2018 Super Rugby Final

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2018 Super Rugby Final
Event2018 Super Rugby season
Crusaders Lions
New Zealand South Africa
37 18
Date4 August 2018
VenueRugby League Park, Christchurch
RefereeAngus Gardner (Australia)
Attendancec. 20,000 [1]
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The 2018 Super Rugby Final was played between the Crusaders of New Zealand and the Lions of South Africa. The match, held at Rugby League Park in Christchurch, was the 23rd final in the Super Rugby competition's history.

Both finalists won their respective conferences during the regular season and both had hosted quarterfinal and semifinal matches in the playoff series. The final was hosted by the Crusaders as the higher placed team from the regular season standings.

The Crusaders won the match by a margin of 19 points. The Lions started the final well, however the combination of travel, jet-lag and the sheer dominance of the Crusaders was instrumental in securing the result.[2] The Crusaders extended their record number of Super Rugby title wins to nine and became the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Chiefs in 2013.

Road to the final[]

Finals Series qualifying teams
Conference leaders
Pos Team W D L PD BP Pts
1 New Zealand Crusaders 14 0 2 +247 7 63
2 South Africa Lions 9 0 7 +84 10 46
3 Australia Waratahs 9 1 6 +112 6 44
Wildcard teams
4 New Zealand Hurricanes 11 0 5 +131 7 51
5 New Zealand Chiefs 11 0 5 +95 5 49
6 New Zealand Highlanders 10 0 6 −8 4 44
7 Argentina Jaguares 9 0 7 −9 2 38
8 South Africa Sharks 7 1 8 −5 6 36
Source: SANZAAR
Main article: 2018 Super Rugby season

After two seasons in which 18 teams participated, the 2018 season reverted to a 15-team competition, consisting of three geographical conferences.

Each conference leader at the end of the regular season, the Crusaders from New Zealand, Lions from South Africa and Waratahs from Australia gained home berths in the quarterfinals, as did the top-ranked wildcard team, the Hurricanes from New Zealand's conference. Their four wildcard opponents in the quarterfinals were the next best teams as ranked at the end of the regular season.

All four home teams won their quarterfinal matches to set up an all-New Zealand clash between the Crusaders and Hurricanes for the first semifinal in Christchurch, while the Lions hosted the Waratahs for the second semifinal in Johannesburg.

Both home teams won their semifinal matches with comfortable margins. The Lions then travelled away to Christchurch to play the Crusaders in the 2018 Super Rugby final.

 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
 
          
 
21 July – Christchurch
 
 
Crusaders40
 
28 July – Christchurch
 
Sharks10
 
Crusaders30
 
20 July – Wellington
 
Hurricanes12
 
Hurricanes32
 
4 August – Christchurch
 
Chiefs31
 
Crusaders37
 
21 July – Johannesburg
 
Lions18
 
Lions40
 
28 July – Johannesburg
 
Jaguares23
 
Lions44
 
21 July – Sydney
 
Waratahs26
 
Waratahs30
 
 
Highlanders23
 

Quarter-finals[]

