The Crusaders' reward for their gutsy semifinal victory over the Chiefs is a flight to Johannesburg to play the Lions in the final; the good news for them is that No8 Kieran Read has made it too.
Scott Robertson's men met at Christchurch airport at 4.15 this morning for the flight to South Africa via Sydney for the final at Ellis Park next Sunday morning.
After last night's 27‑13 victory over the Chiefs at AMI Stadium, Robertson wasn't sure of All Blacks skipper Read's fitness due to a knee injury late in the match which forced the Crusaders to play the final minutes with 14 men.
Fortunately for the Crusaders, Read's knee ‑ "tweaked" according to Robertson ‑ isn't as bad as first feared. A Crusaders spokeswoman confirmed that Read is on his way with the rest of the squad.
The opponent and location of the final wasn't confirmed until early this morning after the other semifinal between the Lions and Hurricanes, won by the South Africans 44‑29 after the visitors had taken a 22‑3 lead.
The Lions take on the Crusaders on the 12th of next month.
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