VIDEO: Blues score historic win over red-carded Crusaders
MATCH REPORT: The Blues held firm to record a 27-23 win over the Crusaders in Christchurch – their first at the venue since 2004.
The Blues had established a 24-10 lead shortly after half-time off the back of tries to Will Jordan and Sevu Reece (two) and were playing with a two-man advantage after David Havili had been sin-binned on the stroke of halftime for playing the ball on the ground following a Stephen Perofeta break, and Scott Barrett had seen red for a dangerous tackle on Alex Hodgman.
The Blues came so close to scoring once more, attacking inside the Crusaders' 22, but a handling error cost them the opportunity and Havili returned to the field for the ensuing play.
From that point on, the momentum started to swing back towards the Crusaders.
Flyhalf Richie Mo’unga kicked a penalty then Reece scored his third try of the evening following a break from Jordan.
Heading into the final five minutes, the Blues still held a 27-23 lead, but it was very much anyone's game – and the Crusaders looked to be finishing stronger.
A controversial decision with four minutes on the clock handed the Crusaders a five-metre scrum and when the try looked inevitable – with reserve lock Dominic Gardiner clattering down the right sideline – it took an incredible covering tackle from Rieko Ioane (aided by Dalton Papalii) to send the Crusader into touch.
The Crusaders had one final set of possession to nab a victory but the Blues held strong, securing the historic win.
* (Article continues below highlights video ...)
"I don't really have the words. For me it was quite emotional out there in those last 10 minutes," Papalii said.
"The boys just dug deep and I couldn't have asked any more of my lads in coming down here and doing the job.
"All week we said it was finals footy and the Crusaders had the platform for too many years. To come down here and get the win was truly special."
In the contest between All Blacks No.10s, Beauden Barrett for the Blues had the upper hand early over Richie Mo'unga for the Crusaders and created two first-half tries.
Fullback Will Jordan scored the first try of the match for the Crusaders from a dominant scrum, combining with Reece who put him into space.
But Barrett broke the Crusaders' defence in the 21st minute to create a try for No.9 Finlay Christie and sparked a short-side movement which led to a try to Papali'i in the 31st.
With a two-man advantage, Blues hooker Kurt Eklund scored a try from a line-out drive in the 47th to put his team ahead by 14 points.
Beauden Barrett then was part of a tactical meltdown by the Blues who resorted to a pointless and inaccurate kicking game while still with a one-man advantage in the second half.
The tactic gave the Crusaders endless counter-attacking opportunities and brought Mo'unga into his own.
Mo'unga created a 50/22 in the 54th minute and from the line-out a long pass from Argentina back-rower Pablo Matera sent Reece over for his first try.
In the 71st minute, Reece scored again in a movement that appeared to feature both a forward pass and knock-on.
That cut the Blues' lead to four points and they were under pressure for the remainder of the match but held on to go top of the championship table.
The scorers
For the Crusaders
Tries: Jordan, Reece 2
Con: Mo'unga
Pens: Mo'unga 2
For the Blues
Tries: Christie, Papalii, Eklund
Cons: Perofeta 2, B Barrett
Pens: Perofeta, B Barrett
Red card: Scott Barrett (Crusaders, 46 - foul play, dangerous tackle)
Yellow card: David Havili (Crusaders, 39 - cynical foul, playing the ball on the ground)
Teams
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Zach Gallagher, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Oli Jager, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Jackson, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Dominic Gardiner, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 George Bridge.
Blues: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Bryce Heem, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papalii (captain), 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 James Tucker, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 23 Zarn Sullivan/Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant referees: James Doleman, Mike Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Sources: RugbyPass & AAP