The Brumbies have hit form in recent weeks in Canberra and could be timing their campaign perfectly.
We won't know until later whether they have timed it a little too late though. In their last six matches they have lost two and won four picking up victories in their last two.
The Crusaders lost all three of their matches and have a pretty bad record in their last six matches which has them at two wins, one draw and three losses. Last week they played like champions.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off.
Dan Carter kicks off and we are underway.
1.00: It's tough stuff from the offset with both teams looking to play the game at pace.
2.00: The Crusaders get the first penalty of the match so Dan Carter takes the kick. He misses.
4.00: Another penalty to the Crusaders. Again Dan Carter misses.
5.00: The Crusaders swing the ball wide stretching the Brumbies defence but the pass is forward.
8.00: The Brumbies mean business in this match. They work the ball up to about 10m out. They go through the phases but get pushed back. We get called back for a penalty so the Brumbies go for the line out rather than the points.
10.00: Brumbies win the line out. There is a knock on so there is a 5m scrum. The Crusaders however win a penalty from the scrum so they clear the ball.
11.00: The Crusaders work the ball at pace around the field passing quickly. Guildford gets them over the gain line and the Brumbies are kept on the backfoot with quick hands and the support comes fast and Sean Maitland scores the first try!!
12.00: Dan Carter takes the conversion and this kick is spot on.
16.00: The game is held up as Stephen Moore is bleeding from the mouth.
18.00: As the game restarts the Crusaders try to run the ball out of their half. A big pass goes in and Tyron Smith intercepts and runs off to score !!
19.00: Dan Carter adds the conversion and the scores are level.
25.00: Quick hands on the wing for the Crusaders again opens up the Brumbies defence. Maitland kicks ahead and Kieran Read shows a serious turn of pace and beats the Brumbies backs to the ball and scores !!
26.00: Dan Carter misses the conversion.
28.00; The Crusaders again open up the Brumbies defence. Mailtland makes ground and then Kieran Read gets them up to the line and he gets tackled just short. Owen Franks gathers the ball and scores !!
29.00: Dan Carter nails the conversion. Crusaders looking hot.
31.00: Huxley makes space for the Brumbies. He passes to McCabe and the Brumbies get into the Crusaders 25. They recycle and work the ball to the middle. Andy Ellis gets caught offside and the Brumbies have a penalty.
33.00: Matt Giteau takes the penalty and nails it.
36.00: The Crusaders yet again open up the Brumbies and Owen Franks gets the ball in the Brumbies 25, he charges for the line and it takes two Brumbies to get him into touch JUST before the corner flag.
38.00: The Brumbies get caught offside so Dan Carter will get another shot at goal - he nails it.
40.00: The whistle goes for half time. It is half time.
The half time score is Crusaders 22 Brumbies 10
The second half is underway. We have heard that Stephen Moore has been taken to hospital for xrays.
The Crusaders start well by working the ball into the Brumbies half just outside their 25.
42.00: The Brumbies turn the ball over and they run at the Crusaders. Huia Edmonds opens up the defence and gets the ball to about 10m out. There is a maul and the Brumbies get the put in for the scrum.
44.00: Huxley opens up the defence again and the Brumbies recycle. and then they swing it wide. Right out on the wings prop Ben Alexander who goes over for his seventh try this season !!
46.00: Giteau nails the conversion.
47.00: The Brumbies are starting to find holes. They breach the defence again and kick behind but the Crusaders get back.
49.00: Josh Valentine gives away a penalty for standing on a players arm (foul play). The Crusaders kick for touch. They win the line out and swing it out wide with pace. Guildford makes huge ground.
50.00: After a couple of recycles the Crusaders have changed sides and they get to the line. They recycle and then drive for the line - It's a try !! Richie McCaw comes up with the ball. That's the bonus point.
52.00: The temperature is dropping fast here and fog is coming in. Dan Carter nails the conversion.
55.00: It's scrappy stuff from both sides and the ball is all over the place. It ends though with an offside penalty to the Crusaders. They go for the line out.
58.00: The fog is coming in thick and fast now. Crusaders have a scrum in the Brumbies 25.
59.00: The Crusaders work the ball off the back of the scrum and they dart for the line and go over. Replays show the ball is lost in the tackle.
60.00: The fog is bad now - it doesn't stop Dan Carter from adding another penalty though.
61.00: If the game is stopped due to the fog the result will stand as the second half has started - that's official.
62.00: The Crusaders get a penalty from the scrum so they kick for touch and set up a line out.
64.00: Brumbies know that they have to do something. They keep the ball tight and work it forward. The Crusaders defence holds them back though until they knock on. McCaw gets some medical attention.
65.00: Brumbies scrum is really battling here. They give away another penalty so the Crusaders again kick for touch.
69.00: Another scrum penalty to the Crusaders. Dan Carter takes the kick and nails it.
71.00: Brumbies testing the Crusaders defence. They move the ball wide but the Crusaders suck it up.
73.00: Giteau sends a wild pass back and it goes to ground. Giteau goes down from the tackle. We go back for a penalty.
74.00: Brumbies snuff the line out giving the Crusaders a scrum.
75.00: Ooh. Huia Edmonds goes down from a tackle of some sort. The game is stopped while he gets some attention.
76.00: Edmonds gets up and the game resumes. George Smith gets tackled and gets turned in the tackle. Jared Payne gets the ball and spots an opening and passes to Zac Guildford who darts for the line and scores in the corner.
78.00: Daniel Bowden takes the conversion and misses.
80.30: The siren goes for full time but the Brumbies keep the ball alive and Huia Edmonds scores near the corner.
George Smith - yes that's right - takes the conversion but misses.
Thats it. Crusaders into the semi-finals.
The final score is Crusaders 40 Brumbies 22
Scorers
Crusaders
Tries - S. Maitland, K Read, O Franks, R McCaw, Z Guildford
Pen - D Carter 3
Con - D. Carter 3
Drop -
Cards -
Brumbies
Tries - T Smith, B Alexander, H Edmonds
Pen - M Giteau
Con - M Giteau 2
Drop -
Cards -
Match Officials
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Josh Noonan (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Teams
Crusaders - 15 Colin Slade, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Daniel Bowden, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Ben Franks.
Reserves: 16 Dan Perrin, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Thomas Waldrom, 20 Willi Heinz, 21, Tim Bateman, 22 Jared Payne.
Brumbies - 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (c), 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Mitchell Chapman, 3 Salesi Maafu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Reserves , 16. Huia Edmonds , 17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa , 18. Ben Hand , 19. Colby Faingaa , 20. Patrick Phibbs , 21. Brackin Karauria-Henry , 22. Andrew Smith
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