The 2018 Super Rugby Final was played between the Crusaders of New Zealand and the Lions of South Africa. The match, held at Rugby League Park in Christchurch, was the 23rd final in the Super Rugby competition's history.
Both finalists won their respective conferences during the regular season and both had hosted quarterfinal and semifinal matches in the playoff series. The final was hosted by the Crusaders as the higher placed team from the regular season standings.
The Crusaders won the match by a margin of 19 points. The Lions started the final well, however the combination of travel, jet-lag and the sheer dominance of the Crusaders was instrumental in securing the result. The Crusaders extended their record number of Super Rugby title wins to nine and became the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Chiefs in 2013.
Road to the final +Finals Series qualifying teamsConference leadersTeam 1 14 0 2 +247 7 63 2 9 0 7 +84 10 46 3 9 1 6 +112 6 44 Wildcard teams 4 11 0 5 +131 7 51 5 11 0 5 +95 5 49 6 10 0 6 −8 4 44 7 9 0 7 −9 2 38 8 7 1 8 −5 6 36 Source: SANZAAR
After two seasons in which 18 teams participated, the 2018 season reverted to a 15-team competition, consisting of three geographical conferences.
Each conference leader at the end of the regular season, the from New Zealand, from South Africa and from Australia gained home berths in the quarterfinals, as did the top-ranked wildcard team, the from New Zealand's conference. Their four wildcard opponents in the quarterfinals were the next best teams as ranked at the end of the regular season.
All four home teams won their quarterfinal matches to set up an all-New Zealand clash between the Crusaders and Hurricanes for the first semifinal in Christchurch, while the Lions hosted the Waratahs for the second semifinal in Johannesburg.
Both home teams won their semifinal matches with comfortable margins. The Lions then travelled away to Christchurch to play the Crusaders in the 2018 Super Rugby final.
Match
Details
FB 15David HaviliRW 14Seta TamanivaluOC 13Jack GoodhueIC 12Ryan Crotty LW 11George Bridge FH 10Richie Mo'unga SH 9 Bryn Hall N8 8 Kieran ReadOF 7 Matt ToddBF 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis RL 5 Sam Whitelock (c)LL 4 Scott Barrett TP 3 Owen Franks HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 Joe Moody Substitutes:HK 16Andrew Makalio PR 17Tim Perry PR 18Michael Alaalatoa LK 19Luke Romano FL 20Pete Samu SH 21Mitchell Drummond CE 22Mitchell Hunt FB 23Braydon Ennor Coach: Scott Robertson FB 15Andries CoetzeeRW 14Ruan CombrinckOC 13Lionel MapoeIC 12Harold Vorster LW 11Courtnall SkosanFH 10Elton Jantjies SH 9 Ross Cronjé N8 8 Warren Whiteley (c)BF 7 Cyle Brink OF 6 Kwagga SmithRL 5 Franco MostertLL 4 Marvin Orie TP 3 Ruan Dreyer HK 2 Malcolm Marx LP 1 Jacques van Rooyen Substitutes:HK 16Corné Fourie PR 17Dylan Smith PR 18Johannes Jonker LK 19Lourens Erasmus FL 20Marnus Schoeman SH 21Dillon Smit FH 22Aphiwe Dyantyi WG 23Howard Mnisi Coach: Swys de Bruin Man of the Match: Richie Mo'unga
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Nic Berry (Australia) Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
References