Rugby: Bulls beat Crusaders in controversial thriller

Francois Hougaard of the Bulls goes through Jared Payne to score in Pretoria overnight. Photo / Getty Images

The Bulls delivered a killer blow to the Crusaders' Super 14 rugby hopes with a 40-35 win in Pretoria which ended on a highly controversial note.

A try after the final hooter to Francois Hougaard handed the hosts victory of a thrilling match but it didn't come without howls of protest from the visitors, who believed the ball had gone forward to the flying winger.

However, South African referee Marius Jonker ruled the ball had been knocked back by reserve prop Owen Franks, with the replay supporting that decision, although there could also be an argument that Hougaard received the ball from an offside position after it ricocheted from the head of passer Bandise Maku.

Captain Richie McCaw was clearly distraught at the call, which probably ends his team's chances of reaching the semifinals, arguing the toss with Jonker afterwards for several minutes.

The Crusaders scored four tries to three and picked up two bonus points but their fate now lies with others losing this weekend and in the final round next week, where they will also need to beat the ACT Brumbies at home.

The Bulls guaranteed they will host a home semifinal but, by failing to snare a bonus point, they leave the door open for compatriots the Stormers to finish top of the table next week.

Moments before the decisive try, McCaw had charged down a dropped goal attempt by Morne Steyn - preventing the Bulls first five-eighth's third successful pot - highlighting his team's desperation.

However, they couldn't hold out the defending champions in a classic match which saw the lead change hands 11 times.

The Crusaders hit the front two minutes from the end courtesy of 52m penalty to first five-eighth Dan Carter, who entered a kicking duel with Steyn throughout the final quarter.

Steyn, who landed four dropped goals when the teams last met, in last year's semifinal in Pretoria, kicked 25 points. That included five penalties as the Crusaders again ran foul of the referee, with Jonker particularly harsh on the visitors at scrum time.

However, Jonker was also harsh on some dangerous tackling by the Bulls. He sinbinned two of them - 100-game lock Danie Rossouw in the 20th minute and winger Gerhard van den Heever with 7min remaining.

The kicking in the closing stages was a far cry from the first half when the Crusaders virtually ran the hosts off their feet.

Twin playmakers Daniel Carter and Daniel Bowden rarely kicked and had the Bulls guessing by setting up different attacking angles.

It resulted in excellent tries to lock Brad Thorn, halfback Andy Ellis and winger Sean Maitland to open up a 19-9 lead, with the stunned Bulls only staying in the hunt through Steyn penalties and dropped goals from around the halfway line.

Momentum shifted towards the end of the half as Hougaard bagged his first try and captain Victor Matfield crossed on the stroke of halftime to open up a 24-19 lead.

Hooker Ti'i Paulo bagged the Crusaders fourth try soon after the break before the game settled into a war of desperate attrition, highlighted by Crusaders winger Zac Guildford somehow holding up opposite van den Heever in a one-on-one tackle over the tryline.

- NZPA