Super rugby semi final

In one of the games of the season, the Waratahs produced a comeback for the ages to overcome the Highlanders 30-23 in Sydney and book a place in the Super Rugby semifinals.

Trailing 23-6 at halftime and with their season on the brink, the Waratahs took advantage of a Waisake Naholo yellow card in the second half to score three spectacular tries within seven minutes and take the unlikeliest of leads.

Then holding that seven point advantage with seven minutes left, the game took another turn as Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan was sent to the sinbin for a professional foul.

Despite failing to play their best rugby in Christchurch on Saturday, the defending champion Crusaders were always in control in their quarter-final.

By snaring a 13th successive win they took a step closer to their ninth title.

However, a stiffer challenge awaits in Christchurch next week against a Hurricanes side who showed signs of returning to their best in Friday's quarter- final defeat of the Chiefs.

The Crusaders will want to be better, spending chunks of the match inside their half, not helped by a faltering lineout display.

The Lions have lost their last eight games home and away to the New Zealand side, including a 20-3 defeat in last year's Super Rugby final in Wellington, and a humbling 50-17 home loss in the 2016 regular season.

That heavy defeat was the last time the South Africans were beaten at their Ellis Park fortress, amassing a winning run of 14 games since, that almost came to an end against the Sharks in the quarter-finals last weekend.

It's the first final for the South Africans, who go on to meet the Hurricanes in Wellington next weekend, where the hosts thrashed the Chiefs 25-9 on Saturday night.

First-five Elton Jantjies displayed a full array of skills at Ellis Park as the Lions confirmed the regular-season standings where they finished second behind the Hurricanes.

Hurricanes first five Barrett was at his mercurial best as he set up the opening try.

After regathering his own chip-kick, the All Black ran cross-field around the defence, before off-loading on the 5m line to the try-scorer, Willis Halaholo.

RNZ reports Coles, who came off in the his side's quarter final win over the Sharks last weekend with a rib injury has been bracketed in the starting lineup with Ricky Riccitelli

He took little part in the Hurricanes training today and avoided any contact work.

Coles has been bracketed with Ricky Riccitelli in an otherwise unchanged Hurricanes starting lineup which means All Black winger Julian Savea remains in the reserves, with Jason Woodward again starting on the left wing.