Crusaders cup runneth over

Christchurch – Super Rugby’s dominant force, the Canterbury Crusaders know their bulging trophy cabinet makes them unpopular but say critics should at least give them respect.

The Crusaders downed the Waikato Chiefs 24-13 in the Super Rugby Aotearoa final in Christchurch on Saturday for their fifth consecutive title.

In the 26 years of Super Rugby they have made the final 16 times, winning 12, including both seasons of the New Zealand edition of the championship, to go with their 10 multi-national titles pre-Covid.

They now turn their attention to the new trans-Tasman competition next weekend against Australian Super Rugby runners-up, the ACT Brumbies, who lost to the Queensland Reds in that final. –