Tu’ungafasi blocks Brumbies hopes of claiming final place
OFA Tu’ungafasi blocked a last-gasp drop goal by Noah Lolesio to fight off a Brumbies comeback and set up an all New Zealand final next weekend.
Their 20-19 win in Auckland didn’t come easily, as they were forced to withstand two yellow cards to Kurt Eklund and Adrian Choat for dangerous tackles, which invited an onslaught of pressure late in the piece from the Australian side.
However, led by talismanic stand-in captain Beauden Barrett, the Blues did enough to book a date with the perennial title favourites in what should be a blockbuster contest in a week’s time.
“I’ve got a lot of trust in the lads but you’ve got to give it to the Brumbies, they could have run away with that one,” Barrett said.
Barrett believes Tuungafasi’s charge-down was a “huge” moment in the game and season.
“Those are the moments you have to be alive for and look for,” he said. “We needed the big fella to stand up at that moment.”
The Aussie side made the dream start when Irae Simone scored an early converted try but Hoskins Sotutu and Mark Telea touched down to put the Blues ahead 20-7 at halftime.
However, a late brace by Lachlan Lonergan set up a one-point game. With the clock in the red, Lolesio dropped back in the pocket to attempt to slot a match winner, but prop Tu’ungafasi came out of nowhere to block the kick.
The All Blacks may have unearthed their next star No.8 as Cullen Grace continued his superb season by scoring a brace to lead the Crusaders to their 16th final courtesy of a 20-7 victory over the Chiefs.
Richie Mo’unga put Crusaders into an early 6-0 lead with two penalties, with Quinn Tupaea’s yellow card for a shoulder to the head sandwiched in between.
Pablo Matera was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, but Cullen
Grace scored his first try by reaching with his long levers to hit the whitewash off a scrum.
The Chiefs hit back with Angus Ta’avao bundling over from close-range and Matera was shown a second yellow for another high tackle leaving the Crusaders down to 14 men for 20 minutes.
But moments later, after quick hands by the home side Mo’unga picked out Grace who was unmarked and finished in the corner.
Despite the Chiefs’ numerical advantage for 20 minutes, sloppy hands and errors meant they couldn’t capitalise, and they’ll rue missed opportunities.
The Crusaders’ defence was exceptional, and they made almost 260 tackles compared to the Chiefs’ 115.
“I think to however many tackles there was, it was a great effort,” Crusaders captain Scott Barrett said.
“You have to take your hats off to the Chiefs, they threw 120 percent at us and I’m sure there’s going to be some sore boys in the next few days.”