2018 Super Rugby Final

2018 Super Rugby Final
Event	2018 Super Rugby season
Date	4 August 2018
Venue	Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Referee	Angus Gardner (Australia)
Attendance	c. 20,000 [1]

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	Crusaders	14	0	2	+247	7	63
2	Lions	9	0	7	+84	10	46
3	Waratahs	9	1	6	+112	6	44
Wildcard teams
4	Hurricanes	11	0	5	+131	7	51
5	Chiefs	11	0	5	+95	5	49
6	Highlanders	10	0	6	−8	4	44
7	Jaguares	9	0	7	−9	2	38
8	Sharks	7	1	8	−5	6	36
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.

Quarterfinals		Semifinals		Final

21 July – Christchurch

Crusaders	40
		28 July – Christchurch
Sharks	10
		Crusaders	30
20 July – Wellington
		Hurricanes	12
Hurricanes	32
				4 August – Christchurch
Chiefs	31
				Crusaders	37
21 July – Johannesburg
				Lions	18
Lions	40
		28 July – Johannesburg
Jaguares	23
		Lions	44
21 July – Sydney
		Waratahs	26
Waratahs	30

Highlanders	23

Quarter-finals

	20 July 2018	Hurricanes	32–31	Chiefs	Westpac Stadium, Wellington
	19:35	Try: Julian Savea 1' TJ Perenara 33', 62' Ben Lam 69' Con: Beauden Barrett 2', 33' Jordie Barrett 70' Pen: Beauden Barrett 11', 55' Cards: Vaea Fifita 80'	Report[3] Scoreboard[4]	Try: Brad Weber 7' Anton Lienert-Brown 51' Damian McKenzie 79' Lachlan Boshier 80' Con: Damian McKenzie 8', 52', 79' Charlie Ngatai 80' Pen: Damian McKenzie 22'	Attendance: 16,402[5] Referee: Glen Jackson

	21 July 2018	Crusaders	40–10	Sharks	Rugby League Park, Christchurch
	19:35	Try: Bryn Hall 9' David Havili 12' Matt Todd 42' Braydon Ennor 67' Pete Samu 72' Con: Richie Mo'unga 43', 68', 73' Pen: Richie Mo'unga 7', 40', 57'	Report[6] Scoreboard[7]	Try: Kobus van Wyk 26' Con: Robert du Preez 27' Pen: Robert du Preez 48'	Referee: Mike Fraser

	21 July 2018	Waratahs	30–23	Highlanders	Allianz Stadium, Sydney
	20:05	Try: Bernard Foley 54', 61' Israel Folau 56' Con: Bernard Foley 54', 57', 62' Pen: Bernard Foley 4', 9', 71' Cards: Paddy Ryan 74'	Report[8] Scoreboard[9]	Try: Waisake Naholo 11' Rob Thompson 25' Con: Lima Sopoaga 12', 26' Pen: Lima Sopoaga 7', 19', 34' Cards: Waisake Naholo 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 8' Harold Vorster 15' Malcolm Marx 27' Andries Coetzee 57' Con: Elton Jantjies 9', 16', 28', 58' Pen: Elton Jantjies 26', 44', 76' Drop: Elton Jantjies 64'	Report[11] Scoreboard[12]	Try: Bautista Delguy 42' Pablo Matera 48' Con: Nicolás Sánchez 43', 49' Pen: Nicolás Sánchez 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 15' George Bridge 28' David Havili 44' Braydon Ennor 69' Con: Richie Mo'unga 16', 45' Pen: Richie Mo'unga 36', 39'	Report[13] Scoreboard[14]	Try: Julian Savea 19' Ben Lam 80' Con: Beauden Barrett 19'	Referee: Jaco Peyper

	28 July 2018	Lions	44–26	Waratahs	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	15:05	Try: Kwagga Smith 21', 63' Aphiwe Dyantyi 26' Malcolm Marx 35', 58' Courtnall Skosan 79' Con: Elton Jantjies 28', 37', 64', 80' Pen: Elton Jantjies 55', 74'	Report[15] Scoreboard[16]	Try: Ned Hanigan 4' Israel Folau 8' Tom Robertson 39' Jake Gordon 76' Con: Bernard Foley 6', 10', 76' Cards: Damien Fitzpatrick 57' to 67'	Referee: Glen Jackson

Match

Details

4 August 2018
19:35

Crusaders	37–18	Lions
Try: Seta Tamanivalu 19' David Havili 34' Mitchell Drummond 62' Scott Barrett 70' Con: Richie Mo'unga 20', 36', 63', 71' Pen: Richie Mo'unga 16', 33', 43'	Report[17] Scoreboard[18]	Try: Cyle Brink 53' Malcolm Marx 68' Con: Elton Jantjies 54' Pen: Elton Jantjies 13', 39'

Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Crusaders

Lions


Crusaders:
FB	15	David Havili
RW	14	Seta Tamanivalu
OC	13	Jack Goodhue
IC	12	Ryan Crotty 67'
LW	11	George Bridge	77'
FH	10	Richie Mo'unga	77'
SH	9	Bryn Hall	54'
N8	8	Kieran Read
OF	7	Matt Todd
BF	6	Heiden Bedwell-Curtis	56'
LL	5	Sam Whitelock (c)
RL	4	Scott Barrett	72'
TP	3	Owen Franks	60'
HK	2	Codie Taylor	69'
LP	1	Joe Moody	47'
Substitutes:
HK	16	Andrew Makalio	69'
PR	17	Tim Perry	47'
PR	18	Michael Alaalatoa	60'
LK	19	Luke Romano	72'
FL	20	Pete Samu	56'
SH	21	Mitchell Drummond	54'
IC	22	Mitchell Hunt	77'
FB	23	Braydon Ennor	77'
Coach:
Scott Robertson


Lions:
FB	15	Andries Coetzee
RW	14	Ruan Combrinck
OC	13	Lionel Mapoe
IC	12	Harold Vorster	76'
LW	11	Courtnall Skosan
FH	10	Elton Jantjies	54'
SH	9	Ross Cronjé	69'
N8	8	Warren Whiteley (c)
BF	7	Cyle Brink	63'
OF	6	Kwagga Smith
LL	5	Franco Mostert
RL	4	Marvin Orie	54'
TP	3	Ruan Dreyer	69'
HK	2	Malcolm Marx	76'
LP	1	Jacques van Rooyen	47'
Substitutes:
HK	16	Corné Fourie	76'
PR	17	Dylan Smith	47'
PR	18	Johannes Jonker	69'
LK	19	Lourens Erasmus	54'
FL	20	Marnus Schoeman	63'
SH	21	Dillon Smit	69'
FH	22	Aphiwe Dyantyi	54'
WG	23	Howard Mnisi	76'
Coach:
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

"Parade to celebrate Crusaders latest Super Rugby title". Radio New Zealand. 6 August 2018.
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.
"Hurricanes beat Chiefs to secure Semi Final spot". SANZAAR. 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
"Hurricanes 32-31 Chiefs". SANZAAR. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
https://www.westpacstadium.co.nz/fileadmin/Documents/Annual_Reports/WRST_AR19.pdf
"Clinical Crusaders cruise past Sharks". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
"Crusaders 40-10 Sharks". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
"Waratahs Storm Back to Stun Highlanders". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
"Waratahs 30-23 Highlanders". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/07/22/waratahs-highlanders-reax
"Lions overcome Jaguares to reach semi-final". SANZAAR. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
"Lions 40-23 Jaguares". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
"Crusaders Beat 'Canes Book Home Final". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
"Crusaders 30-12 Hurricanes". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
"Lions overcome Waratahs to reach Super Rugby final". SANZAAR. 29 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
"Lions 44-26 Waratahs". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
"Outstanding Crusaders claim ninth Super Rugby title". SANZAAR. 4 August 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
"Crusaders 37-18 Lions". SANZAAR. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
"Crusaders win title number nine after proving too strong for Lions in Super Rugby final". The Telegraph. London. 4 August 2018.

Preceded by 2017 Super Rugby Final	Super Rugby Final 2018	Succeeded by 2019 Super Rugby Final

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[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.

[Hurricanes_beat_Chiefs_to_secure_Semi_Final_spot-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.

[Hurricanes_32-31_Chiefs-4] "Hurricanes 32-31 Chiefs". SANZAAR. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.

[5] ttps://www.westpacstadium.co.nz/fileadmin/Documents/Annual_Reports/WRST_AR19.pdf

[Clinical_Crusaders_cruise_past_Sharks-6] "Clinical Crusaders cruise past Sharks". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.

[Crusaders_40-10_Sharks-7] "Crusaders 40-10 Sharks". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.

[Waratahs_Storm_Back_to_Stun_Highlanders-8] "Waratahs Storm Back to Stun Highlanders". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.

[Waratahs_30-23_Highlanders-9] "Waratahs 30-23 Highlanders". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.

[10] ttps://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/07/22/waratahs-highlanders-reax

[Lions_overcome_Jaguares_to_reach_semi-final-11] "Lions overcome Jaguares to reach semi-final". SANZAAR. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.

[Lions_40-23_Jaguares-12] "Lions 40-23 Jaguares". SANZAAR. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.

[Crusaders_Beat_'Canes_Book_Home_Final-13] "Crusaders Beat 'Canes Book Home Final". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.

[Crusaders_30-12_Hurricanes-14] "Crusaders 30-12 Hurricanes". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.

[Lions_overcome_Waratahs_to_reach_Super_Rugby_final-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.

[Lions_44-26_Waratahs-16] "Lions 44-26 Waratahs". SANZAAR. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.

[Outstanding_Crusaders_claim_ninth_Super_Rugby_title-17] "Outstanding Crusaders claim ninth Super Rugby title". SANZAAR. 4 August 2018. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.

[Crusaders_37-18_Lions-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.