The Crusaders have kept their slim Super Rugby finals hopes alive but need help from the Melbourne Rebels.
The defending champions finished the regular season on a high with a 43-10 bonus point win over a poor Moana Pasifika.
The win moved the Crusaders into eighth, three points ahead of Fiji who face the Rebels at home on Saturday afternoon.
If Fiji loses, the Crusaders can still be tipped out of the eight by the Force in the final game of the round.
“It will be the first time I’ll been cheering for an Australian team,” Crusaders captain Codie Taylor said.
“It’s unique. Now we’ve done everything we can and we can only wait.
“Finals footy, we love it and we want to be in it. The season that’s been hasn’t really set us up the way we wanted to but we’ve still got a chance.”
Ethan Blackadder of the Crusaders is tackled during the round 15 Super Rugby Pacific match between Crusaders and Moana Pasifika. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
The Crusaders ‘resurgence after their miserable start to the season continued a week after beating the Blues to damage their top of the table hopes.
They outscored the visitors seven tries to one, including a potential farewell present from Ryan Crotty shortly before the halftime break.
He was playing his final home game for the club, as were Owen Franks and Joe Moody.
Their first three tries were scored through rolling mauls – the first to flanker Ethan Blackadder, followed by two to captain Codie Taylor.
Blackadder, who missed most of the season through injury, was outstanding at No.7 as the Kiwis blew Moana Pasifika away.
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