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Crusaders 39 Chiefs 17
Crusaders - Fainga'anuku, Douglas, Dunshea & Jordan tries; penalty try; Mo'unga 2 penalties & 2 conversions, Burke conversion
Chiefs - McKenzie & Nanai-Seturo tries; McKenzie penalty & 2 conversions
Clinical display by the Crusaders, who scored some sublime tries, including a spectacular effort by Fainga’anuku in the corner.
The Chiefs have now equalled the longest losing streak by an NZ Super Rugby side and must avoid outright possession of that record against the Hurricanes next week.
Second half
40th minute - Crusaders have one last chance to add to their score, but their attack breaks down a couple of metres short and the Chiefs play out the final seconds.
They build one last attack, aided by a flurry of penalties. The game ends with a Crusaders knock-on.
39th minute - From the atttacking lineout, Crusaders forwards roll towards the line, but Burkes kick rolls dead.
38th minute - From a breakdown, Reece chips the ball towards the line, but Chiefs are penalised and Burke kicks for the corner.
36th minute - Crusaders turn the ball over in Chiefs territory and earn a scrum.
33rd minute - TRY to Nanai-Seturo
Crusaders are penalised near their own line and Chiefs move it right, where McKenzie gives his winger some space and he uses Stevenson as a decoy to cross. McKenzie converts, Crusaders 39-17
32nd minute - Chiefs on attack now, seaching for a consolation try. Tahuriorangi chips over the line, but Jordan wins the race.
29th minute - TRY to Dunshea
Crusaders forwards pound at the goal-line and playing under advantage. Reece is cut down out wide, but the ball is recycled, Jordan goes close and eventually the giant lock crosses untouched near the right corner.
Burke's conversion follows McKenzie's trajectory from earlier, heading left, then bending between the posts. Crusdaers 39-10
27th minute - From another attacking penalty, Burke kicks to the corner for another attacking lineout.
26th minute - From a scrum in their own half, Hall switches the ball to the left and Fainga’anuku kicks behind the goal-line.
McKenzie and Havili chase the ball over the deadball-line, but Havili bats it back and there's a scramble for a possible try. Replays show Havili was well over the line when he touched the ball.
25th minute - Plenty of subs on now, but the Chiefs knock on on halfway. Mo'unga exits to a standing ovation, replaced by Burke.
23rd minute - TRY to Douglas
Phase after phase, about 14 in all, before Christie slips a ball to McAlister and eventually Douglas crashes through the last line of defence toscore. Amazing continuity.
Mo'unga converts. Crusaders 32-10
21st minute - Chiefs defence doing well to keep the Crusaders out here.
20th minute - Slater tries to charge down a Hall pass from the breakdown, but is called for offside. Mo'unga finds the corner and another try looms...
19th minute - Another lineout drive, another Mo'unga dart. This is death by a thousand papercuts.
18th minute - Another scrum, another Crusaders shove... another penalty against the Chiefs and another kick to the sideline.
15th minute - TRY to Jordan
Fainga’anuku joins the lineout and when Whitelock wins the ball, he finds his winger running off the back. Jordan runs a perfect line off Fainga’anuku.
Mo'unga converts, Crusaders 25-10
Weber is back on the field and Chase Tiatia replaces Gatland, with McKenzie moving to first-five, no doubt.
14th minute - Crusaders earn another penalty, when the Chiefs fail to release in the tackle. Mo'unga finds touch inside the 22.
13th minute - Taylor leaves the field, replaced by Brodie McAlister. Chiefs also replace Taukei'aho with Slater.
12th minute - Mo'unga befuddles the midfield defence, but Jordan hangs onto the ball, instead of feeding Fainga’anuku.
When the ball goes right, Hall misses Reece with a long pass that goes into touch.
10th minute - Crusaders predictably put the weight on in the scrum and win a penalty. Mo'unga kicks to the corner - another lineout try coming here.
Ninth minute - Chiefs offend at the scrum, with Weber off and McKenzie due to put the ball in. Crusaders have a free kick in centrefield, but they call for another scrum.
Eighth minute - Crusaders building phases into Chiefs territory, but Taylor loses the ball in a tackle.
Sixth minute - Goodhue sends Reece loose down the right touchline and he finds Drummond steaming up in support with a long pass... which looked well forward.
TMO is reviewing the pass...
Replays show the pass went forward, so no try.
Drummond is off, replaced by Bryn Hall. Joe Moody and Mitch Dunshea join the action for the Crusaders.
Fourth minute - Fainga’anuku is held up over the line, after another punishing Mo'unga break falls just short.
Dolan wants to check a few things, including a Chiefs captain's challenge for a forward pass.
Replays show Mo'unga's pass was deflected forwards by Weber. Now Dolan is checking for a try to Fainga’anuku or a penalty try for Weber being offside.
