21 Jul 2013

Crusaders storm into super rugby semi finals

6:27 am on 21 July 2013

The Canterbury Crusaders have beaten the Queensland Reds 38-9 in Christchurch to reach Super Rugby's semi-finals.

The Crusaders' next opponents will be decided by the second qualifying final tonight, when the ACT Brumbies host the Cheetahs in Canberra.

A win for the Brumbies would send them to South Africa to face the Bulls in the semi-finals, leaving the Crusaders to face the Chiefs in Hamilton. If the Cheetahs manage an upset, they would go to New Zealand while the Crusaders would make the long trip to Pretoria.

The Reds' humbling loss was coach Ewen McKenzie's last game in charge before he takes over the reins of the Wallabies, and the former test prop will have a lot to ponder before Australia's opening match of the Rugby Championship against New Zealand next month.