John Ryan's Waikato Chiefs denied as Canterbury Crusaders claim seventh Super Rugby title in arow

Waikato Chiefs 20-25 Canterbury Crusaders

Corkman John Ryan was denied a Super Rugby Pacific winners medal as the Canterbury Crusaders sealed their seventh title in a row with a 25-20 victory over the Waikato Chiefs in the final.

The Christchurch-based powerhouse handed the Chiefs only a second loss of the season to silence a full house at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium and secure a 14th Super Rugby title of all types, sending coach Scott Robertson off to the All Blacks in style.

Hooker Codie Taylor crossed for the second time in the 73rd minute for the winning score and the Crusaders held off the Chiefs, reduced to 14 men for the third time in the match, to snatch the victory.

The Chiefs had tries from full-back Shaun Stevenson and flying winger Emoni Narawa and held a 20-15 lead on the hour mark, but fell short in their bid for a first Super Rugby title since they went back-to-back in 2012-13.

Veteran prop Ryan, 34, who will return to Munster next month, played the last 20 minutes for the runners-up.

As well as coach Robertson, who will take over at the All Blacks after the World Cup, the Crusaders were bidding farewell to three players who helped build the dynasty in Sam Whitelock, Richie Mo'unga and Leicester Fainga'anuku.

"I'm lost for words, I'm so proud of the effort," said an emotional Taylor. "I can't get the fact that the boys are leaving out of my head and how much it means to them. It's special. Can't take anything away from the Chiefs. They threw everything at us and we just managed to hang in there."

The Chiefs were the dominant team in the regular season and co-captain Sam Cane, the last of the three home players to be shown yellow cards, was clearly deflated.

"We've had a heck of a season and it certainly hurts to