THE CRUSADERS WON their eighth Super Rugby title and first since 2008 this afternoon as they held off the challenge of the Golden Lions at Ellis Park.
Scott Roberston breakdances at full time. Phil Magakoe
Phil Magakoe
Although they played the second half with a numerical advantage following the dismissal of Lions flanker Kwagga Smith, Scott Roberston’s side had to dig deep defensively to see out at 25-17 win.
And the head coach, who only took charge at the start of the season, celebrated a fairytale ending to the campaign in the only way he knows; by unveiling his now trademark breakdancing celebration.
“The ‘hoo hey Razor Ray’ song tends to come out at the end of these campaigns,” he told the New Zealand Herald afterwards.
“I’ll more happily do it when we have situations like that. The boys start singing and you start to get a tingle in the old toes and off you go. It’s a great way to finish the campaign.
Victory for the New Zealand team means Robertson is the first person to have won Super Rugby finals as a player and a coach.
The former loose forward was part of three title runs between 1998 and 2001, with the Crusaders now having claimed an eighth crown, five more than any other team, but their first since 2008.
They are also the only team to win a final overseas, beating the ACT Brumbies in Canberra in 2000, and now becoming the first team to cross the Indian Ocean and claim the title.
“That was an incredible game of rugby between two desperate teams. We gave the ball back to a 14-man side and by the end our guys were out on their feet,” Robertson said.
“It showed just how hard it is to win here. Our defence won us the championship, there is no doubt.
“We got our points early because we know no team can chase the Lions in the last 20 minutes.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson led the Super Rugby celebrations by breakdancing
THE CRUSADERS WON their eighth Super Rugby title and first since 2008 this afternoon as they held off the challenge of the Golden Lions at Ellis Park.
Although they played the second half with a numerical advantage following the dismissal of Lions flanker Kwagga Smith, Scott Roberston’s side had to dig deep defensively to see out at 25-17 win.
And the head coach, who only took charge at the start of the season, celebrated a fairytale ending to the campaign in the only way he knows; by unveiling his now trademark breakdancing celebration.
“The ‘hoo hey Razor Ray’ song tends to come out at the end of these campaigns,” he told the New Zealand Herald afterwards.
“I’ll more happily do it when we have situations like that. The boys start singing and you start to get a tingle in the old toes and off you go. It’s a great way to finish the campaign.
Victory for the New Zealand team means Robertson is the first person to have won Super Rugby finals as a player and a coach.
The former loose forward was part of three title runs between 1998 and 2001, with the Crusaders now having claimed an eighth crown, five more than any other team, but their first since 2008.
They are also the only team to win a final overseas, beating the ACT Brumbies in Canberra in 2000, and now becoming the first team to cross the Indian Ocean and claim the title.
“That was an incredible game of rugby between two desperate teams. We gave the ball back to a 14-man side and by the end our guys were out on their feet,” Robertson said.
“It showed just how hard it is to win here. Our defence won us the championship, there is no doubt.
“We got our points early because we know no team can chase the Lions in the last 20 minutes.
“We are the only team to do it, it is what the Crusaders do, we work hard for the opportunity to create history.
“To do it in this incredible Ellis Park cauldron just adds another part of history.
“And every time people ask us about not having won the trophy for a while — well now we won’t hear that question for a while.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Crusaders hold off 14-man Lions to win first Super Rugby title since 2008
Calm, cool, ruthless, ballistic: 3 years on from Ireland’s momentous win over the Black Ferns
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
he got moves Super Rugby