Taylor moves to 12, Crotty shifts to 13, and Dagg takes up position at full-back.

Crusaders again kick for touch, and look to profit from the strength of their maul. This time they proceed unimpeded, and Franks crashes over off the back. Taylor converts, and the lead increases to a sizeable seventeen points.

Whitelock skirts around the side of a Crusader maul and concedes a penalty. Carter boots for the corner, and they set the maul. This time Taavao concedes the penalty, coming around the side before playing the ball.. Jackson offers the Blues a stern warning..

Blues under pressure in the first few minutes of the second half, with a scrum deep in their own territory. Ranger fills into the backrow to ensure clean ball from the back..

First half Statistics: Blues with 61% of possession and 59% of territory. Crusaders with 12 missed tackles versus the Blues' 3. The home side have conceded 9 turnovers, whilst the visitors have conceded 11. 3 Lineouts won against the head for Blues, and 1 for the Crusaders.

And with that, Jackson brings a close to a terrific first half of rugby. Huge intensity and physicality from both sides. Crusaders looking very clinical, absorbing huge portions of Blue pressure and stealing the lead. Crusaders happy to defend, putting lots of pressure on the Blue back-line and forcing errors. Blues face an uphill challenge with a man down heading in to the second half..

Crusaders build momentum in the Blues twenty-two, before firing it out wide to exploit an overlap on the wing. But Retallick slaps a pass down and kills a potential scoring opportunity. The TMO confirms and Retallick is served a yellow. Superb penalty kick from Taylor from out wide returns the lead to ten points.

Carter makes a big tackle mid-field, forcing a Blue knock. Crusaders with a scrum in the final play of the first half..

Possession divided much more evenly as the match wears on. Blues spending a lot more time in their own half.

Romano treats Tim Perry with a hefty shoulder charge and is penalised accordingly. Blues immediately point for posts and narrow the gap to seven.