Crusaders withstand the pressure

Chiefs second five-eighths Sam Tuitupou breaks a Crusaders tackle last night. Picture / Getty Images

Crusaders 25 Chiefs 19

The Crusaders survived the greatest inquest into their Super 14 campaign last night, answering the entreaties of the Feelers chorus line to "Stand up and be counted" in a blockbuster at Waikato Stadium.

Victory extended the visitors' winning stretch to five games but they needed some fortune, the laser eyesight of the video referee and desperate tackles on Sitiveni Sivivatu and Sione Lauaki to fend of the ferocious Chiefs onslaught.

This was a match of great intensity and passion and one which tested all the resilience of the champions.

Even Reds skipper Chris Latham would have been woken from his slumber by this slugfest.

The thrust and counter-thrust enthralled the 25,000 crowd who watched some epic contributions by No 8 Lauaki, Marty Holah and Jono Gibbes, great efforts but ones which eventually foundered against the Crusaders' defensive wall.

Eventually a few calmer decisions proved the difference with the vital try to Mose Tuiali'i coming when the Chiefs kicked away some precious possession as they used a quick penalty. Rico Gear counter-attacked with his brilliant pace and offloaded to his No 8 who struggled the last 20m to the line.

It was a huge turnaround as minutes earlier the video referee could not be persuaded that Sivivatu had scored close to the posts.

He grounded the ball but it must have been the width of a butterfly wing short of the line.

The Crusaders scored three tries to one which should have given them a comfortable victory but they were hounded until the final moves of the game as the Chiefs pressed for a converted try to win.

The Chiefs spent almost the entire first quarter testing the Crusaders' patience and defence inside their 22 without managing to crack the visitors.

While the Chiefs developed multiple phases, they were unable to generate fast ball and the Crusaders had time to set their imposing defences.

Two mistakes allowed Chiefs five-eighths Stephen Donald to kick penalties but it came at great cost.

From each restart the Crusaders scored after embarrassing Chiefs gaffes.

When his forwards messed up the opening retrieval, Donald had his clearing kick charged down by Daniel Carter who scored and converted.

The Chiefs repeated that error soon after and Scott Hamilton scored from the turnover.

From their minimal attacks the Crusaders had been gifted a handy lead and looked as though they would take that into the break.

However, as the halftime hooter sounded, Donald tried one of the crossfield punts which have come into vogue as an attacking weapon. It was a wonky kick but it caused some grief. Hooker Corey Flynn tried to smother it but the ball ricocheted from his chest into the grasp of dynamic Chiefs wing Sitiveni Sivivatu.

No one was going to stop the speedster and with Donald's conversion the Chiefs had an unlikely edge at the interval. It was a massive filip as they had also survived four other close calls when the Crusaders threatened their line.

Halfback Andrew Ellis lost a TMO decision, Greg Somerville and Mose Tuiali'i were denied near the line and Rico Gear could not control a kick near the deadball line.

The Chiefs impressed with their breakdown recycling and power of their scrum though they were being disrupted by Chris Jack at the lineout.

Crusaders 25 (D Carter, S Hamilton, M Tuiali'i, tries; D Carter 2 con, 2 pen).

Chiefs 19 (S Sivivatu, tries; S Donald 4 pen, con).

HT: 15-16