2018 Super Rugby final

Last updated

2018 Super Rugby Final
Event 2018 Super Rugby season
Crusaders Lions
Flag of New Zealand.svg Flag of South Africa.svg
3718
Date4 August 2018
Venue Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Referee Angus 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.

Contents

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
PosTeamWDLPDBPPts
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 1402+247763
2 Flag of South Africa.svg Lions 907+841046
3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs 916+112644
Wildcard teams
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes 1105+131751
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 1105+95549
6 Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders 1006−8444
7 Flag of Argentina.svg Jaguares 907−9238
8 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks 718−5636
Source: SANZAAR

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.

 
 Quarter-finals Semi-finals
 
          
 
21 July – Christchurch
 
 
 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 40
 
28 July – Christchurch
 
 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks 10
 
 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 30
 
 
 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes 12
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28 July – Johannesburg
 
 
 Flag of South Africa.svg Lions 44
 
21 July – Johannesburg
 
 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs 26
 
 Flag of South Africa.svg Lions 40
 
 
 Flag of Argentina.svg Jaguares 23
 

Match

Details

4 August 2018
19:35
Crusaders 37–18 Lions
Try: Tamanivalu 19'
Havili 34'
Drummond 62'
S. Barrett 70'
Con: Mo'unga (4) 20', 36', 63', 71'
Pen: Mo'unga (3) 16', 33', 43'		Report [3]
Scoreboard [4] 		Try: Brink 53'
Marx 68'
Con: Jantjies 54'
Pen: Jantjies (2) 13', 39'
Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
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Kit shorts.svg
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Crusaders
Kit left arm Lionsleft18b.png
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Kit body Lionskit18b.png
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Kit right arm Lionsright18b.png
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Lions
FB15 David Havili
RW14 Seta Tamanivalu
OC13 Jack Goodhue
IC12 Ryan Crotty Yellow card.svg 67'
LW11 George Bridge Sub off.svg 77'
FH10 Richie Mo'unga Sub off.svg 77'
SH9 Bryn Hall Sub off.svg 54'
N88 Kieran Read
OF7 Matt Todd
BF6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis Sub off.svg 56'
RL5 Sam Whitelock (c)
LL4 Scott Barrett Sub off.svg 72'
TP3 Owen Franks Sub off.svg 60'
HK2 Codie Taylor Sub off.svg 69'
LP1 Joe Moody Sub off.svg 47'
Substitutes:
HK16 Andrew Makalio Sub on.svg 69'
PR17 Tim Perry Sub on.svg 47'
PR18 Michael Alaalatoa Sub on.svg 60'
LK19 Luke Romano Sub on.svg 72'
FL20 Pete Samu Sub on.svg 56'
SH21 Mitchell Drummond Sub on.svg 54'
CE22 Mitchell Hunt Sub on.svg 77'
FB23 Braydon Ennor Sub on.svg 77'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Robertson
FB15 Andries Coetzee
RW14 Ruan Combrinck
OC13 Lionel Mapoe
IC12 Harold Vorster Sub off.svg 76'
LW11 Courtnall Skosan
FH10 Elton Jantjies Sub off.svg 54'
SH9 Ross Cronjé Sub off.svg 69'
N88 Warren Whiteley (c)
BF7 Cyle Brink Sub off.svg 63'
OF6 Kwagga Smith
RL5 Franco Mostert
LL4 Marvin Orie Sub off.svg 54'
TP3 Ruan Dreyer Sub off.svg 69'
HK2 Malcolm Marx Sub off.svg 76'
LP1 Jacques van Rooyen Sub off.svg 47'
Substitutes:
HK16 Corné Fourie Sub on.svg 76'
PR17 Dylan Smith Sub on.svg 47'
PR18 Johannes Jonker Sub on.svg 69'
LK19 Lourens Erasmus Sub on.svg 54'
FL20 Marnus Schoeman Sub on.svg 63'
SH21 Dillon Smit Sub on.svg 69'
FH22 Aphiwe Dyantyi Sub on.svg 54'
WG23 Howard Mnisi Sub on.svg 76'
Coach:
Flag of South Africa.svg Swys de Bruin

Man of the Match:
Richie Mo'unga [5]

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 (4 August 2018). "Super Rugby Final: Crusaders crowned kings again". Super Rugby | Super 15 Rugby and Rugby Championship News,Results and Fixtures from Super XV Rugby. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "Outstanding Crusaders claim ninth Super Rugby title". SANZAAR. 4 August 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "Crusaders 37-18 Lions". SANZAAR. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  5. ↑ "Crusaders win title number nine after proving too strong for Lions in Super Rugby final". The Telegraph. London. 4 August 2018.
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