THE GOLDEN LIONS AND Canterbury Crusaders proved their credentials as leading title contenders as they moved one home game away from playing off for this season’s Super Rugby title.
South Africa’s Lions, who finished top of the regular season standings, needed a huge late penalty goal from Ruan Combrinck to scrape home 23-21 over the Coastal Sharks in Johannesburg.
The win means the Lions will face a New Zealand team for the first time this season, and a mean one at that, as defending champions the Wellington Hurricanes go to Johannesburg in next weekend’s semi-final. The Lions will have the added incentive of home advantage in the final, if they manage to come out on top of Beauden Barrett’s Canes.
The Lions, beaten only once this season, were facing a shock elimination at Ellis Park until Combrinck landed an angled 58-metre kick (at altitude, but under massive pressure) to squeeze home over the Sharks.
The Sharks, dismissed as no-hopers after a 17-point regular-season home loss to the Lions the previous weekend, built a 14-3 half-time lead and were one point ahead when Combrinck struck.
The Crusaders, bidding for their eighth Super Rugby crown, grounded out a 17-0 win over the Highlanders in driving rain to set up another all-Kiwi clash against the Chiefs in the semi-final.
“It was hugely satisfying,” coach Scott Robertson said.
“It was a final, that was what we talked about because the Highlanders are better than a seventh-placed team. We knew we had to treat it as we did, and front up.”
The result keeps alive the Crusaders’ dream of adding to their record seven Super Rugby titles, their most recent success coming in 2008, but the Chiefs will have plenty to say about that.
The Waikato men survived some late pressure from the Stormers before hanging on for victory 11 – 17 in South Africa.
Replacement wing Shaun Stevenson gathered a long pass from skipper and fly-half Aaron Cruden to cross the line unopposed for the Chiefs’ clinching try four minutes from time..
“We are a team of warriors with a clear game plan that we try to execute whenever and wherever we play,” said the Bordeaux-bound Cruden.
“The Crusaders in Christchurch is going to be a tough test, but we can beat any Super Rugby team anywhere on our day.”
Super Rugby 2017, semi-finals, 29 July
Crusaders v Chiefs
Lions v Hurricanes
