- Title: Slick Crusaders march to eighth Super Rugby title
- Date: 5th August 2017
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (AUGUST 5, 2017) (REUTERS) FANS LEAVING THE STADIUM MORE OF FANS LEAVING THE STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIONS SUPPORTER, LJ VAN VERUG, SAYING: "I'm very disappointed but the Lions were good but I think the Crusaders were better and the best team won." A SUPPORTER HOLDING A LIONS FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIONS SUPPORTER, REGAAD BOTHA, SAYING; "Today's game was still excellent. Lions for life, we will never change our team, we will always stay the best! Jaco Peyper (referee) go take some classes." FIREWORKS OVER STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) CRUSADERS SUPPORTER, ENRICO BRITS, SAYING; "I think it was a great game. The Lions gave me a little bit of a heart attack in the last ten minutes, but great defensive play and great tactics from the Crusaders." MORE OF FIREWORKS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CRUSADERS SUPPORTER, CHRIS BOTHA, SAYING; "I thought it was a though game, the red card was harsh but you know in finals rugby you have to play, you have to play well. Even against fourteen I think the Lions came back, I was nervous, but we pulled it off." LOCAL TRADITIONAL GROUP DANCING OUTSIDE THE STADIUM
- Embargoed: 19th August 2017 19:07
- Keywords: fans react Canterbury Crusaders Super Rugby final South Africa's Lions
- Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- City: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016SVQIPR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Canterbury Crusaders showed all their precision and guile to claim an eighth Super Rugby title with a 25-17 victory over South Africa's Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday (August 5).
Tries from wing Seta Tamanivalu, centre Jack Goodhue and number eight Kieran Read extended the Crusaders' record as the most successful team in the competition.
The Lions played for 41 minutes with 14 men following a red card for flanker Kwagga Smith.
The home side hit back with two tries in the final 15 minutes through hooker Malcolm Marx and prop Corne Fourie to add some life to the closing stages, but the Crusaders closed out the match.
They become the first side to cross the Indian Ocean to win the Super Rugby final. The Lions are still waiting for their first title, having now been losing finalists twice running.
There were guts from the home side, but no glory in what was the final match in charge for Coach Johan Ackermann, who will join English side Gloucester this coming week. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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