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Hello and welcome to ESPNscrum's live text commentary for the Super Rugby grand final. So many talking points, so many battles across the field but all that matters now is how the players stand up to the pressure in the big one.
The Crusaders hold the advantage in terms of finals experience and a dominant head-to-head record, but the Waratahs have been the best side all season and are deserved slight favourites on home turf at ANZ Stadium. It should be a ripper.
Teams are coming out - we're just a few minutes away from kick-off!
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| 1 |
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Good sign for the Waratahs winning their first line-out just in Crusaders territory and then winning a penalty from the ensuing play.
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| 2 |
3 - 0 |
Foley's kicking boots are on early and the Waratahs take the lead.
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| 4 |
8 - 0 |
Brilliant try to Adam Ashley-Cooper after the Waratahs produced several phases of superb backline play with pin-point passing. Straight running from the outside-centre from 10m out did the trick after excellent lead-up work. They have turned up all right. Foley just wide with the extras.
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| 9 |
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The Crusaders get a scrum feed and a chance at some possession after a NSW knock-on, but they spoil it with an error of their own and the Waratahs have another penalty 38m out.
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| 10 |
11 - 0 |
Straight through from Foley, and a dream start for the Waratahs. The Crusaders will be steaming.
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| 12 |
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Another error from the Crusaders in possession, sending a pass over the sideline.
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| 13 |
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Crusaders penalty for a late hit on Dagg after he kicked for touch. Line-out 10m into NSW territory.
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| 14 |
14 - 0 |
Another penalty to the Waratahs for the Crusaders being off their feet at the breakdown, and Palu is injured trying to place a big hit on McCaw - may have picked the wrong target. Three from three for Foley and the Waratahs have a handy lead now.
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| 17 |
14 - 5 |
Try Crusaders. Matt Todd. End-to-end stuff as Nemani Nadolo almost scores on one wing, NSW kick back into Crusaders territory and then the Crusaders attack the other flank, with Colin Slade doing the damage through the middle.
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| 19 |
14 - 7 |
Carter adds the extras from out wide - no surprise to see the Crusaders fighting back.
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| 21 |
17 - 7 |
Penalty to NSW for hands in the ruck, and again Foley makes the Crusaders pay for their indiscipline.
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| 24 |
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Crusaders penalty near halfway against Foley for lying around in the ruck. They win the line-out on the 22.
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| 26 |
17 - 10 |
Hooper pinged for being off his feet in the ruck. Colin Slade lining this kick up as Carter has copped a knock and is limping. No mistake from Slade from a good angle.
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| 28 |
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More slick backline play from the Tahs sees them win a line-out on the Crusaders 15m. Carter's right ankle looks bad but he's staying on - for now. Andy Ellis also receiving some treatment.
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| 29 |
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Jacques Potgieter drops it cold 10m out - the Waratahs miss a golden chance to extend their lead.
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| 31 |
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NSW penalised for a crooked throw. Dan Carter is off - shame for him and the Crusaders. Tom Taylor a handy replacement though.
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| 33 |
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Waratahs not releasing and another penalty to the Crusaders. Lineout on the halfway line ...
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| 34 |
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Folau has kicked out on the full from just outside his own 22 - the Crusaders are hitting back hard now.
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| 35 |
17 - 13 |
Kane Douglas spotted interfering with the Crusaders in the line-out and ... Colin Slade makes no mistake from a handy position.
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| 37 |
20 - 13 |
Crusaders pinged for being offside - Foley lines this up from 40m out and straight in front. A superb low, penetrating kick from the fly-half. A 1-iron if you like.
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| 40 |
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A bit sloppy from both sides to end the first half but the Crusaders are penalised with just seconds remaining. They diffuse the line-out however, and that will do us after what was a frenetic opening stanza. Waratahs 20-13 Crusaders at half-time.
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| 40 |
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The Crusaders restart and a short kick-off fails to work for the away side.
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| 42 |
20 - 20 |
After a scrappy start to the second half, the Crusaders score in the corner through Nemani Nadolo after great lead-up work by McCaw. A touch of controversy though, as replays suggested his foot was very close to the touch in goal line. Boos ring out across ANZ Stadium and Colin Slade adds salt to the fans' wounds with a sideline conversion.
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| 46 |
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Forward pass from McCaw under pressure and it's scrum time for the Tahs on the Crusaders 40m line. Penalty to the Crusaders, though, for a collapsed front row.
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| 47 |
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Knock-on by the visitors, another scrum - this time on the NSW 30m.
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| 48 |
20 - 23 |
Kepu penalised for not pushing straight in the scrum. A chance for the Crusaders to take the lead for the first time and danger time for the Waratahs' set piece now. Slade with a lovely hooking kick to add 3 to their total.
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| 51 |
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Alofa taken high into touch by Nadolo and Foley lines up another shot from 38m to try and level the scores. This one misses to the left. Could prove costly.
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| 53 |
23 - 23 |
Another silly penalty this time given away by McCaw, spoiling the Waratahs ruck with an offside boot. Foley has the radar back on for this kick from 35m and the scores are level once more.
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| 55 |
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A Foley clearance charged down and luckily for the home side, it bounces to Beale who grounds in goal.
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| 56 |
23 - 26 |
A high tackle gifts the Crusaders another penalty right in front from 38m and Slade sends the NZ side back into the lead.
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| 59 |
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Phipps almost scores in the corner after eight superb phases, but Andy Ellis is on the spot to make the crucial tackle for the Crusaders.
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| 60 |
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The Waratahs blow another chance as Will Skelton loses the ball on the Crusaders' 22m line. The Crusaders are dynamic at the breakdown now.
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| 62 |
28 - 26 |
Oh that's just brilliant from the Waratahs. Another superb 10 phases of build up ends with Adam Ashley-Cooper stepping inside to beat two tacklers and score his second 5m in from the touch line. The Crusaders have thrown everything at the home side in defence and NSW have responded in kind in attack. We are witnessing a worthy final here!
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| 63 |
30 - 26 |
Reinforcements on the for Crusaders as Foley slots it through from wide out.
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| 66 |
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A penalty to the Crusaders puts them back in attack on the Waratahs 22m.
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| 67 |
30 - 29 |
Penalty right in front for the Crusaders. Ryan Crotty's head has been opened up like a tin of beans and that'll take some threat to stitch up.
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| 70 |
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Great kick by the Crusaders and now it's a lineout on the Waratahs 20m.
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| 71 |
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Nicely milked penalty by Phipps to relieve the pressure on the Tahs as he passes into an offside opponent.
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| 72 |
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Foley and Beale combine in smart fashion but Horne can't quite hold on to the final pass out wide. A touch over 61,000 here in Sydney and they are watching a classic.
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| 74 |
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Superb play by both sides. The Waratahs throw 13 phases at the Crusaders but they defend it well before winning a penalty close to their own line for the Tahs holding onto the ball in the ruck.
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| 75 |
30 - 32 |
Nadolo breaks the Tahs open out wide and Phipps makes a great tackle to save a try, but NSW hearts are broken as the Crusaders win a penalty for offside play to take the lead.
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| 79 |
33 - 32 |
The Waratahs win a penalty that goes against McCaw in the ruck and Foley lines up a shot for the title from 45m out. It's on the edge of his limit but ... he slots it over by the barest of margins! Unbelievable.
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| 80 |
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The Waratahs hold on and boot the ball into touch after the 80 minutes are up, winning their first Super Rugby title after an extraordinary game of rugby at ANZ Stadium. The Waratahs dominated possession but the Crusaders were superb in defence as well. A match truly worthy of a Super Rugby grand final!
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