20 July 2018 Hurricanes 32–31 Chiefs Westpac Stadium, Wellington  
19:35 Try: Julian Savea Try 1'
TJ Perenara Try 33', 62'
Ben Lam Try 69'
Con: Beauden Barrett Kick 2', 33'
Jordie Barrett Kick 70'
Pen: Beauden Barrett Kick 11', 55'
Cards: Vaea Fifita Yellow card 80' 		Report[3]
Scoreboard[4] 		Try: Brad Weber Try 7'
Anton Lienert-Brown Try 51'
Damian McKenzie Try 79'
Lachlan Boshier Try 80'
Con: Damian McKenzie Kick 8', 52', 79'
Charlie Ngatai Kick 80'
Pen: Damian McKenzie Kick 22'
 Attendance: 16,402[5]
Referee: Glen Jackson
21 July 2018 Crusaders 40–10 Sharks Rugby League Park, Christchurch  
19:35 Try: Bryn Hall Try 9'
David Havili Try 12'
Matt Todd Try 42'
Braydon Ennor Try 67'
Pete Samu Try 72'
Con: Richie Mo'unga Kick 43', 68', 73'
Pen: Richie Mo'unga Kick 7', 40', 57'
 Report[6]
Scoreboard[7] 		Try: Kobus van Wyk Try 26'
Con: Robert du Preez Kick 27'
Pen: Robert du Preez Kick 48'
 Referee: Mike Fraser
21 July 2018 Waratahs 30–23 Highlanders Allianz Stadium, Sydney  
20:05 Try: Bernard Foley Try 54', 61'
Israel Folau Try 56'
Con: Bernard Foley Kick 54', 57', 62'
Pen: Bernard Foley Kick 4', 9', 71'
Cards: Paddy Ryan Yellow card 74' 		Report[8]
Scoreboard[9] 		Try: Waisake Naholo Try 11'
Rob Thompson Try 25'
Con: Lima Sopoaga Kick 12', 26'
Pen: Lima Sopoaga Kick 7', 19', 34'
Cards: Waisake Naholo Temporarily suspended from 52' to 62' 52' to 62' 		Attendance: 12,067[10]
Referee: Angus Gardner
21 July 2018 Lions 40–23 Jaguares Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg  
15:05 Try: Ruan Combrinck Try 8'
Harold Vorster Try 15'
Malcolm Marx Try 27'
Andries Coetzee Try 57'
Con: Elton Jantjies Kick 9', 16', 28', 58'
Pen: Elton Jantjies Kick 26', 44', 76'
Drop: Elton Jantjies Kick 64'
 Report[11]
Scoreboard[12] 		Try: Bautista Delguy Try 42'
Pablo Matera Try 48'
Con: Nicolás Sánchez Kick 43', 49'
Pen: Nicolás Sánchez Kick 4', 6', 37'
 Referee: Jaco Peyper

Semi-finals[]

28 July 2018 Crusaders 30–12 Hurricanes Rugby League Park, Christchurch  
19:35 Try: Richie Mo'unga Try 15'
George Bridge Try 28'
David Havili Try 44'
Braydon Ennor Try 69'
Con: Richie Mo'unga Kick 16', 45'
Pen: Richie Mo'unga Kick 36', 39'
 Report[13]
Scoreboard[14] 		Try: Julian Savea Try 19'
Ben Lam Try 80'
Con: Beauden Barrett Kick 19'
 Referee: Jaco Peyper
28 July 2018 Lions 44–26 Waratahs Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg  
15:05 Try: Kwagga Smith Try 21', 63'
Aphiwe Dyantyi Try 26'
Malcolm Marx Try 35', 58'
Courtnall Skosan Try 79'
Con: Elton Jantjies Kick 28', 37', 64', 80'
Pen: Elton Jantjies Kick 55', 74'
 Report[15]
Scoreboard[16] 		Try: Ned Hanigan Try 4'
Israel Folau Try 8'
Tom Robertson Try 39'
Jake Gordon Try 76'
Con: Bernard Foley Kick 6', 10', 76'
Cards: Damien Fitzpatrick Temporarily suspended from 57' to 67' 57' to 67' 		Referee: Glen Jackson

Match[]

Details[]

