The Crusaders made it 25 wins in a row on home soil when they easily beat the Lions 36-10 in Christchurch on Friday.
In a repeat of the last two seasons’ final – which the Crusaders won at home and away – the defending champions scored five tries to edge closer to their all-time home ground winning mark of 26 matches, achieved between 2004 and 2007.
The only highlight of a disappointing Lions performance – coming just seven days after they’d pulled off a surprise by beating the Chiefs in Hamilton – was their scrumming, with tighthead prop Carlu Sadie standing tall against opposite number, All Blacks star Joe Moody.
Defensively they were again poor, often buckling under the relentless Saders pressure.
One has to wonder what kind of impact the absence of coaches Swys de Bruin and Joey Mongalo and the non-availability of men like Warren Whiteley and Malcolm Marx had on the performance in Christchurch.
Final score: Crusaders 36, Lions 10.
Crusaders:
Tries:
Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece (2), George Bridge (2).
Conversions:
Richie Mo’unga (4).
Penalty:
Mo’unga.
Lions:
Try:
Ruan Combrinck.
Conversion:
Elton Jantjies.