Match Details

Crusaders (NZ)

VS

Chiefs (NZ)

24

Christchurch Kick off times: 7:35pm (Local) Fri 4 May 5:35pm (AEST) Fri 4 May

30

Inspired by a huge game from No.8 Sione Lauaki and two tries to All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu, the Chiefs have upset the Crusaders by 30-24 at Jade Stadium and thrown the 2007 Super 14 wide open.

The Crusaders stay in with a chance of a home semi-final following a try after the final siren to skipper Richie McCaw, while the Chiefs will have a nervous wait to see if the Blues, Bulls or Brumbies can overhaul them for a playoff spot.

The Crusaders made the Chiefs pay for a sloppy start with the opening three from first five-eighths Stephen Brett after just one minute.

The Chiefs rallied in the next 10 minutes and started to look the more incisive unit. They got their reward when first five Stephen Donald leveled with a forty-metre penalty on 15 minutes and then took the lead with another Donald penalty just two minutes later.

Brett slotted his second penalty on 20 minutes and the match was all tied up at six apiece.

The Crusaders finally broke the shackles against the run of play when Brett stepped into a gap and found McCaw in support on his inside. The skipper passed out to Mose Tuiali'i, who took the ball to within five metres before throwing an overhead pass to lock Ross Filipo to dive over for the opening try on 25 minutes.

But the Chiefs hit back. Donald closed the gap for Chiefs on with penalties on 29 minutes and 34 minutes before Sitiveni Sivivatu scored a spectacular try after a break down the left flank.

Fullback Mils Muliaina found himself in space and as the defence came in cover he put a grubber kick through for Sivivatu to pluck the ball out of the hands of Crusaders wing Scott Hamilton and then twist his way over for a try wide out.

Donald missed the conversion but made the Crusaders pay for poor discipline with another penalty on the stroke of half-time for a deserved 20-13 lead.

The Crusaders opened the scoring in the second half with a Brett penalty to make it 20-16 before a true arm-wrestle was played out in the forwards.

The Crusaders clawed back another three-pointer with a Brett penalty on the hour mark to make it a one-point ball game, 20-19.

Donald pushed the lead back out to four with another beautifully struck penalty on 62 minutes. 

The Crusaders went within inches of scoring a try in the 66th minute but the attack came unstuck just short of the line.

Just seven minutes later the Chiefs put the dagger into Crusaders' hearts when flying wing Sivivatu scored his second try by outpacing Tuiali'i after a perfectly placed kick from Luaki. Donald added the extras and there was daylight at 30-19.

The Crusaders managed to grab a vital bonus point when McCaw bashed his way over for a try after a tap penalty 10metres out from the Chiefs line after the final siren. 

Chiefs 30

Tries: Sivivatu 2

Conversions: Donald 2

Penalties: Donald 5

Crusaders 24

Tries: Filipo, McCaw

Conversions: Brett 1

Penalties: Brett 4