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.
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.
With just two rounds remaining until the playoffs, round 14 provides an opportunity for teams to lock up a home playoff or confirm their spot in the top eight.
The Crusaders have prevailed in the Super Rugby Pacific's biggest heavyweight battle of the season so far, but it didn't come easily against the Brumbies in a GIO Stadium thriller.
Having offered a sneak preview of what the Crusaders might look like in the future during their 53–15 win over the Force in Perth, it is a more traditional line-up that will meet the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday.
Needing to get back on a winning road, the Crusaders were aware they wouldn't get any favours from a Force team who had been unlucky in some games in their Super Rugby Pacific match in Perth on Saturday.
