Ryan Crotty leads the Crusaders out on a fine Brisbane night. Crusaders are in the black kit tonight, and look sharp.
James Horwill leads the Reds out now and they receive a pretty impressive welcome from the home crowd. We are nearly ready to go.
We're underway as Quade Cooper kicks off down to Sam Whitelock.
Quick hit of force back ends with the Reds in possession on halfway.
The referee calls advantage and as the Reds lose momentum he calls it back. Cooper kicks for the corner now and this is a great early attacking opportunity for the Reds.
They win the lineout and set a solid attacking platform but Richie McCaw got in there and broke the play up, illegally. Penalty to the Reds and it's very kickable.
Cooper knocks it over from right infront and the Reds lead 3-0.
4 MINS - CRUSADERS 0 REDS 3
The Reds earn another quick penalty from the restart. Cooper's kick finds touch about 40 metres out from the Crusaders' line.
But the Crusaders turn it over and now have their first real attack of the match.
They make it to their 10th phase on the 22.
Nemani Nadolo crashes over the line and the Crusaders have the first try. It was a patient buildup from the Crusaders before they spread the ball wide left to Slade who offloaded to Nadolo.
Slade slots a tricky conversion from wide on the left and the Crusaders lead 7-3.
8 MINS - CRUSADERS 7 REDS 3
Reds guilty of tackling Luke Whitelock in the air now from the line out and penalised for it. Slade finds touch 30m out.
Crusaders move the ball wide to Dagg who tries to kick and chase but the ball bounces off a Reds defender and into touch.
Crotty loses the ball in midfield and Cooper sends a huge clearance downfield over halfway.
Nadolo attacks the line again at speed and nearly breaks through. He's an exciting player to watch.
But the ball has been turned over and the Reds have broken down the other end through Genia. Dagg has flung an arm out and conceded a head-high penalty.
Reds up over the 22 now and looking dangerous. But the Crusaders have coughed up another penalty. The ref has run out of patience and sent Andy Ellis to the bin. Yellow card.
Reds with the ball 5m out now. Can they make the most of their numerical advantage?
No. Great Crusaders defence.
Nadolo caused a turnover, the Crusaders cleared downfield, Cooper recovered and was tackled, but held onto the ball too long and was pinged for it. Another kickable penalty for the Crusaders.
Slade slots it and the Crusaders are now up 10-3.
17 MINS - CRUSADERS 10 REDS 3
Another penalty against the Crusaders, this time for obstruction. It's within kicking distance but they are going for the try.
And they get it. Try Reds!
Jamie-Jerry Taulagi scores his first Super Rugby try and give his mum mad props in his celebration. He's a happy boy. It looked like it was coming for the Reds, the Crusaders had been under pressure for a while and the numbers advantage finally showed.
Cooper adds the conversion and the scores are locked up at 10-10.
21 minutes gone in the first half and the Reds are starting to gain the upper hand in this one.
Here they go again, perched 10m out. TRY REDS!
Dom Shipperley blasts through a gap after another period of intense Reds pressure. Great try.
Cooper slots the conversion from right infront. Reds now lead 17-10.
The Reds haven't been ahead in a game for a while, and look like they're enjoying it. After a slow opening 10 minutes they have really come alive.
Surprised Richie McCaw made it thru Immigration. His passport doesn't actually state that he was born "offside" #sledge #REDvCRU @Reds_Rugbyby coreywilson76 via twitter 5/11/2014 5:57:43 AM
