Crusaders vs Reds

The Crusaders have ensured they will host the Reds for a second week in the Super Rugby Pacific finals after beating Queensland on Friday.

However they needed more from their big wingers, while Jordan Petaia was hardly seen all game. Harry Wilson was the main man in the forwards while Seru Uru and ...

Like elite athletes at their peak, our sports journalists are highly trained in the art of news. So we're asking you to support us with more than your attention. It takes skill, endurance and record-breaking typing to deliver live coverage, breaking news, match reports and in-depth analysis of all the sports you love.

With the spluttering dress rehearsal complete, the Reds will trek back to Christchurch next week with a puncher's chance for a quarter-final that will, ...

This was a wake-up call of sorts, but comparing the two teams, the Crusaders have much more upside. Burke and Will Jordan helped the Crusaders establish a 14-0 lead in as many minutes but they then lacked clinical finishing and patience. This match offered further evidence they are not the vaunted team they once were – yet they have all the ingredients to regroup and reach the finale with a favourable draw against Australian teams. Insert Mo'unga and Taylor; inject a sermon from Robertson and the Crusaders should prove too strong for the Reds once more. The Crusaders set piece dominated, nabbing one tighthead and swarming the Reds lineout to win two against the throw, and their rolling maul proved difficult to stop, but they were guilty of aimless kicking. After stuttering to losses against the Chiefs, Blues, and a shock defeat to the Waratahs in Sydney, it would be a major stretch to suggest the Crusaders have regained their mojo.

The Canterbury Crusaders eased to a 28-15 win over the Queensland Reds in Christchurch on Friday to lock down second spot in Super Rugby and book a home ...

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The home team lost halfback Bryn Hall to injury during the warmups, and All Blacks winger, Sevu Reece just 10 minutes into the encounter after a head knock. But ...

The Queensland Reds battled valiantly against the Crusaders but it proved to be a case of too little, too l...

When we stuck together as a team, we worked hard and we put phases on phases together, we looked really good. It's just about doing that for longer periods of time. After conceding three unanswered tries in the first half, the Reds scored two of their own in the second half but it proved to be a case of too little, too late as the Crusaders ran out 28-15 winners in slippery conditions.

Tate McDermott never gave up trying as he tried to lift his side. However they needed more from their big wingers, while Jordan Petaia was hardly seen all game.

Like elite athletes at their peak, our sports journalists are highly trained in the art of news. So we're asking you to support us with more than your attention. It takes skill, endurance and record-breaking typing to deliver live coverage, breaking news, match reports and in-depth analysis of all the sports you love.

With the spluttering dress rehearsal complete, the Reds will trek back to Christchurch next week with a puncher's chance for a quarter-final that will, ...

This was a wake-up call of sorts, but comparing the two teams, the Crusaders have much more upside. Burke and Will Jordan helped the Crusaders establish a 14-0 lead in as many minutes but they then lacked clinical finishing and patience. This match offered further evidence they are not the vaunted team they once were – yet they have all the ingredients to regroup and reach the finale with a favourable draw against Australian teams. Insert Mo'unga and Taylor; inject a sermon from Robertson and the Crusaders should prove too strong for the Reds once more. The Crusaders set piece dominated, nabbing one tighthead and swarming the Reds lineout to win two against the throw, and their rolling maul proved difficult to stop, but they were guilty of aimless kicking. After stuttering to losses against the Chiefs, Blues, and a shock defeat to the Waratahs in Sydney, it would be a major stretch to suggest the Crusaders have regained their mojo.

It wasn't perfect but the home team have locked up second spot on the table.

The Queensland Reds have fallen 28-15 to the Crusaders in their final Super Rugby Pacific regular season fixture at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.

Creighton missed the conversion from close to the righthand sideline, the final score finishing at 28-15. Creighton converted to bring Queensland within 11-points with 13-minutes remaining. The Crusaders were reduced to 14-men in the 54th minute with Pablo Matera yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle and Queensland quickly capitalised, Asiata going over from close range to score his first Super Rugby try.

The Crusaders have eased to a 28-15 win over the Queensland Reds in Christchurch to lock down second spot in Super Rugby Pacific and book a home playoff ...

With Crusaders loose forward Pablo Matera yellow-carded after the break for a lifting tackle, the Reds rallied through a try from Richie Asiata in the 57th minute. But the Crusaders went to halftime with a commanding 21-3 lead after hooker McAlister rumbled over from a rolling maul for the their third try three minutes before the break. The Crusaders have eased to a 28-15 win over the Queensland Reds in Christchurch to lock down second spot in Super Rugby Pacific and book a home playoff with the same team.

Crusaders 28Reds 15 With the spluttering dress rehearsal complete, the Reds will trek back to Christchurch next week with a puncher's chance for a quarter-

This was a wake-up call of sorts, but comparing the two teams, the Crusaders have much more upside. Burke and Will Jordan helped the Crusaders establish a 14-0 lead in as many minutes but they then lacked clinical finishing and patience. This match offered further evidence they are not the vaunted team they once were – yet they have all the ingredients to regroup and reach the finale with a favourable draw against Australian teams.

A yellow card to Pablo Matera, an injury to Sevu Reece and a flat second half blotted this effort from the Crusaders.

Like elite athletes at their peak, our sports journalists are highly trained in the art of news. It was a bright spot on a night that promised plenty, but eventually failed to deliver. So we're asking you to support us with more than your attention. But it's going to be what happens in the days ahead that might worry Robertson most. That sums it up. While the lineout was also a problem for the visitors, the Crusaders had things under reasonable control in that department - but starting hooker Brodie McAlister fluffed a throw - and used it to set up a try for him late in the first spell.