4 August 2018
19:35
Crusaders 37–18 Lions
Try: Seta Tamanivalu Try 19'
David Havili Try 34'
Mitchell Drummond Try 62'
Scott Barrett Try 70'
Con: Richie Mo'unga Kick 20', 36', 63', 71'
Pen: Richie Mo'unga Kick 16', 33', 43'
Cards: Ryan Crotty Temporarily suspended from 67' to 77' 67' to 77' 		Report[17]
Scoreboard[18] 		Try: Cyle Brink Try 53'
Malcolm Marx Try 68'
Con: Elton Jantjies Kick 54'
Pen: Elton Jantjies Kick 13', 39'
Crusaders
Lions
Crusaders:
FB 15 David Havili
RW 14 Seta Tamanivalu
OC 13 Jack Goodhue
IC 12 Ryan Crotty Yellow card 67'
LW 11 George Bridge Substituted off 77'
FH 10 Richie Mo'unga Substituted off 77'
SH 9 Bryn Hall Substituted off 54'
N8 8 Kieran Read
OF 7 Matt Todd
BF 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis Substituted off 56'
LL 5 Sam Whitelock (c)
RL 4 Scott Barrett Substituted off 72'
TP 3 Owen Franks Substituted off 60'
HK 2 Codie Taylor Substituted off 69'
LP 1 Joe Moody Substituted off 47'
Substitutes:
HK 16 Andrew Makalio Substituted in 69'
PR 17 Tim Perry Substituted in 47'
PR 18 Michael Ala'alatoa Substituted in 60'
LK 19 Luke Romano Substituted in 72'
FL 20 Pete Samu Substituted in 56'
SH 21 Mitchell Drummond Substituted in 54'
IC 22 Mitchell Hunt Substituted in 77'
FB 23 Braydon Ennor Substituted in 77'
Coach:
New Zealand Scott Robertson
Lions:
FB 15 Andries Coetzee
RW 14 Ruan Combrinck
OC 13 Lionel Mapoe
IC 12 Harold Vorster Substituted off 76'
LW 11 Courtnall Skosan
FH 10 Elton Jantjies Substituted off 54'
SH 9 Ross Cronjé Substituted off 69'
N8 8 Warren Whiteley (c)
BF 7 Cyle Brink Substituted off 63'
OF 6 Kwagga Smith
LL 5 Franco Mostert
RL 4 Marvin Orie Substituted off 54'
TP 3 Ruan Dreyer Substituted off 69'
HK 2 Malcolm Marx Substituted off 76'
LP 1 Jacques van Rooyen Substituted off 47'
Substitutes:
HK 16 Corné Fourie Substituted in 76'
PR 17 Dylan Smith Substituted in 47'
PR 18 Johannes Jonker Substituted in 69'
LK 19 Lourens Erasmus Substituted in 54'
FL 20 Marnus Schoeman Substituted in 63'
SH 21 Dillon Smit Substituted in 69'
FH 22 Aphiwe Dyantyi Substituted in 54'
WG 23 Howard Mnisi Substituted in 76'
Coach:
South Africa Johan Ackermann

Man of the Match:
Richie Mo'unga [19]

Assistant Referees:
Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Nic Berry (Australia)
Television match official:
Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

References[]

  1. ^ "Parade to celebrate Crusaders latest Super Rugby title". Radio New Zealand. 6 August 2018.
  2. ^ Geekie, Kaylan (2018-08-04). "Super Rugby Final: Crusaders crowned kings again". Super Rugby | Super 15 Rugby and Rugby Championship News,Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  3. ^ "Hurricanes beat Chiefs to secure Semi Final spot". SANZAAR. 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Hurricanes 32-31 Chiefs". SANZAAR. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  5. ^ https://www.westpacstadium.co.nz/fileadmin/Documents/Annual_Reports/WRST_AR19.pdf
  6. ^ "Clinical Crusaders cruise past Sharks". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Crusaders 40-10 Sharks". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Waratahs Storm Back to Stun Highlanders". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Waratahs 30-23 Highlanders". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  10. ^ https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/07/22/waratahs-highlanders-reax
  11. ^ "Lions overcome Jaguares to reach semi-final". SANZAAR. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Lions 40-23 Jaguares". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Crusaders Beat 'Canes Book Home Final". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Crusaders 30-12 Hurricanes". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Lions overcome Waratahs to reach Super Rugby final". SANZAAR. 29 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Lions 44-26 Waratahs". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  17. ^ "Outstanding Crusaders claim ninth Super Rugby title". SANZAAR. 4 August 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  18. ^ "Crusaders 37-18 Lions". SANZAAR. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Crusaders win title number nine after proving too strong for Lions in Super Rugby final". The Telegraph. London. 4 August 2018.
Preceded by Super Rugby Final
2018 		Succeeded by
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