Super Rugby Pacific Final - Teams and Prediction

FINAL PREVIEW: The Crusaders want to avoid another ’embarrassing’ collapse at home as they welcome the Chiefs to Christchurch for the Super Rugby Pacific Final on Saturday.

The Chiefs have done the double over Rob Penney’s side this season with a 49-24 win in Hamilton before recording a 35-19 victory on the South Island last month.

That victory in Christchurch was particularly impressive. The Chiefs were 3-19 down before they scored 32 unanswered points to secure a memorable win.

However, play-off rugby is a different kettle of fish, and the Crusaders definitely have the pedigree when it comes to this stage of the season.

The Chiefs have also fallen short in the last two Finals, with one of them being a 20-25 defeat to the Crusaders in Hamilton in 2023.

“It’s a final mate, anything can happen,” said Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor.

“We’re well aware of the results that have happened this year, similar to a couple of years ago during that round-robin.

“We know they can apply pressure through all facets of their game and they’re bloody good at it.

“It’s up to us to put them under pressure with our game.”

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‘Embarrassing’

Taylor admits that their home defeat to the Chiefs in the league phase still stings.

“We had to really look at ourselves. It was quite embarrassing to be honest,” he said.

“They showed us how to turn up the heat and front up in the collision. We started looking for opportunities and not creating them.

“They just got a roll on. They’re a great team at being able to expose you through that middle part of the 80 minutes.”

Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ players want to make it a perfect send-off for coach Clayton McMillan, who will be heading to Ireland for a stint with Munster.

“Do it for Donk [McMillan]. Do it for the region. Do it for our fans and our families,” said Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie.

“The support we’ve had throughout the year has been amazing.

“We’ve been disappointed in the last few years where we haven’t quite been able to win a Final. So, it’s not only just doing it for guys who are leaving, it’s also for guys who have been here in the past.

“We’ve got a lot to play for and a lot of motivation.”

However, All Black loose forward Luke Jacobson said McMillan is not someone who wants the spotlight on him.

“Donk will be the first to say it. It’s not about Donk. It’s about the Chiefs as a whole.

“It’s bigger than any individual,” Jacobson said.

“It’s better than just our players. It’s our fans. It’s our wider community, management, and commercial team.”

Players to watch

For Crusaders: The Crusaders will be bolstered by the return of All Black prop Tamaiti Williams. Williams injured his knee during the play-off win against Queensland Reds and missed last week’s 21-14 semifinal win over the Blues. There’s a lot of buzz around flyhalf Rivez Reihana and his performances this season. He could send a huge message to All Black head coach Scott Robertson with a big match-winning display on Saturday.

For Chiefs: Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan named an unchanged starting XV for the Final, featuring All Black flyhalf Damian McKenzie, explosive hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and loose forward Luke Jacobson. McKenzie can create something out of nothing on the field, while Taukei’aho is a hard man to bring down when he has momentum. Jacobson will try and disrupt the breakdown area as much as he can when the Crusaders have the ball.

Prediction

@rugby365com: Crusaders by four points.

Teams:

CRUSADERS: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Macca Springer, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 George Bower, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Cullen Grace, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod.

CHIEFS: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Etene Nanai-Seturo.

Date: Saturday, June 21
Venue: Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19.05 (07.05 GMT)
Expected weather: Showers are expected earlier in the day, before clearing up, with temperatures in the single digits.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Brett Cronan

Additional source: Radio New Zealand