Crusaders stun Blues 21-14 to reach Super Rugby final

Crusaders 21-14 Blues, Christchurch

The Crusaders stormed into yet another Super Rugby Pacific final with a 21–14 victory over the Blues in Christchurch on Friday.

In front of a passionate home crowd at Apollo Projects Stadium, the defending champions clawed back from a 14–0 deficit to seal their 31st consecutive home playoff win and set up a title clash next week.

Kick-off was at 6:05 PM local time, and it was the Blues who drew first blood. They stunned the Crusaders with early clinical precision.

In the 7th minute, Mark Telea latched onto a deft grubber kick to score in the corner, converted by Beauden Barrett for a 7–0 lead.

The visitors doubled their advantage in the 20th minute when Rieko Ioane finished off a brilliant attacking sequence, again converted by Barrett, to make it 14–0.

The Crusaders, however, refused to panic. In the 24th minute, after sustained forward pressure and a rolling maul, Tom Christie powered over for their first try. Rivez Reihana’s conversion narrowed the gap to 14–7.

Just minutes later, both teams were reduced to 14 men when Braydon Ennor (Crusaders) and Joshua Fusitu’a (Blues) were shown yellow cards following head contact. Despite the disruption, the Crusaders kept momentum.

In the 34th minute, Will Jordan crossed over on the right flank after sustained Crusaders pressure. Reihana’s conversion levelled the match at 14–14, and the scores remained tied at halftime.

The second half saw a shift in dominance. The Crusaders took control of set-pieces and dominated territory. Their scrum began to overpower the Blues, forcing penalties and providing platforms for attack.

In the 57th minute, Will Jordan struck again—his second of the match—after brilliant buildup play. Reihana added the extras, giving the Crusaders a 21–14 lead.

As the clock ticked down, the Blues unleashed a ferocious final assault. Starting in the 72nd minute, they held possession for over 40 phases in the Crusaders' 22. The relentless drive nearly broke through on several occasions, but the Crusaders' defense held firm.

In the 79th minute, Hoskins Sotutu was sin-binned for a breakdown infringement, leaving the Blues a man down for the dying moments.

The Crusaders pounced on a loose ball near their tryline and cleared possession, sealing the win as the final whistle sounded.