La Marea Roja de Los Crusaders, arrasan Highlanders y son primeros semifinalistas- The Red Tide of The Crusaders, devastate Highlanders and are first semifinalists.

Los Canterbury Crusaders campeones salientes que buscan tercer cetro consecutivo, demolieron a los Otago Highlanders por 38-14 (17-14) en clásico del sur neozelandés, por cuartos de final del IV Super Rugby 2019 y se proclamaron semifinalistas, por lo que enfrentarán la próxima semana en su feudo de Christchurch, al ganador de mañana entre Hurricanes vs Pretoria Bulls en Wellington. Los Crusaders con 9 All Blacks en sus filas, marcaron 5 tries con el apertura Richie Mo'unga (2), el full back David Havili, el flanker Whetukamokamo Douglas, y el pilar Michael Alaalatoa, más 1 penal y 5 conversiones de Richie Mo'unga. Los Highlanders con 7 All Blacks (6 de los cuales se marchan al rugby europeo en 2020) marcaron 2 tries con el wing Patelesio Tomkinson, y el centro Teihorangi Walden, más 2 conversiones del apertura Josh  Ioane. Fue la  28ª victoria consecutiva de los Canterbury Crusaders en su reducto de Christchurch, donde ya palpitan el tercer título consecutivo las huestes del capitán Samuel Whitelock, y de su estrella Richie Mo’unga.  En los Highlanders parten al rugby europeo en 2020, 6 All Blacks: Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Luke Whitelock, Squire, Tom Franklin and Jackson Hemopo. Los Otago Highlanders de buen comienzo, claudicaron en la alta intensidad sufriendo con la tarjeta amarilla al flanker Liam Squire, por lo que fueron desbordados por la marea roja de los nueve veces campeones del Super Rugby que marcaron cinco tries, dos de ellos con su apertura y goleador Richie Mo’unga, autor de 23 puntos.

The Red Tide of The Crusaders, devastate Highlanders and are first semifinalists

The outgoing champions the Canterbury Crusaders seeking third consecutive title, demolished the Otago Highlanders by 38-14 (17-14) in South New Zealand's classic, by the quarterfinals of the IV Super Rugby 2019 and they were proclaimed semifinalists, so they will face the Next week at his Christchurch fief, tomorrow's winner between Hurricanes vs. Pretoria Bulls in Wellington. The Crusaders with 9 All Blacks in their ranks, scored 5 tries with fly half  Richie Mo'unga (2), full back David Havili, flanker Whetukamokamo Douglas, and the prop Michael Alaalatoa, plus 1 penalty goal and 5 conversions of Richie Mo 'unga. The Highlanders with 7 All Blacks (6 of which leave for European rugby in 2020) scored 2 tries with wing Patelesio Tomkinson, and centre Teihorangi Walden, plus 2 conversions from the fly half Josh Ioane. It was the 28th consecutive victory of the Canterbury Crusaders in their redoubt of Christchurch, where the third consecutive title is already beaten by the hosts of Captain Samuel Whitelock, and its star Richie Mo'unga. In the Highlanders they start to European rugby in 2020, 6 All Blacks: Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Luke Whitelock, Squire, Tom Franklin and Jackson Hemopo. The Otago Highlanders had a good start, gave up in the high intensity suffering with the yellow card to flanker Liam Squire, so they were overwhelmed by the red tide of the nine times Super Rugby champions who scored five tries, two of them with their fly half  and scorer Richie Mo'unga, author of 23 points.

Los Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Whetu Douglas, 5 Samuel Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor

Los Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (cc), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Patelesio Tomkinson, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock (cc), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown. Suplentes: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Elliot Dixon

Árbitro: Jaco Peyper (Sudáfrica), Jueces de línea: Paul Williams (Nueva Zelanda), Brendon Pickerill (Nueva Zelanda). Oficial de televisión: Ben Skeen (Nueva Zelanda).