Crusaders break Brumbies' hearts, Chiefs secure top spot

FRIDAY WRAP: The Brumbies have seen their Canberra fortress raided by the Crusaders, who snatched a top-two spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder in a thrilling final-round clash.

While the Chiefs secured the No. 1 ranking with a win over the Highlanders earlier on Friday, the Brumbies and Crusaders met in a battle for second position, with the Kiwi outfit victorious, 33-31.

The visitors hit the front in the 76th minute with reserve hooker George Bell peeling off a maul to dive over.

His try came after referee James Doleman missed a clear knock-on by Sevu Reece in the previous play.

With little more than a minute to play, it looked like Brumbies wing Corey Toole might put his side back in the lead as he pin-balled through the defence, but Scott Barrett dislodged the ball from his arms three metres from the tryline.

The third-placed Brumbies, the top-ranked Australian side, will now host the team that finishes fourth – the Hurricanes or Queensland – in the qualifying finals next weekend.

By finishing in the top two, the Crusaders are now guaranteed to host a home semifinal provided they win their week one final.

The Brumbies trailed 14-25 at half-time with the Crusaders dominant in every aspect, with their line-speed in defence and physicality at the breakdown causing the home side headaches.

But Canberra started the second half with intent, with prop Rhys Van Nek burrowing across.

The Brumbies then set up a heart-stopping finish when they drew level at 28-28 with their opponents after Noah Lolesio converted a try by Andy Muirhead in the 56th minute.

After some quick hands Muirhead still had plenty of work to do but the winger showed his will to drag three defenders across the line.

A penalty strike by Lolesio then put his team ahead with eight minutes to play but the Crusaders – the most successful team in the competition’s history with 14 titles – wouldn’t be denied.

*The Chiefs beat the Highlanders 41-24 in Dunedin in Friday’s early game.

For the Highlanders, their season comes to an end, having already been confirmed as a bottom-five side.

There was a lot at stake for both New Zealand teams ahead of this final-round Kiwi derby, with the Chiefs needing a bonus point win to secure a top-placed finish. As for the Highlanders, they’re looking to avoid potentially collecting the figurative wooden spoon.

Flyhalf Cam Millar got Round 16 underway with a kick-off under the roof, with Damian McKenzie meeting Fabian Holland in contact while returning the ball. The Chiefs dominated possession from there, and it didn’t take long until that showed on the scoreboard.

McKenzie put a chip kick in behind the Highlanders’ defensive line for Etene Nanai-Seturo, who retrieved the ball before finding Daniel Rona. Rona was in open space inside the Landers’ half but handed possession off to Samipeni Finau who had more time and space.

Finau strolled in for the opener less than six minutes into the contest. McKenzie converted the try, and that wasn’t the end of the Chiefs’ point-scoring fun. Tupou Vaa’i crossed in the 11th minute, and the All Black lock completed a double soon after.

While the Highlanders had possession, a big hit from Quinn Tupaea on Millar forced a knock-on, with the loose ball falling into the arms of Vaa’i. Vaa’I raced away untouched for the team’s third try, with the visitors leading 19-nil after 13 minutes.

But the Highlanders didn’t throw in the towel.

Ethan de Groot scored from close range, and Timoci Tavatavanawai also made some noise with a much-needed five-pointer, with the Highlanders only going into the break down five. The Chiefs went down to 14 when Ruben O’Neill was shown a yellow card during that period, which was a key moment.

The Highlanders had clawed their way back into the contest, but the Chiefs took control almost immediately after the break. Xavier Roe scored less than 50 seconds into the second term, while Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph was speaking with the Sky Sports commentators.

McKenzie added the extras to give the Chiefs a commanding 12-point lead once again, but the Highlanders cut away at the deficit with a Millar penalty goal soon after. With 30 minutes left, a quite tense period of the match followed.

The Chiefs gave it everything in attack and were eventually rewarded, with replacement Manasa Mataele scoring a pivotal try with just over 20 minutes to play. McKenzie added another three points off the goal-kicking tee moments later, which put the hosts up by 17.

Replacement Sam Gilbert, in his final match for the team, gave the faithful in Dunedin something to cheer about deep into the contest. Gilbert ran onto a well-worked grubber kick to score, with that converted try giving Highlanders fans a reason to dream.

The Highlanders almost scored again, too.

Replacement halfback Adam Lennox was held up over the tryline, with Cortez Ratima pulling off a sensational tackle. Instead, it was the Chiefs who had the final say, with Vaa’i completing a hat-trick in the final play.

See below for Friday’s scores and scorers!

Friday, May 30:

Highlanders 24-41 Chiefs

The scorers:

For Highlanders:
Tries: De Groot, Tavatavanawai, Gilbert
Cons: Millar 2, Gilbert
Pens: Millar

For Chiefs:
Tries: Vaa’i 3, Finau, Roe, Mataele
Cons: McKenzie 4
Pen: McKenzie

Teams:

HIGHLANDERS: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Jonah Lowe, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Taniela Filimore, 10 Cam Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Sean Withy, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Tai Cribb, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Michael Loft, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Sam Gilbert, 23 Thomas Umaga-Jensen.

CHIEFS: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Jared Proffit.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Manasa Mataele.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Jackson Henshaw
TMO: Glenn Newman

Brumbies 31-33 Crusaders

The scorers:

For Brumbies:
Tries: Fotuaika, Ikitau, Van Nek,  Muirhead
Cons: Lolesio 4
Pen: Lolesio

For Crusaders:
Tries: Lio-Willie, Blackadder, Reihana, Bell
Cons: Reihana 2
Pens: Reihana 2
DG: Reece

Teams:

BRUMBIES: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Feao Fotuaika, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Lington Ieli, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Ollie Sapsford.

CRUSADERS: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Tamaiti Williams, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Lewis Ponini, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Braydon Ennor.

Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Richard Kelly

Sources: AAP & Finn Mortan (@RugbyPass)