On this day: Crusaders claim their first Super Rugby title

The Crusaders celebrate their first Super Rugby title. Photo /Getty

20 years ago...Crusaders 20 Blues 13

The smart money was on the Blues to win the Super 12 crown for the third successive year when they met the Crusaders in the 1998 final. They had topped the qualifying round-robin phase of the competition with nine wins from 11 games and their two losses were away from home in Natal and Brisbane.

When Crusaders wing James Kerr - a draft player from Auckland - scored a late try to earn his side a 20-13 win, it caught many off guard.

In many ways, the Crusaders outsmarted the Blues, particularly with the contrasting use of substitutes. Crusaders coach Wayne Smith made shrewd use of his bench in what was still something of an innovation in the game. Graham Henry, however, held his replacements back, calculating that, with the score 13-13 for much of the second spell, extra-time might be needed.

Not many predicted the surprise result, but even fewer would have guessed the Blues' successes in the next decade would be so meagre.

Kerr on the winning try (as told to the Herald in 2003)
"I knew 'Cashy' (Adrian Cashmore) pretty well and I remember looking back and seeing him on his knees, looking devastated.

"There were three or four of their players there but the ball just seemed to get away from all of them.

"It could have bounced to any one of them and it was just fortunate that it ended up with me."

"I've had some great things happen in my career. NPC titles and so on. That Super 12 title was the highlight."