The 2018 Super Rugby Final was played between the Crusaders of New Zealand and the Lions of South Africa. The match, held at Rugby League Park in Christchurch, was the 23rd final in the Super Rugby competition's history.

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2018 Super Rugby Final

Event	2018 Super Rugby season
Crusaders Lions 37 18
Date	4 August 2018
Venue	Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Referee	Angus Gardner (Australia)
Attendance	c. 20,000 [1]
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Both finalists won their respective conferences during the regular season and both had hosted quarterfinal and semifinal matches in the playoff series. The final was hosted by the Crusaders as the higher placed team from the regular season standings.

The Crusaders won the match by a margin of 19 points. The Lions started the final well, however the combination of travel, jet-lag and the sheer dominance of the Crusaders was instrumental in securing the result.^[2] The Crusaders extended their record number of Super Rugby title wins to nine and became the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Chiefs in 2013.

More information Conference leaders, Pos ...

Finals Series qualifying teams

Conference leaders
Pos	Team	W	D	L	PD	BP	Pts
1	Crusaders	14	0	2	+247	7	63
2	Lions	9	0	7	+84	10	46
3	Waratahs	9	1	6	+112	6	44
Wildcard teams
4	Hurricanes	11	0	5	+131	7	51
5	Chiefs	11	0	5	+95	5	49
6	Highlanders	10	0	6	−8	4	44
7	Jaguares	9	0	7	−9	2	38
8	Sharks	7	1	8	−5	6	36
Source: SANZAAR

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After two seasons in which 18 teams participated, the 2018 season reverted to a 15-team competition, consisting of three geographical conferences.

Each conference leader at the end of the regular season, the Crusaders from New Zealand, Lions from South Africa and Waratahs from Australia gained home berths in the quarterfinals, as did the top-ranked wildcard team, the Hurricanes from New Zealand's conference. Their four wildcard opponents in the quarterfinals were the next best teams as ranked at the end of the regular season.

All four home teams won their quarterfinal matches to set up an all-New Zealand clash between the Crusaders and Hurricanes for the first semifinal in Christchurch, while the Lions hosted the Waratahs for the second semifinal in Johannesburg.

Both home teams won their semifinal matches with comfortable margins. The Lions then travelled away to Christchurch to play the Crusaders in the 2018 Super Rugby final.

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals
	21 July – Christchurch
	Crusaders	40
					28 July – Christchurch
	Sharks	10
					Crusaders	30
					Hurricanes	12
					28 July – Johannesburg
					Lions	44
	21 July – Johannesburg
					Waratahs	26
	Lions	40
	Jaguares	23

Quarter-finals

	20 July 2018	Hurricanes	32–31	Chiefs	Westpac Stadium, Wellington
	19:35	Try: Julian Savea  1' TJ Perenara  33', 62' Ben Lam  69' Con: Beauden Barrett  2', 33' Jordie Barrett  70' Pen: Beauden Barrett  11', 55' Cards: Vaea Fifita  80'	Report[3] Scoreboard[4]	Try: Brad Weber  7' Anton Lienert-Brown  51' Damian McKenzie  79' Lachlan Boshier  80' Con: Damian McKenzie  8', 52', 79' Charlie Ngatai  80' Pen: Damian McKenzie  22'	Attendance: 16,402[5] Referee: Glen Jackson

	21 July 2018	Crusaders	40–10	Sharks	Rugby League Park, Christchurch
	19:35	Try: Bryn Hall  9' David Havili  12' Matt Todd  42' Braydon Ennor  67' Pete Samu  72' Con: Richie Mo'unga  43', 68', 73' Pen: Richie Mo'unga  7', 40', 57'	Report[6] Scoreboard[7]	Try: Kobus van Wyk  26' Con: Robert du Preez  27' Pen: Robert du Preez  48'	Referee: Mike Fraser

	21 July 2018	Waratahs	30–23	Highlanders	Allianz Stadium, Sydney
	20:05	Try: Bernard Foley  54', 61' Israel Folau  56' Con: Bernard Foley  54', 57', 62' Pen: Bernard Foley  4', 9', 71' Cards: Paddy Ryan  74'	Report[8] Scoreboard[9]	Try: Waisake Naholo  11' Rob Thompson  25' Con: Lima Sopoaga  12', 26' Pen: Lima Sopoaga  7', 19', 34' Cards: Waisake Naholo 52' to 62'	Attendance: 12,067[10] Referee: Angus Gardner

	21 July 2018	Lions	40–23	Jaguares	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	15:05	Try: Ruan Combrinck  8' Harold Vorster  15' Malcolm Marx  27' Andries Coetzee  57' Con: Elton Jantjies  9', 16', 28', 58' Pen: Elton Jantjies  26', 44', 76' Drop: Elton Jantjies  64'	Report[11] Scoreboard[12]	Try: Bautista Delguy  42' Pablo Matera  48' Con: Nicolás Sánchez  43', 49' Pen: Nicolás Sánchez  4', 6', 37'	Referee: Jaco Peyper

Semi-finals

	28 July 2018	Crusaders	30–12	Hurricanes	Rugby League Park, Christchurch
	19:35	Try: Richie Mo'unga  15' George Bridge  28' David Havili  44' Braydon Ennor  69' Con: Richie Mo'unga  16', 45' Pen: Richie Mo'unga  36', 39'	Report[13] Scoreboard[14]	Try: Julian Savea  19' Ben Lam  80' Con: Beauden Barrett  19'	Referee: Jaco Peyper

	28 July 2018	Lions	44–26	Waratahs	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	15:05	Try: Kwagga Smith  21', 63' Aphiwe Dyantyi  26' Malcolm Marx  35', 58' Courtnall Skosan  79' Con: Elton Jantjies  28', 37', 64', 80' Pen: Elton Jantjies  55', 74'	Report[15] Scoreboard[16]	Try: Ned Hanigan  4' Israel Folau  8' Tom Robertson  39' Jake Gordon  76' Con: Bernard Foley  6', 10', 76' Cards: Damien Fitzpatrick 57' to 67'	Referee: Glen Jackson