Relive 1 NEWS NOW’s live coverage of tonight's Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and Sharks at Christchurch Stadium.
FULLTIME - CRUSADERS 21 SHARKS 21
The Crusaders keep their cool and manage to secure a draw at the death against a gritty Sharks side.
81 mins: CRUSADERS 21 SHARKS 21
TRY! After several pick and go runs by the Crusaders forwards, the home team decide to give it to the backs. Mitchell Hunt runs an excellent line off Mitchell Drummond and the Crusaders' first-five crashes over to score a crucial try.
Mitchell Hunt steps up and he converts his own try to secure a draw for the Crusaders.
77 mins: CRUSADERS 14 SHARKS 21
NO TRY! Mitchell Hunt throws a long pass out to Braydon Ennor down the left edge. And Sharks winger Sbusiso Nkosi makes a stunning try-saving tackle, dragging Ennor into touch. The Crusaders will get another crack at the Sharks line after the visitors were penalised for an offside play.
75 mins: CRUSADERS 14 SHARKS 21
THREE! Sharks prop Thomas du Toit gets a pat on the back from his teammates after earning his side a crucial penalty.The Crusaders are penalised for not releasing the ball in a tackle and Curwin Bosch gives the visitors a seven-point lead after anoth successful penalty kick at goal.
72 mins: CRUSADERS 14 SHARKS 18
MISS! The Crusaders are making it hard for themselves, with Tim Bateman penalised for coming in from the side at the breakdown. Curwin Bosch is off target with his 45m penalty kick at goal.
69 mins: CRUSADERS 14 SHARKS 18
THREE! Crusaders reserve hooker Ben Funnell is penalised for hands in the ruck. Curwin Bosch steps up and nails another penalty kick at goal, this time from 30m+ out from the goal posts.
63 mins: CRUSADERS 14 SHARKS 15
DEFENCE! The Sharks again force another error! The Crusaders have had possession of the ball for the last five minutes and the referee rules a forward pass. The Sharks have a scrum just inside their own 40m line on the right side of the field.
56 mins: CRUSADERS 14 SHARKS 15
TRY! Jack Goodhue runs a brilliant line off Kieran Read 10m out of the Sharks' goal-line. Read shapes to throw a backdoor pass but he hits Goodhue instead. Goodhue breaks out of two tackles and slides over to score close to the uprights.
Mitchell Hunt is online with his conversion attempt.
50 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 15
THREE! Curwin Bosch extends the Sharks' lead with another successful penalty kick this time from 44m out on a slight angle.
48 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 12
OUT ON A FULL! Crusaders first-five Mitchell Hunt overcooks his kick to touch and the Sharks will have a line-out on the Crusaders' 40m line.
43 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 12
THREE! Crusaders loose-head prop Joe Moody is penalised for collapsing the scrum. Curwin Bosch steps up for the Sharks and nails a tricky 42m penalty kick on an angle. His kick curves and sails through the uprights.
40 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 9
And we are back underway! As the Sharks kick off deep towards the Crusaders.
HALFTIME - CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 9
The Sharks have come to play and have a deserved two-point lead at the break. The Crusaders have been their own worst enemy, losing the ball inside their own half due to poor handling and penalties. The Sharks have been sound on defence, with their line speed causing the home team all sorts of problems.
41 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 9
NO TRY! The Crusaders hit Jordan Taufua at the front at line-out time 5m away from the Sharks' goal-line. Codie Taylor has the ball and is tackled just cm from the try-line. The Sharks get up and celebrate as the referee rules he knocked the ball on.
A great defensive effort by the visitors.
37 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 9
PENALTY! Crusaders lock Scott Barrett makes a tackle bust and goes on a charging 10m run. The Crusaders work their way up just outside the Sharks' 22. But the home team is penalised for an obstruction in the next play, frustration starting to creep in for the home side as they push and shove the opposition. The Sharks players don't back down!
The referee gets involved and warns both captains to keep their cool or someone could be sent to the bin.
35 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 9
THREE! Sharks lock Ruan Botha earns a penalty for his team at halfway after the Crusaders are penalised for not releasing the ball in the tackle. The Sharks take the lead after a successful 50m penalty kick by Curwin Bosch.
32 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 6
NO TRY! The Sharks were in perfect attacking position but they butcher an opportunity at line-out time, 5m out of the Crusaders' goal-line. The throw isn't straight and they fumble the ball.
23 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 6
MISTAKE! The Sharks show great line speed on defence and force a mistake. Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor receives the ball at halfway and he can't hold onto it.
21 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 6
THREE! The Crusaders are penalised at scrum tiime and Curwin Bosch steps up to slot a penalty kick from in front of the goal posts.
19 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 3
MISTAKE! The Crusaders are struggling to get out of their own half. Crusaders lock Scott Barrett fumbles the ball just outside of his 22 and the Sharks are awarded a scrum in a handy attacking position.
12 mins: CRUSADERS 7 SHARKS 3
TRY! The Crusaders answer back through hooker Codie Taylor who grounds the ball against the bottom of the right goal post pad. It all began with an excellent run by Crusaders' fullback Will Jordan prior with a run from inside his own 22.
That was before Braydon Ennor made a break away run down the left hand edge. The Crusaders forwards decided to keep ball in hand with several forward runs before Taylor finished off the play with a clever five-pointer.
Mitchell Hunt nails his conversion attempt from an easy angle.
8 mins: CRUSADERS 0 SHARKS 3
THREE! Sharks' No.10 Curwin Bosch makes no mistake this time with his penalty attempt from the right side of the field this time, his 36m penalty kick goes sailing in between the goal posts.
6 mins: CRUSADERS 0 SHARKS 0
MISS! Sharks' first-five Curwin Bosch has a chance to score the first points of the match, but his penalty kick from the sideline hits the left hand goal post.
5 mins: CRUSADERS 0 SHARKS 0
PENALTY! A strong start by the visitors as they grind their way up field into the Crusaders 22. Prop Michael Alaalatoa is penalised for not rolling away in the tackle.
CRUSADERS 0 SHARKS 0
KICK-OFF! Mitchell Hunt gets things started with a deep kick-off towards the Sharks. The visitors kick the ball into touch and the Crusaders have a line-out at halfway.
PRE-MATCH:
The Crusaders have been in hot form in the Super Rugby competition, with eight wins and one loss so far in the 2019 season.
Scott Barrett returns for the Crusaders team at lock after being given his enforced All Blacks rest last week against the Lions.
Jordan Taufua has been given the nod to start at blindside flanker alongside skipper Matt Todd in the No.7 jersey.
Sam Whitelock and Richie Mo’unga are both ruled out of the 23 man squad, given their enforced All Blacks rest.
The Crusaders are aiming for a fifth straight win and could create history. If they do win they'll equal a record of 26 straight wins at home. They set that record back in 2004-2007.
TEAMS:
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 George Bridge, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd (c), 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Mitchell Dunshea, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Reserves: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Isi Tu’ungafasi, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Tim Bateman.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder (c), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Reserves: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Marius Louw.
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