No evidence of a try, but Weber is offside, so...
PENALTY TRY to Chiefs
And Weber is shown a yellow card. Crusaders 18-10
Further replays show Weber didn't actually make contact with the ball when it deflected - he knocked Mo'unga's wrist as he released the pass.
Third minute - Ross and Ah Kuoi come off the Chiefs bench, Lord's debut is over and O'Neill is the front-rower gone.
Second minute - Phase after phase, until Mo'unga takes a gap and finds Christie down the left, but the Chiefs defence earns a clearing penalty.
First minute - Goodhue makes ground down the left touchline. Jordan tries to find a way through midfield.
Kickoff - Anton Lienert-Brown has come off the bench for the Chiefs, replacing Sean Wainui.
Crusaders now have that big tailwind and Mo'unga kicks off.
First half
40th minute - McKenzie lines up a big kick from halfway to end the half. Again, has the legs, but drifts left.
Crusaders head for the sheds with a one-point edge.
39th minute - Jacobson surges up the middle and earns advantage near halfway.
38th minute - Vai'i does steal the ball at the breakdown to stifle another Crusaders attack.
37th minute - From the lineout, Taylor bustles towards the tryline, but Jacobson steals the ball for the Chiefs, who clear outside their 22.
36th minute - Chiefs contesting the breakdown in midfield and Cane seems to have stolen the ball, but they're pinged again. Mo'unga kicks to the corner.
35th minute - Chiefs penalised at the scrum and Mo'unga kicks deep for an attacking lineout.
34th minute - Chiefs throw to the lineout, but Barrett steals it and earns a scrum.
32nd minute - Dolan needs to reset the scrum and eventually, the Crusaders lose the ball and Weber clears.
Dolan's not happy, calls Weber offside - he looks OK, so rough call.
Mo'unga slots the penalty. Crusaders 11-10
30th minute - Jordan bounces off a few tackles, Mo'unga shows speed down the right, but ignores Reece on the wing and turns back infield.
Chiefs are penalised and are warned for persistent offending. Next one is a card.
Crusaders take an attacking scrum about eight metres out.
29th minute - Crusaders win a lineout near halfway and surge into Chiefs territory.
28th minute - From the kickoff, Tupaea is pinged for offside and Crusaders get a clearing penalty.
27th minute - Mo'unga lines up the posts and slots the kick. Chiefs 10-8
26th minute - Crusaders surge onto attack and ref playing more advantage. Chiefs backline offside right in front of the posts.
24th minute - Douglas rises high for the lineout ball and Alaalatoa lunges for the line, but he's held up. Chiefs have a goal-line dropout that clears halfway.
23rd minute - Douglas runs off the back of the midfield scrum and Dolan has them under advantage.
Mo'unga kicks through, tidied by the Chiefs, but they come back for the penalty and Mo'unga kicks to the corner.
22nd minute - Taylor overthrows an Crusaders attacking lineout, but the Chiefs knock on in midfield.
20th minute - Havili runs off a defensive scrum and a clearing kick bounces away from McKenzie. Crusaders on hot attack, but Chiefs clear.
18th minute - Weber pumps a high kick into the Crusaders 22, Fainga’anuku catches, but McKenzie wrestles the ball away. Wainui loses the ball near the left touchline.
15th minute - TRY to Fainga’anuku
Whitelock wins the lineout and the ball spreads to Havili in midfield, who fends off a marker and throws long to Fainga’anuku.
McKenzie tackles the flying winger into the corner flag, but he still manages to ground the ball in the corner.
Surely something is in touch, but no... reviews show it to be a freakish try.
Mo'unga misses the sideline conversion. Chiefs 10-5
14th minute - First scrum of the night, Crusaders feed in midfield, between their 22 and 10m marks.
Plenty of options, but they need a few resets.
Crusaders put the shove on and get a clearing penalty.
11th minute - Chiefs will more possession on halfway, Weber pumps one high and the ball goes loose. Drummond scrambles it clear.
10th minute - OK, so the Chiefs actually have the wind and Gatland clears long from his own 22. Christie and Goodhue try to break down the left, but the midfielder loses the ball.
Seventh minute - Chiefs again on attack and have plenty of ball early. Another penalty coming for Chiefs in midfield, just outside the 22.
McKenzie slots this one. Chiefs 10-0
Fifth minute - Chiefs have a penalty in midfield, just inside Crusaders half, for offside. With this wind, it's probably not kickable, although McKenzie tees it up.
It had the legs by scewed left.
Second minute - TRY to Damien McKenzie
Chiefs have an advantage for offside, but McKenzie carves towards the line and Dolan awards the try.
McKenzie actually landed short of the line, but regathered. The third match official has held up the conversion to review the grounding...
