Six-time Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific winning coach Scott Robertson had his players attack the perceived area of Blues strength, the lineout, to secure his side's 21–7 victory over a shell-shocked Blues side at Eden Park on Saturday.
After 15 weeks of regular season and two rounds of playoffs, a packed Eden Park awaits the Blues and Crusaders in the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific final this Saturday night.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson praised the record-breaking defensive effort of his side in denying the Chiefs a Super Rugby Pacific finals berth when winning their semifinal 20-7 in Christchurch on Friday.
New Zealand's stranglehold on the Super Rugby Pacific will continue for another year after the Blues snuffed out the hopes of the remaining Australian side, beating the Brumbies 20-19 at Eden Park.
Defence trumped possession in the wet of Christchurch when the Crusaders were required to break competition tackling records to hold out the Chiefs for a semifinal 20–7 win in Super Rugby Pacific rugby in Christchurch on Friday.
Crusaders' coach Scott Robertson may have five championships to his credit, but going into big games like Friday's Super Rugby Pacific semifinal against the Chiefs in Christchurch can still cause some nervousness.
Memories of a win denied them by a last-second Beauden Barrett dropped goal, landed under a penalty advantage, is fuelling Brumbies hopes ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific semifinal at Eden Park.
The Brumbies will fly the Australian flag in the Super Rugby Pacific for another week after a comeback win in their quarter-final against the Hurricanes at GIO Stadium on Saturday night.
Former NRL superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scored his first Super Rugby Pacific try as the Blues cruised through to the semifinals with a 35-6 win against the Highlanders at Eden Park.
Retiring Highlanders coach Tony Brown has known the best of times and some less memorable times but Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinal against the Blues represents a final chance to score a march in Auckland.
Making a strong start, and imposing their game, would be the goal for the Hurricanes in their Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinal against the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.
