Trailing 20-15 with 10 minutes to go, Codie Taylor’s record-breaking try drew the 14-time champions level before Richie Mo’unga’s clutch conversion put Crusaders ahead.
Damian McKenzie then had the chance to snatch victory with two minutes to go, but the penalty from inside his own half fell agonisingly short before Mo’unga sealed a fairytale ending for Robertson’s era of dominance with the final kick of the game.
The title cements Mo’unga and Sam Whitelock’s place in history as two of the greatest to ever play in Super Rugby with the departing duo getting the perfect send-off.
“This club is my life, it really is my whole life. I am so proud to be a Crusader,” a tearful Mo’unga said after his final game. “I’m lost for words, this one really means a lot to me. It never looked like we were in it but the boys hung in there and I’m so proud.”
All Black hooker Taylor added: “We talked about going to heaven this year, but we had to go through hell first earlier in the season and really finished it off tonight.”
It was a merciless start to the contest with heavy collisions in defence marking the start of an immensely physical battle.
この記事は The Rugby Paper の June 25, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は The Rugby Paper の June 25, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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