Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has admitted that his team were fortunate to come away from Eden Park as the winners of the 18-19 Super rugby match.

"It came down to some fingertips" was Blackadder's summation of the Crusaders victory.

Blues first five-eighths Piri Weepu attempted to win the match with a drop goal but wing Israel Dagg got his fingers to the ball which sent the ball wide of the posts.

"It was certainly an arm wrestle. There was a lot of pressure out there and both teams at times made a few uncharacteristic errors but you'd expect that under pressure."

"Once again it came down to the wire against a good side," Blackadder told Sportal.

Blackadder compared the contest to a boxing match which had nerves on edge in both coaches' boxes.

"I felt watching the game the momentum went back and forth, back and forth and two heavyweights slugging it out to win the critical moments," he said.

"A dropped ball can turn into a breakout, a counter attack. Not being able to execute set piece pressure."

"If you don't win your lineout or your scrum opportunity lost. It was a little bit like that and then it is hard to get that momentum.

Blackadder said that the Crusaders had wanted to start their Super Rugby campaign on a win and to show that they had learned the lessons from last year.

"In the back of our minds too, with the earthquake and the anniversary we really wanted to do it for our people so I am really pleased our guys gutsed it out.

"We are really pleased. To win ugly, I know it was messy at times but we're really pleased that we got a good result and we'll take a lot from the game and be far better next week," he said.