Lions coach De Bruin to meet with refs over Crusaders’ tactics

Lions coach Swys de Bruin plans to raise his concerns over the Crusaders’ tactics to match officials ahead of Saturday’s Super Rugby final.

The South African team produced a stirring second-half display to see off the Waratahs 44-26 and reach the final for a third successive season.

They will be hoping for a change in fortunes, however, having lost out to the Hurricanes in 2016 before suffering a 25-17 defeat to reigning champions Crusaders last year.

Lions will be at a disadvantage this weekend, though, as they have to travel to Christchurch for the title showdown.

Ahead of the game, De Bruin wants to speak to Australian referee Angus Gardner regarding their opponents bending the rules, insisting he just wants to get a “fair deal”.

“They can’t – because they are champions and people think they are good – get away with certain stuff,” he said.

“And I will make sure we meet with the refs about that.

“Because going through their clips – and you guys know me, I speak from the heart – there is a lot of things they get away with, more than other teams get away with.

“Like the offside line, like the hit on the left hand-side on the loosehead, stuff like that. So I will have that talk like that to them.

“We need a fair deal, all we ask is a fair deal and I hope we will get it.”

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