Match Reports

The Reds have beaten the Crusaders 17-16 in a controversial encounter at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

The Crusaders looked to have done enough to have won the match in frot of a massive crowd of 48,000 only for Australian ref Stuart Dickinson to penalise Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw in the last minute for a ruck infringement.

McCaw appeared to walk through a ruck and pick up the ball legally, only for Dickinson to penalise him in front of the posts.

Quade Cooper kicked the penalty to clinch the win for the Reds, who maintained their place at the top of the table.

Dickinson also missed a knock on by Reds wing Digby Ioane in the build up to the penalty and awarded a try to Ben Tapuai following what looked to be a forward pass from Will Genia.

The Crusaders controlled the second half following their massive scrummaging effort, and their lineout also heaped pressure on the Reds.

In the end the hosts' forwards were out on their feet - they couldn't stay with the Crusaders pack who shunted them around at will in the set piece.

Dan Carter kicked the Crusaders into an early lead before the Reds hit back with a nifty back-of-the-lineout move which led to Tupuai's try.

Cooper kicked the conversion, but he had an average afternoon with the boot, missing three penalties, including two sitters.

Carter also missed a relatively easy first-half penalty, but the Crusaders were back in the lead following good work from the first-five, who stripped the ball from an attacking player and fed Robbie Fruean.

Fruean galloped upfield and linked with wing Brent Ward who went over for a deserved try.

The Reds had plenty of ball but seemed unnerved by the rushed defence of the Crusaders.

After the break Genia scuttled over for a try following a defensive mix up from a Crusaders scrum.

But the Crusaders started to turn the screws on the Reds. Carter kicked superbly all game for field position and the forwards started battering the hosts into submission.

The Crusaders won two penalties which Carter kicked - the second for a scrum infringement.

With two minutes to go it seemed that the Crusaders would take out a deseved win, only for the late intervention of Dickinson and Cooper.

Reds - Tries: Ben Tapuai, Will Genia. Cons: Quade Cooper 2. Pen: Cooper.

Crusaders - Tries: Ben Tapuai, Will Genia. Cons: Quade Cooper 2. Pen: Cooper.

HT: Crusaders 10-7

1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Corey Flynn (Quentin MacDonald 65)
3. Owen Franks (Ben Franks 63)
4. Brad Thorn
5. Chris Jack (Luke Romano 50min)
6. George Whitelock (Matt Todd 59)
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Kieran Read
9. Willi Heinz
10. Dan Carter
11. Zac Guildford
12. Sonny Bill Williams (Ryan Crotty blood bin)
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Brent Ward
15. Tom Marshall

Reserves not used:
20. Steve Alfeld
21. Matt Berquist