CRUS
No.Name
15Israel Dagg, -
T
14Johnny McNicholl, -
T
13Kieron Fonotia, -
12Ryan Crotty, -
11Jone Macilai-Tori, -
10Richie Mo'unga, -
T
3
9Andrew Ellis, -
1Joe Moody, -
2Codie Taylor, -
3Owen Franks, -
4Luke Romano, -
5Sam Whitelock, -
6Jordan Taufua, -
T
7Matt Todd, -
8Kieran Read, -
Replacements
16Ged Robinson, -
17Wyatt Crockett, -
18Michael Alaalatoa, -
19Scott Barrett, -
20Tim Boys, -
21Mitchell Drummond, -
22David Havili, -
23Marty McKenzie, -

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Apollo Projects Stadium
3:35 AM, May 20, 2016
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'+329-10 End of second half
80'"Outstanding", Kieran Read tells Sky Sports afterwards of his side's performance. He admits there was pressure on his side after their defeat last round. He ends by paying tribute to Andy Ellis -- I'm sure the Crusaders will celebrate in style tonight. Thanks for joining for ESPN's live commentary -- see you next time!
80'And that is that - full time at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch, the Crusaders coming out with a well-earned 29-10 victory. 'Tahs missed the injured Kurtley Beale -- but their opponents were too good tonight.
80'There will be no bonus point as Peyper blows up for a penalty. Foley kicks into touch a couple of seconds before the booming 80-minute horn.
79''Tahs in the sixth phase, but this is very scrappy stuff. Drummond turns over as they push for the line...
77'Wyatt Crockett steers the scrum, the All Black veteran playing in his 165th Super Rugby game for the Crusaders. Peyper blows after a double knock-on, all getting a bit scrappy now in the closing stages.
76'Dropped ball from both sides: first Mitchell Drummond, on for Ellis, loses concentration and drops forward, before the former Crusaders man Guildford finds a gap in the midfield -- only to burst and drop forward in contact.
75'Standing ovation as Andy Ellis, the 150-match veteran for Crusaders, is replaced. He's not had a bad game, either...
75'Substitute on - David Havili , Crusaders
75'Player substituted - Kieron Fonotia , Crusaders
75'Player substituted - Andrew Ellis , Crusaders
75'Substitute on - Mitchell Drummond , Crusaders
73'A little bit of afters as frustrations boil over -- Peyper quick to calm things down, though.
71'Brilliant try-saving tackle from Fonotia a metre out from his own try line! McNicholl clears up after Lousi goes for the offload just shy of scoring. Probably could have got over, but superb defence from the home side. Very frustrating for 'Tahs.
70'Hooper breaks away and finds Lucas with a smart offload before contact as the 'Tahs drive towards the try line. They are over but the ball isn't grounded and referee Peyper brings it back for offside -- should that have been a penalty try? Great work from the away side, who are piling on the pressure.
68'Was a poor effort from Foley from the tee -- but with that try, 'Tahs have removed the bonus point for the Crusaders.
66'Conversion missed...
66'Substitute on - Tim Boys , Crusaders
66'Player substituted - Sam Whitelock , Crusaders
66'Player substituted - Tatafu Polota-Nau , New South Wales Waratahs
66'Substitute on - Hugh Roach , New South Wales Waratahs
65'Commentator's curse! 'Tahs have the lineout, they get a little bit of luck as Lucas drops the pass -- it could have constituted as being forward -- before offloading to replacement Guildford. The former Crusaders man needs no second invitation and dashes clear to dive over.
65'29-10 Try - Zac Guildford , New South Wales Waratahs
64'Player substituted - Israel Dagg , Crusaders
64'Substitute on - Marty McKenzie , Crusaders
64'Player substituted - Paddy Ryan , New South Wales Waratahs
64'Substitute on - Jeremy Tilse , New South Wales Waratahs
63'Smart chip and chase from Foley -- but Ellis safely finds touch after a superb little fake.
