Ruan Combrinck the saviour as Lions stay on course for Super Rugby showdown with the Crusaders
The season’s best two sides post quarter-final wins, as do the Hurricanes and the Chiefs
Leading contenders the Golden Lions and Canterbury Crusaders are one game away from playing off for this season’s Super Rugby title after contrasting victories this weekend.
South Africa’s Lions, who finished top of the regular season standings, needed a huge late penalty goal from Ruan Combrinck to scrape home 23-21 over the Coastal Sharks in Johannesburg.
The Lions will face a New Zealand team for the first time this season, against defending champions Wellington Hurricanes, in next weekend’s semi-finals. If the Lions win they will host the final on August 5.
The Crusaders, bidding for their eighth Super Rugby crown, ground out a 17-0 win over the Otago Highlanders in driving rain to reach the last four.
The Crusaders have to negotiate an all-New Zealand semi-final against the Waikato Chiefs to advance to the final.