Crusaders lose 42-25 to Lions in Super Rugby quarterfinal match

The Crusaders' 42-25 loss to the Lions has forced them to bow out of the Super Rugby playoffs.
A painfully slow start, in which they conceded two tries in the first seven minutes, rocked the Crusaders in their quarterfinal match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg and at no point did they capture the lead against a Lions side that stayed true to their promise to play at pace and to stretch the defensive lines before searching for powerful runners to make line breaks.
The emphatic victory for the Lions, who bagged five tries, means they will host a semifinal in Jo'burg next weekend.
For the Crusaders, this was a tough way to farewell their departing coach Todd Blackadder, most probably his assistants Tabai Matson and Dave Hewett, and established players such as Andy Ellis and Johnny McNicholl.

Captain Kieran Read, having refused to blame the short turnaround following the previous match against the Hurricanes in Christchurch, and playing at around 1800m above sea level, acknowledged the slow start was costly.
"We gave it our all. We just let them get off the a flyer and this team (the Crusaders) played well all year. We have got a lot of new players and a lot of guys who are moving on as well," Read said.
"We wanted to send them (the departing coaches and players) off the right way, but it wasn't to be. We certainly had a lot of fun along the way. We are gutted we couldn't send the players, Toddy, and the coaches (off with a title win) but, you know, it's footy."
Although the Crusaders rallied with a try to midfielder Ryan Crotty in the second half, a result of them knitting together phases, they were unable to sustain the pressure, and in the second half, the short preparation forced by the long trip to South Africa, and fatigue, took their toll.
Blackadder tried to rejuvenate his side by going to the bench in the third quarter, replacing All Blacks tight forwards Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks and Sam Whitelock, but the Lions continued to pour on the pressure with playmaker Elton Jantjies, who kicked six of his eight shots at goal and nailed a drop goal, topping up the account.
One pledge the Crusaders may have made to each other as they marched out of the sheds was to stay resolute in defence from the get-go. If they did, there were unable to stick to the plan.
The Lions struck within minutes of the whistle being employed by referee Craig Joubert, left wing Courtnall Skosan skipping through a Luke Romano tackle in the left channel near halfway to score a fine runaway effort.
Lock Romano wasn't around to see the Lions score their next five-pointer, having been yellow carded for offside work in a defensive maul.
The try to Janse van Rensburg wasn't without controversy. Earlier in the movement, lock Franco Mostert lost the ball, but TMO Marius Jonker deemed it hadn't been knocked forward and ordered the try to stand.
Things looked pretty grim for the Crusaders, although they didn't get hysterical; having conceded 15 points in as many minutes wasn't ideal, but they focused on retaining possession, made a couple of lineout steals, and a try to Crotty was the reward for their patience.
The Lions' try on the stroke of halftime was crucial. Rather than kick for goal with his side ahead by five points, Lions skipper Warren Whiteley plucked a much bolder option off the menu by ordering a kick for the corner and following the lineout a try to hooker Malcolm Marx was scored.
Jantjies added the cream to that unexpected treat by slotting the conversion, ensuring the Lions were up 22-10 when they went inside for the oranges.
"They put them out beyond 10 points, which made it a bit tougher on us," Read noted.
We believed (we could win) until they put a couple of scores on us (in the second half). They played really well, you can't fault the way they played and their game plan against us."
Veteran halfback Ellis was replaced at halftime and his substitute Mitchell Drummond scored his side's second try to give the Crusaders faint hope they could somehow force the Lions back into their foxhole.
Drummond's try was fair - the TMO considered whether to disallow it because their was a suggestion Israel Dagg knocked a contested ball earlier in the movement - and in the final moments, replacement back Ben Volavola crossed for a late effort.
But the Lions made all the play in between those moments and their final try to Ross Cronje inside the final 10 minutes put the result beyond doubt.
Lions 42 (Courtnall Skosan, Janse van Rensburg, Malcolm Marx, Ruan Combrick, Ross Cronje tries; Elton Jantjies 4 con, 2 pen, drop goal). Crusaders 25 (Ryan Crotty, Mitchell Drummond, Ben Volavola tries; Richie Mo'unga 2 con, 2 pen). HT: 10-22.