Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders storm past Reds in second half surge to book semi-final spot

The Crusaders are the first team into Super Rugby Pacific's semi-finals. Credit: Image - Photosport; Video - Sky Sport

The Crusaders' hopes of a sixth Super Rugby title in as many years remain on course, after a convincing 37-15 quarter-final victory over the Reds in Christchurch.

A week on from defeating the same opposition 28-15, the Crusaders went even better the second time around against the reigning Super Rugby Australia champions.

Taking a 16-8 lead into halftime, the Crusaders scored three tries in the second half, running away with the match to ensure they'll return to Orangetheory Stadium in a week's time for the semi-finals.

Codie Taylor against the Reds. Photo credit: Image - Photosport

The only possible concern for the hosts came in the shape of losing influential loose forward Ethan Blackadder, who was taken from the field in the second half after suffering what appeared to be an arm injury.

That will leave the Crusaders with a nervous wait to ascertain the extent of any possible injury to one of their best.

In a start to the match that saw both sides trade penalties to open the scoring, it was the Crusaders who grabbed the first try through the talismanic Will Jordan.

From an attacking lineout inside the Reds' half, Jordan was on hand to score on the left, and register his 10th try of the season.

But out to seal their first victory over the Crusaders since the 2011 Super Rugby final, the Reds hit back.

A botched lineout from the Crusaders saw the Reds attack down their right, and saw winger Suliasi Vunivalu score in the corner, where only a missed kick from Lawson Creighton separated the sides at 10-8.

Will Jordan against the Reds. Photo credit: Image - Photosport

Ill-discipline cost the Reds in the first half, as two more Mo'unga penalties saw the Crusaders extend their lead to 16-8 by the time the interval.

After the break though, the Reds struck to keep the Crusaders on their toes.

From an attacking lineout of their own, the Reds pulled off a near-perfect set piece, that resulted in winger Filipo Daugunu going over to score on the right, and close the gap on the scoreboard to a single point at 16-15.

But as a team who've won five titles across the last five years - three Super Rugby crowns as well as two in the New Zealand-only Super Rugby Aotearoa - the Crusaders showed the form that's seen them become one of the most dominant club sides in the world game.

After winning a scrum penalty against the feed inside the Reds' 22, a quick tap from Mo'unga saw the Crusaders go close, before the No.10 went over himself, sparking a wave of points to which the Reds had no answer.

Less than 10 minutes later, the Crusaders were in again, this time through Sevu Reece, scoring his ninth try of the year when he cut back inside to beat Daugunu to leave the Reds down 30-15.

Injury to co-captain Tate McDermott, left unable to move after an attempted tackle on Leicester Fainga'anuku, compounded the Reds' woes, as the Crusaders didn't relent to the final whistle.

Only in the side after an injury in the warm-up to replacement prop Finlay Brewis, Tamaiti Williams sealed the Crusaders' victory, picking and going from close range to catch an exhausted Reds defence on their heels for his side's fourth and final try of the night.

As the second-place finisher in the regular season, the Crusaders will also host next week's semi-final, with their opponent to be decided when the Chiefs host the Waratahs on Saturday afternoon.

Crusaders 37 (Jordan, Mo'unga, Reece, Williams tries; Mo'unga 4 conversions, Mo'unga 3 penalties)

Reds 15 (Vunivalu, Daugnu tries; Creighton conversion; Creighton penalty)

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