefs pack struggled for parity at scrum time and were blitzed in the lineouts by the All Blacks-laden Crusaders forwards.
Crusaders halfback Andy Ellis anticipated that won't have be forgotten - comparing it with his own team's reaction after scrum difficulties in the third round match between the sides in Napier in March.
"That never left the minds of some of our guys until we played them again," Ellis says.
"Their (Chiefs) focus will no doubt be on the set piece. They will work hard on their lineout, I've got no doubt they'll go well there too. You get what you put in and what you're focused on."
Ellis said control of the set pieces and collision at the tackle were vital parts of playoff rugby.
The Crusaders pack gave the No.9 a dream ride in Saturday's 15-point defeat of the Bulls in Christchurch.
"If the backs are going to strike, they need good set piece ball.
"Against the Bulls, (first five-eighth) Dan Carter had time to make some really good decisions to get us playing at the right end of the park.
"Likewise, if you disrupt opposition ball, it's just so hard to get the flow."
Ellis remained wary of Carter's opposition number, Aaron Cruden, saying the Chiefs playmaker had enjoyed an excellent campaign.
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source: newshub archive
