Ultimate redemption as Crusaders regain Super Rugby Pacific crown

This article originally appeared on Stuff and is reproduced with permission

Champions once more. And with it the ultimate redemption for head coach Rob Penney.

The Crusaders edged the Chiefs 16-12 in Christchurch on Saturday night to bag their record-extending 15th Super Rugby crown, and eighth in nine seasons.

It capped the Crusaders' bounce-back season in the best possible way, burying the demons of their disastrous 2024 campaign, which threatened to cost Penney his job after just one year.

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But Penney will hold aloft - and no doubt drink from - the trophy that many suspected the Chiefs might snaffle after losing the previous two deciders.

Yeah, nah.

As was the case in 2023, the Crusaders put two regular season defeats to the Chiefs behind them and won the fixture that counted most.

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The decisive moment in their latest triumph went down with nine minutes to run, when they typically rolled up their sleeves and bulldozed the Chiefs' scrum after Josh Jacomb spilled a Will Jordan bomb.

Pivot Rivez Reihana, a member of the Chiefs when they lost the 2023 decider to the red and blacks, knocked over his third penalty of the night to make it a four-point game.

That was more than enough of a buffer, as they sucker-puncher the Chiefs in a final for the third time since 2021.

And they did it on the back of everything they're renowned for - defence, set piece and the ability to own the moments that mattered most.

Finally, Penney, coy all week, let his emotions spill in the coaching box. As did his assistants, highlighted by forwards coach Dan Perrin thumping the glass in delight.

Will Jordan's aerial prowess was especially crucial in closing out the match, which featured just a lone Crusaders penalty goal in the second half, and was packed with close shaves, stone wall defence, and nerve-jangling moments to keep punters on their edge of their seats.

The scrambling tackle hooker Codie Taylor made after the Chiefs looked to be off to the races early in the second half was another crunch moment the hosts rode to victory.

The Chiefs had a Damian McKenzie penalty go astray on a night they made too many mistakes to do something no team had every done - beat the Crusaders in a home playoff game.

And so they are now 32-0, ensuring departing Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan did not get the send-off he desperately wanted.

It had all started so well for Chiefs, who had the home fans scratching their heads after the visitors made all the early running, earning a couple of scrum penalties, stealing a lineout and opening the scoring via tighthead prop George Dyer to at least temporarily hush the 17,000-strong crowd.

But they would soon find their voice on the back of Crusaders prop Fletcher Newell earning some sweet payback when he earned back-to-back scrum penalties against Ollie Norris.

It opened the door for the Crusaders' response, a superb try by Taylor, who scooted 22 metres down the touch line after catching the visitors napping by catapulting out of a rolling maul.

Suddenly, the Chiefs started looking shaky, highlighted by fullback Shaun Stevenson shelling a nothing David Havili kick.

Reihana banged over a couple of three-pointers - one after centre Braydon Ennor earned a breakdown penalty - to put the red and blacks six points clear.

The Chiefs, who gave the Crusaders fits with McKenzie's pinpoint restarts in the first half, earned an opportunity to score before halftime, one they took expertly through Stevenson to pull to within one at the break.

But they would not add to their tally in the second half as they were left to rue a third straight defeat in a Super Rugby Pacific final.