Crusaders win New Zealand Conference

Crusaders win New Zealand Conference

12th July 2014 10:24

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Two tries: Matt Todd

The Crusaders secured top spot in the New Zealand Super Rugby Conference on Saturday thanks to a 34-8 win over the Highlanders.

The bonus-point win also virtually assures the seven-time champions of a home semi-final as it means the Sharks must now score at least four tries and beat the Stormers by 35 points at Newlands later on Saturday.

Indeed, the Highlanders - who will finish sixth overall - and are now likely to travel to Durban to face the Sharks next weekend.

The Crusaders led 17-3 at the interval thanks to a handful of Dan Carter penalties and a Matt Todd try on the stroke of half time.

A second try for Todd and another for Nemani Nadolo early in the second half essentially settled the result for Crusaders.

 And unless a miracle happens at Newlands this afternoon, the Qualifying finals will be:

- Sharks-Highlanders  The winner goes to Christchurch to play Crusaders

- Brumbies- Chiefs      The winner goes to Sidney to play the Tahs

Very interesting and open matches, I wouldn't give anyone the favourite role in this first round of the finals .

 So the final should be the Saders and the Tahs in Sydney. 

 Naah, Chiefs all the way!

  JW,
anything can happen in an ony match but as it's quite feasible to beat the brumbies, the tahs this year are too strong, it will be a very tough one. But possible........
Another Chiefs-Saders final would be great but this time at Xchurch

 Yeah, Chiefs will have to play their best games & also get the rub of the green. They haven't shown they are championship material this year so far.

 Waratahs have been pretty unlucky in Super rugby.... Lets hope it continues and Chiefs clean up Brumbies, Highlanders clean up Sharks and the Crusaders clean up in their Semi so it could be a NZ vs NZ.
Doubtful but possible, Waratahs last time in a play off was 2008 when they lost to the Crusaders in Christchurch, they lost in 2005 to the Crusaders in the final.. AGAIN!! 
Pretty disappointing for Waratahs fans considering their one of if not the biggest franchise in the competition.
Crusaders and Chiefs could grind it out. These two teams REALLY need to step it up and get some better rhythm happening because none of them look like they could take a title, unlike the Waratahs who are doing everything right at the moment, first time in their history of doing that.  COME ON .... GO NZ

Despite their bad start I did suspect that the Crusaders were the ones to beat...my call was a Shark's /Saders final but because the Shark's went awol in the Highlanders, Cheetahs and Stormers first game they won't meet in the final but nevertheless in a minor final...that's not the best way to do it and they made it hard for themselves...anyway they still have a challenge....go Sharks

NZ have three teams in the top 6 not bad; OZ have 2 & our mates in SA have one team. 
Also, the Canes were really close to being in the top 6. 
So as many predicted at the start of the year - the kiwi comp was the toughest & the best.