The Canterbury Crusaders retained their Super Rugby title by snatching victory over the Waikato Chiefs 25-20 (half-time: 15-10) in the final ten minutes of a disheveled final on Saturday in Hamilton, New Zealand . The team coached for the last time by Scott Robertson, who will take the reins of the All Blacks selection the day after the 2023 World Cup (September 8-October 28), wins its seventh consecutive title, if we count the last two editions geographically limited due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Crusaders fly-half Richie Mo’Unga opened the scoring on a 9th-minute penalty, cementing their grip early in the game. But, after having equalized, the Chiefs took the advantage thanks to a try from the back Shaun Stevenson, who came to intervene in attack on the open side (10-3, 23rd). The Crusaders reacted strongly at the end of the first period by scoring two tries, by hooker Codie Taylor, in force a few seconds after the yellow card received by Chiefs No.8 Luke Jacobson, then by Mo’Unga, allowing teammates to second-line Sam Whitelock to take the lead (15-10).
In this crossover, the teammates of Brodie Retallick, friend of Whitelock in the second line of the All Blacks but his opponent on Saturday, took the lead from the start of the second act thanks to a corner try from winger Emoni Narawa (43rd), served by Stevenson and converted by opener Damian McKenzie: 17-15, then 20-15 in the 50th minute after another penalty from McKenzie. But the Waikato Chiefs’ indiscipline cost them dearly. In the 73rd minute, a few seconds after a yellow card inflicted on Sam Cane – the third of the match for the Chiefs -, Codie Taylor (73rd) flattened in the in-goal after a strong advance from his pack. The transformation was accomplished by the ubiquitous McKenzie, who drove the point home for the Crusaders in added time by scoring a new penalty.
