The Crusaders secured second place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with a heart-stopping 33-31 victory over the Brumbies at GIO Stadium, stealing victory in the dying moments of a match that had everything. In a contest that lived up to its billing as finals footy a week early, both sides threw everything at each other in pursuit of home advantage for the semi-finals.
Key moments:
2′ – Feao Fotuaika crashes over for early Brumbies lead (7-0)
7′ – Christian Lio-Willie powers back immediately (7-7)
11′ – Rivez Reihana penalty gives Crusaders the lead (7-10)
13′ – Ethan Blackadder extends lead on 50th appearance (7-15)
17′ – Len Ikitau’s brilliant solo effort (12-15)
26′ – Rivez Reihana finishes slick move (12-20)
38′ – Sevu Reece’s audacious 30m drop goal (14-25)
47′ – Rivez Reihana penalty extends lead (14-28)
50′ – Rhys van Nek burrows over (21-28)
56′ – Andy Muirhead completes stunning comeback try (28-28)
73′ – Noah Lolesio penalty gives Brumbies lead (31-28)
77′ – George Bell’s match-winning try (31-33)
With the Chiefs already confirmed as minor premiers, this encounter carried enormous significance – the winner would claim second spot and the right to host a semi-final. What unfolded was a pulsating 80 minutes that swung dramatically in both directions, ultimately decided by George Bell’s composed finish with just three minutes remaining.
The opening exchanges set the tone for what would follow. The Brumbies couldn’t have asked for a better start when Noah Hotham inexplicably spilled the kick-off cold, gifting the hosts prime field position just 15 metres from the try line. Within two minutes, the home forwards had hammered their way over through tighthead prop Feao Fotuaika. After several pick-and-drive phases, Fotuaika spotted his moment, picking and driving with purpose from close range, pumping his legs to dive over beside the posts for his first try in Brumbies colours. Noah Lolesio’s conversion gave the Brumbies the perfect beginning they craved.
The Crusaders’ response was immediate and emphatic. From the restart, they worked their way into the Brumbies’ 22 with clinical precision. When the opportunity arose, Christian Lio-Willie swept around the blindside after Noah Hotham’s tap penalty created quick ball. The powerful number eight muscled through two defenders, showing his strength and determination to plant the ball down over the line. Rivez Reihana’s conversion levelled proceedings at 7-7.
From that point, the Crusaders began to assert their authority. Reihana nudged them ahead with a penalty from 45 metres after Tom Wright was penalised for holding on, before the visitors extended their advantage through Ethan Blackadder. The veteran flanker, celebrating his 50th appearance in Crusaders colours, capitalised on excellent field position created by Sevu Reece’s sublime 50-22 kick. With the forwards hammering away at the Brumbies’ line, Blackadder spotted his opportunity and picked and went at pace from close range. The experienced loose forward was unstoppable, powering over in the right corner despite the best efforts of the home defence. Reihana’s conversion attempt drifted wide, but at 15-7, the visitors had opened up a crucial eight-point advantage.
The penalty count was becoming a significant factor, with referee Doleman finding the Brumbies on the wrong side of several breakdown decisions as the Crusaders’ superior line speed and physicality began to tell.
The Brumbies refused to buckle, producing the moment of the first half through Len Ikitau. The centre’s solo effort was a thing of beauty – after a quick recycle at ruck time, Ryan Lonergan spun the ball left where Rob Valetini’s slick hands and perfectly timed pass sent Ikitau through a gaping hole in the Crusaders’ defence. The centre took off at pace, splitting the defence in centre field before showing his electric pace to beat Johnny McNicholl at the back. Ikitau dove over in the left corner for a spectacular individual try. Lolesio’s conversion from the touchline brought the deficit back to three points at 12-15.
The visitors weren’t finished, however. As half-time approached, they produced two moments of individual brilliance that would prove crucial. First, after the Brumbies conceded their fifth consecutive penalty and received an official warning from referee James Doleman for repeated infringements, the Crusaders set up an attacking lineout in the right corner. The rolling maul was initially well defended, but when it stalled, Noah Hotham showed excellent game awareness, releasing from the back of the maul and timing his pass perfectly to put Reihana into space down the blindside. The fly-half skipped past his defender with a clever step and dove over in the right corner, converting his own try to extend the lead to 12-20.