63'Substitute on - Ged Robinson , Crusaders
63'Player substituted - Codie Taylor , Crusaders
63'Substitute on - Wyatt Crockett , Crusaders
63'Player substituted - Joe Moody , Crusaders
62'No worries in front of the posts for Mo'unga. Crusaders lead 29-5.
62'Substitute on - Angus Ta'avao , New South Wales Waratahs
62'Player substituted - Tom Robertson , New South Wales Waratahs
62'Substitute on - Matt Lucas , New South Wales Waratahs
62'Player substituted - Nick Phipps , New South Wales Waratahs
62'Player substituted - Reece Robinson , New South Wales Waratahs
62'Substitute on - Zac Guildford , New South Wales Waratahs
62'Substitute on - Matt Carraro , New South Wales Waratahs
62'Player substituted - David Horwitz , New South Wales Waratahs
62'Player substituted - Will Skelton , New South Wales Waratahs
62'Substitute on - Sam Lousi , New South Wales Waratahs
62'29-5 Conversion - Richie Mo'unga , Crusaders
61'TRY! Crusaders finally get across after what seemed like an eternity inside the five line. Ellis pulling strings at the breakdown, Read almost goes over before the ball is worked across to Taufaua, who dives under the posts. Great strength to dot down.
61'27-5 Try - Jordan Taufua , Crusaders
59'The scrum is reset twice, 'Tahs really struggling in the set piece. Ellis finally gets away, neat little turn but Peyper brings it back for an infringement.
59'Substitute on - Scott Barrett , Crusaders
59'Player substituted - Luke Romano , Crusaders
59'Player substituted - Owen Franks , Crusaders
59'Substitute on - Michael Alaalatoa , Crusaders
58'What an exciting minute of rugby. Folau was absolutely vaporised by a Crusaders combination just two metres out. McNicholl's pace was awesome -- so good that Dagg just couldn't keep up. Home side unlucky not to get anything out of that.
56''Tahs have it on the five line. Foley works it inside to Skelton and then Folau, who gets clattered by Read! Crusaders pass the ball all the way across in their own goal area and McNicholl is away! He turns on the afterburners, Dagg is busting a gut to keep up with him! McNicholl offloads, but the ball is deflected forward and he can't get to it. Robinson grounds under pressure in the 'Tahs goal area and it's a five-metre scrum!
56'Substitute on - Wycliff Palu , New South Wales Waratahs
56'Player substituted - Jed Holloway , New South Wales Waratahs
54'Penalty 'Tahs inside their own half, Codie Taylor guilty of bringing the maul down. Foley smashes into touch.
51'Mo'unga tries to dance his way out of his own 10, but gets collared -- quite literally. Good recovery from the Crusaders, though, and Dagg boots clear to relieve the pressure. One feels the next score will be crucial in this match.
50'The rain has stopped, but the pitch looks sodden. Both sides descend into a kicking game -- but it's all pretty average. Mo'unga finally finds touch.
47'Good possession from the Crusaders, but Moody loses it after contact. It drops forward as Taylor collects -- but that'll be a scrum just forward of the 'Tahs 22.
43'Ellis almost kicks the ball directly into the face of Kellaway. However, Crusaders work the ball from far side to near, with a lovely pop on finding its way to Macilai -- he's away and he narrowly avoids a clobbering from a steaming-in Will Skelton. However, Peyper blows up for a forward pass on the offload. Chance missed for the home side.
42'Folau breaks through the middle, 'Tahs have started strongly. Superb interchange in a congested midfield from the away side, really neat one-touch rugby. Can they make it count, though?
41'Mo'unga gets us back underway at the AMI. Early penalty for the 'Tahs on their own 22, Foley finds touch just shy of half way.
41'22-5 End of first half
40''Tahs have the ball and are working it side to side in added time. Crusaders pick it up from the long kick and boot it into touch. That's halftime!