Review suggests he rolled the ball over the line, but nothing "clear and obvious", so try stands.
McKenzie seems to hook his conversion from the right, but it bends back between the posts. Chiefs 7-0
First minute - Chiefs field a clearing kick inside Crusaders territory and have first attacking opportunity.
Kickoff - Late change for the Crusaders, with Cullen Grace dropping out of No.8, replaced by veteran Whetu Douglas, with Quinten Strange added to the bench.
Strong wind in Christchurch tonight, blowing behind the Chiefs in the first half.
Teams observing a moment's silence to remember the Christchurch mosque shootings two years ago this week, as well as Pride Week.
Ha ha, so the teams change sides and Crusaders will have the wind for the first half. James Dolan is tonight's ref.
Bryn Gatland kicks off for the Chiefs...
*****
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa clash between the Crusaders and Chiefs at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium.
The four-time defending champions have made a red-hot start to their title defence, with victories over the Highlanders and the Hurricanes.
The home side will get the opportunity to open up a nine-point lead at the top of the table, with victory over the sorry Chiefs.
Coach Scott Robertson has moved former All Blacks fullback David Havili into the midfield, replacing Dallas McLeod, who has started the first two games in at second-five.
Other changes from the line-up that started against the Hurricanes last week will see George Bower replacing Joe Moody in the front row and Sione Havili Talitui subbing in for concussed Ethan Blackadder at blindside flanker.
Lock Mitch Dunshea and loose forward Whetu Douglas will make their season debuts from the bench.
The Cheifs' miserable run of form continued last week, as they blew a 20-6 lead against the Highlanders to extend their losing streak to 10 matches.
If they suffer defeat against the Crusaders, they'll equal the worst-ever losing streak in New Zealand Super Rugby history.
The Chiefs have rung the changes, as they search for answers. Coach Clayton McMillan has dropped All Blacks star Anton Lienert-Brown to the bench, with Quinn Tupaea taking his midfield spot.
Prop Angus Ta'avao has been promoted to join the starting front row of Reuben O’Neill and Samisoni Taukei'aho. Bradley Slater, Aidan Ross and Sione Mafileo provide front-row cover on the bench.
Naitoa Ah Kuoi also shifts to the bench, seeing All Black Tupou Vaa'i pair with Josh Lord, who will make his debut at lock, as will loose forward Kaylum Boshier.
Ross and utility back Chase Tiatia return from injury, while winger Shaun Stevenson shifts from the bench to start on the right wing.
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Michael Alaalatoa, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Samuel Whitelock, 6-Sione Havili Talitui, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Mitchell Drummond, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-Joe Moody, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Mitchell Dunshea, 20-Whetukamokamo Douglas, 21-Bryn Hall, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-Dallas McLeod
Chiefs: 1-Reuben O’Neill, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Angus Ta'avao, 4-Tupou Vaa’i, 5-Josh Lord, 6-Mitchell Brown, 7-Sam Cane (co-capt), 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber (co-capt), 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Sean Wainui, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Aidan Ross, 18-Sione Mafileo,19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Anton Lienert-Brown , 23-Chase Tiatia
TAB odds: Crusaders $1.10, Chiefs $6.20
Chiefs desperate to halt Super Rugby slide against Crusaders
The Chiefs are keeping their spirits high and despite more than a year without a win, there's no air of deflation in Hamilton.
"We've had one bad result, but that doesn't mean we put our heads down," insists All Blacks midfield Anton Lienert-Brown. "We come in Monday, we work hard and we go again."
They haven't been able to put their finger on exactly what's going wrong. They have the talent, with five All Blacks, including captain Sam Cane.
And their lack of Super Rugby Aotearoa results has brought a stark admission from players.
"You talk about mana," says prop Angus Ta'avao. "We want to live up to this jersey and we want to restore back the mana in this jersey to what it should be.
"We'll be doing everything we can to do that."
The internal honesty from the Chiefs has caught the ear of Crusaders coach Scott Robertson.
"They've got a lot of history and they've got a lot of players who have put a lot into that jersey, so I can respect them for saying those words," he says.
But their words will ultimately mean little, if they can't find a way to win - a hurdle that's become just as much a mental barrier, as a physical one.
"Sometimes that is the big difference," admits Ta'avao. "Physically, you can match up, but when it comes down to that mental side of it and you're not quite switched on, and you miss a little moment or you miss a tackle..."
If they can't get it right against the Crusaders on Saturday, they'll match the Highlanders for the longest losing streak in Super Rugby history, but don't expect the four-time defending champions to intimidate the Chiefs.
"They're the top of the tree, but we don't sit back and give them too much respect from that side of things," says assistant coach Neil Barnes. "We're going down there to play our type of game and if they can survive it, good on them."
The Chiefs have to prove they're capable of more than just talk.
