The Crusaders need help from the Western Force if they're to get a shot at adding to the Super Rugby Aotearoa title they bagged last month.
Their 52-26 win over the Rebels in Sydney on Saturday fell short of the 33-point bonus point win they needed to surpass the Highlanders on points differential, meaning the Force must beat the Blues at Eden Park to keep their season alive.
It leaves the Crusaders facing the very real possibility of going unbeaten in the absurdly short five-week regular season, but failing to reach the decider.
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Up 52-26 after Braydon Ennor scored, the Crusaders came agonisedly close to reaching their goal down the stretch, but Leicester Fainga'anuku had a try disallowed for double movement, much to the delight of Highlanders fans.
Loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams had not long spilled the ball attempting to score, as the Crusaders were left to rue lost opportunities, leaving at least three tries on the field and conceding some soft five-pointers.
Not helped by losing vice-captain David Havili to a calf complaint ahead of kickoff, the Crusaders lost his replacement – Dallas McLeod – to concussion just 14 minutes into the game.
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Not that it stopped them from throwing everything at the team they've averaged 62 points against in their previous four matches, as they practically ran it from anywhere and everywhere.
They were at times superb running it out of their own 22, as was evident when Richie Mo'unga darted through a gap and put Will Jordan away for the second of their eight tries on the day.
They led by 19 when Sevu Reece finished off his hat-trick to put the Crusaders 38-19 up with 20 minutes to play, only to fall short of their target.
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Some credit must go to the Rebels, including Andrew Kellaway for his try-saving tackle on Will Jordan, but the Crusaders will look back at some of their execution and kick themselves.
After all, Mo'unga missed touch twice from penalties, Ennor bombed a certain try, and a loose Jordan pass led to a Frank Lomani try in the final quarter.
Loosehead prop George Bower also had trouble with Rebels tighthead Cabous Eloff at scrum time.
In perfect conditions for running rugby and chasing points, the Crusaders flew out of the gates to score twice inside five minutes, and four times after just 22 minutes.
Indeed, it was all go swimmingly well at Leichhardt Oval. That is until fullback Jordan was yellow carded in the 26th min after it was deemed he deliberately knocked a pass on which was begging to be intercepted.
It slammed the breaks on the Crusaders' pursuit for points as the Rebels dominated the rest of the half, scoring a nice try through sniping halfback Joe Powell.
But the Crusaders should have led by more than 26-12 at the break, had it not been for two coach coach killers down the stretch.
If Mo'unga's missed touch finder, which led to Powell's try, was bad, the try centre Ennor butchered with time almost up was horrible.
Ennor was coasting clear to the line after some superb passing inside their half unleashed him, only for him to inexplicably drop the ball on his way to the line.
Crusaders 52 (Mitchell Drummond, Will Jordan, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Sevu Reece 3, Oli Jager, Braydon Ennor tries; Richie Mo'unga 6 con) Rebels 26 (Trevor Hosea, Joe Powell, Glen Vaihu, Frank Lomani tries; Carter Gordon 3 con). HT: 26-12
– This article originally appeared on stuff.co.nz and is reproduced with permission
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