40'22-5 Start of second half
37'Mo'unga tries for a quick drop conversion, but Peyper pulls it back. However, the fly-half does convert from the tee. 'Tahs in trouble with halftime approaching.
37'22-5 Conversion - Richie Mo'unga , Crusaders
35'Lovely move from the Crusaders lineout. The ball is worked across to Ellis, who draws contact before offloading to Mo'unga. At first it looks like a deft sleight of hand, but on second viewing Ellis in fact loses the ball in contact -- it goes backwards, though, and Mo'unga races clear and slides over the line.
35'20-5 Try - Richie Mo'unga , Crusaders
32'Bernard Foley breaks clear and feeds inside to Nick Phipps, who turns straight into a big hit from Kieran Ried -- much to the home crowd's delight!
30'Crusaders penalty for a Waratahs infringement -- but Mo'unga misses wide right from in front of the posts.
28'Fly-half Bernard Foley cannot convert, though. Waratahs back within 10 points.
27'That's sublime. Folau spots the gap just outside the Crusaders' 22 and he's away! Gone! Speed, strength and power splits the Crusders' backline. He gets a lucky deflection off a red shirt on the offload and the ball falls to the feet of Rob Horne, who scrapes it forward and dives over in the near corner.
26'Best spell of possession for the Waratahs as they work the ball from side to side -- Crusaders defence standing firm, so far...
26'15-5 Try - Rob Horne , New South Wales Waratahs
23'The scrum has to be reset twice, Peyper isn't happy. Mo'unga finally gets the ball out the back, attempts a cross kick but it's out on the full. However, Crusaders win the ball against the throw on the lineout.
21'Wind playing havoc at the AMI -- can the Waratahs take advantage? No. Poor synergy at the lineout, poor timing. Peyper blows for two half-backs in the set-up. Away side struggling.
18'15-0 Penalty goal - Richie Mo'unga , Crusaders
17'No problem for the home fly-half. Crusaders lead 15-0.
16'Crusaders have the ball just outside the 22, Peyper blows for a penalty at the breakdown. Dean Mumm the guilty party for going in off his feet. Mo'unga lines this one up, it's right in front of the posts...
15'High kick from home scrum-half Ellis and still the Waratahs can't catch it cleanly. Only one team winning the aerial battles, here.
13'Try! No! McNicholl catches a high kick and races away to score what he thinks will be his second of the night -- but referee Peyper pulls it back for a "real time" call. Offside given and the score remains 12-0.
9'12-0 Try - Israel Dagg , Crusaders
8'What a try! Huge cross kick from the Crusaders finds McNicholl on the far right side. It's a brilliant catch from the wing, but an even better set up for Israel Dagg, who crashes over the line for the second try of the night. Mo'unga misses the conversion.
7'A scrappy, tense affair in the midfield -- rain coming down heavily in Christchurch.
4'Johnny McNicholl is over in the corner - but we're going upstairs for this one. Chris Wratt is the man...and he's given it! Such a tight decision, but McNicholl appears to have grounded the ball just before his foot slides on the chalk. Converted.
4'7-0 Conversion - Richie Mo'unga , Crusaders
3'Waratahs get through the opening scrum, but a loose grubber hands the home side possession. Fifth phase and Joe Moody has found the gap and he motors away!
3'5-0 Try - Johnny McNicholl , Crusaders
1'Bernard Foley gets us underway at the AMI Stadium. Early lineout for the Waratahs.
1'Jaco Peyper is today's referee.
1'Lovely touch from the Crusaders team -- they let Andy Ellis, who is playing his 150th game, run out on his own to a standing ovation.
1'Hello and welcome to live commentary for Crusaders against Waratahs -- testing conditions in Christchurch, plenty of moisture on the surface! Teams are out on the pitch and we're minutes away from kickoff.
1'0-0 Start of first half