Then, with the siren sounding, Reece produced a moment of audacious skill. With penalty advantage flowing, the winger dropped back 30 metres from the posts and nonchalantly slotted a drop goal directly in front. It was the kind of moment that separates the very best players from the rest.
Leading 25-14 at the interval, the Crusaders appeared to be in control, but the second half would prove they were far from finished with the drama.
The Brumbies came out firing after the break, and their persistence was rewarded when replacement prop Rhys van Nek burrowed his way over from close range. The forwards had hammered away at the line for several phases, with James Slipper picking and going before being stopped just short. Van Nek then showed the perfect timing and technique, burying his head low and driving hard to plant the ball down on the line despite the best efforts of the Crusaders’ goal-line defence. Lolesio’s conversion reduced the deficit to seven points, and suddenly the comeback was on.
The home side’s momentum was building, and they produced their try of the match in the 56th minute. The Brumbies showed slick hands in midfield as David Feliuai timed his pass perfectly whilst falling, sending the ball to Tom Wright who immediately linked with the electric Corey Toole. The winger showed devastating pace and footwork, slicing his way across the field from left to right and sucking in the Crusaders’ defence in the process. As the cover defence converged on him, Toole showed excellent vision, signalling for his right winger Andy Muirhead to cut behind him on the inside. Muirhead still had work to do, fighting through desperate defence and dragging three defenders with him as he crashed over in the corner for his ninth try of the campaign. Lolesio’s conversion from the sideline was inch-perfect, levelling the scores at 28-28.
GIO Stadium erupted as the Brumbies sensed their moment had arrived. The home side continued to build pressure, with Rob Valetini leading the charge in both attack and defence. The Wallabies number eight was immense in the contact zone, smashing Crusaders attackers and providing the platform for his side’s sustained pressure.
With seven minutes remaining, the Brumbies grabbed the lead their performance deserved. After a series of attacking phases, Luke Reimer was penalised for playing the ball on the ground, giving Lolesio a shot at goal from 25 metres. The fly-half, who had been faultless with the boot all evening, split the uprights to put his side ahead 31-28.
The Canberra faithful sensed victory, but the Crusaders had other ideas. Showing the composure and experience that has served them so well over the years, they methodically worked their way into attacking position. James O’Connor made a crucial half-break, and when the Brumbies were penalised for going off their feet at the breakdown, Reihana kicked for the left corner. However, the decision proved controversial, with several observers noting that referee James Doleman appeared to miss a clear knock-on by Sevu Reece in the build-up to the penalty.
What followed was a masterclass in pressure rugby. The Crusaders’ lineout drive was initially well defended by the Brumbies, with the home pack driving them back as the maul came to a halt. But Bell showed excellent game awareness and rugby intelligence, reading the situation perfectly before peeling off the back of the maul at just the right moment. The hooker spun to the blindside where the defence was caught napping, diving over for what would prove to be the match-winning try. Reihana’s conversion attempt drifted wide, but at 33-31, the visitors had done enough.
The final minutes were fraught with tension as the Brumbies threw everything at one last assault. They recovered the restart and surged into the Crusaders’ 22, but Scott Barrett’s crucial intervention – forcing the ball loose from Corey Toole’s grasp just metres from the line – sealed the victory.
The missed knock-on by Reece left the home crowd frustrated, with acting Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan diplomatically acknowledging post-match: “I thought it was [a knock-on], but that’s the way it is. We weren’t good enough and it started from that exit really.”
For the Crusaders, this was a victory built on character and experience. Tom Christie was outstanding in defence, making crucial tackles and turnovers throughout the 80 minutes. Reihana controlled the game expertly from fly-half, while Blackadder and Lio-Willie provided the grunt work up front. Reece added his usual moments of magic, none more so than his first-half drop goal.
The Brumbies can take enormous pride from their performance despite the heartbreak. Lolesio was composed and accurate on his return from injury, while Wright’s positional play and counter-attacking threat kept the Crusaders honest throughout. Ikitau was dangerous with ball in hand, and Valetini’s second-half performance was nothing short of inspirational.
The victory sees the Crusaders claim second place on the ladder and earn the right to host a semi-final at home. For the Brumbies, they must now travel for their semi-final, but on this evidence, they’ll be a dangerous proposition for any opponent.
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