The Crusaders marched into the Super 12 rugby final after beating a resilient Stormers side 27-16 in the first semi-final in Christchurch.

The four-time champions rallied in the second half to score two tries and finally put down the Stormers who had made their second 24-hour flight to Christchurch in a fortnight.

Daniel Carter and Justin Marshall starred for the Crusaders at Jade Stadium as the perennial Super 12 finalists played percentage rugby to keep the Stormers pinned in their half for most of the second half.

The Crusaders sealed the match when wing Caleb Ralph finished off a set scrum move to score in the 67th minute taking them to seven-point lead.

Scoring in the first 40 minutes was restricted to Carter and Gaffie du Toit trading two penalties each, before Stormers inside centre De Wet Barry crossed for the first try in the 31st minute.

Barry's five-pointer came courtesy from a botched Crusaders lineout five metres from their own line.

The Stormers snaffled the ball, hammered the defence for several phases before flinging it wide for Barry to break a tackle and slip through.

Du Toit's conversion made it 13-6, but Carter replied with another two penalties, one on the stroke of halftime, to reduce the visitors' lead to one point.

The Crusaders replied early in the second half with a try to Marshall who started and finished a movement in the 42nd minute.

Carter converted, but five-eighth du Toit slotted another penalty three minutes later to make it 19-16 to the hosts, before Ralph finished the final scoring play of the game.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP