Saturday evening, Australian time, will see the all-New Zealand semi-final clash between the Chiefs and the Crusaders.
The Chiefs finished the Super Rugby ladder in first place, and were awarded a first-round bye. On the other hand, the Crusaders finished in fourth, and made the semi-finals after a comprehensive 38-9 victory over the Queensland Reds in Christchurch last weekend.
The Kiwis finished the first half with a 21-6 lead, scoring two tries and three penalties, while the Reds scored two penalties.
Quade Cooper put a penalty away early in the second half to bring the Reds’ total up to nine, but the Crusaders took an impressive lead with two converted tries and one penalty.
As defending champions and Super Rugby ladder winners, the first semi-final is the Chiefs’ to loose. Six points separated the Crusaders, in fourth, and the Chiefs, in first, on the Super Rugby overall ladder.
The first meeting between the two teams in round 15 of the current season was won 28-19 by the Chiefs, who were playing at home.
However, after a slow start to the year, the Crusaders have found some good form. They have not lost a match since their round 15 loss to the Chiefs, even defeating their semi-final opponents 43-15 along the way.
They enter the semi-final match with impressive momentum, and it will be difficult for the Chiefs to hold out their opponents.
The Crusaders became the first side to score four tries against the Reds this season, as the British and Irish Lions only managed one try in their 22-12 win.
A Chiefs victory will mean that they will host the Super Rugby grand-final on Saturday, 3rd August, at Waikato Stadium.
If the Crusaders win, the final will be played at either the Canberra Stadium or in Pretoria, depending on the result of the second semi-final between the Brumbies and Bulls.
Prediction: Crusaders to win by seven points
Catch The Roar’s live scores and blog from the Chiefs vs Crusaders right here 5.35pm AEST on Saturday night.
Dan
Guest
RIP Willie Halaifonua bro my thoughts are with your family and friends.
WEST
Roar Guru
love the chiefs..but Crusades have great timing of knowing when to win. Carter, Read, Dagg, and Franks and co there a tough unit to beat when there focused on a goal. But hell the Chiefs are going to be fired up in the Waikato they can make anything happen. Cruden must dictate his own rules and guide the backs, if Masaga gets involved more and links up with Ngatai those two could find some space and Crus wont allow much of that. I hope they bring Robinson and Aki on 2nd half to use there speed to find some gaps. But Carter will be using his brains to push for territory to set up the forward pack to create trys within Chiefs 22. Crusaders are great at wearing the opposition out by setting a platform from midfield if first carrier is well tackled and they fail to get quick ruck ball, they launch there kick and chase team from midfied. Kicking from midfield is effective because it allows you to use two kickers and because there are two kickers the defending fullback is forced to defend centre field. The effect is it allows both kickers plenty of space to aim for. But also allow many options kick long, slide a grubber threw, or put the ball high in the air to contest for. In essence there exit strategy Is to set a platform midfield to decide to either kick and chase or kick to isolate the opposing fullback with contestable kick. Or they use another strategy its a momentum pattern designed to exhaust the defence and create kick and run options and exploit space. NZ use these tactics to tire out defence before handing the ball over. Very effective against bigger packs like SA.
Rassie
Roar Rookie
Richie supporting the Chiefs?
The Cheat
Guest
If you want to see an all kiwi final then wait for the ITM cup. I'm sure you'll get what you want. IN THE MEANTIME GO THE CHIEFS!!
Rassie
Roar Rookie
Is it me is Super Rugby also a learning experience for those learning their ABC's? The B's playing against each other The C's playing against each other
allblackfan
Guest
This all comes down to the coaches -- Rennie/Smith/Coventry versus Blackadder/Mauger-Matson/Hewitt. NB to others: Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy reckons he was able to turn the Storm's fortunes around because of Wayne Smith. At work, I saw a classic photo of Bellamy asking questions of Steve Hanson at an All Blacks training session at the end of 2010 as the ABs prepared for their European tour.
Tristan
Guest
I hate the fact this will be an all kiwi semi final. Would of liked a Bulls vs Saders and Chiefs vs Brumbies and then an all kiwi final
atlas
Guest
Before the game tomorrow: There will be a moments silence at the beginning of the match to remember New Zealand rugby player Willie Halaifonua from the Takapuna Rugby Club who passed away this week. Club rugby player dies after brain bleed Halaifonua died in Auckland hospital Tuesday night after collapsing with a head injury at the end of a match on Saturday afternoon. North Harbour Rugby Union Brett Hollister previously said the injury was the result of a single clash of heads with a Massey player with one minute remaining in the match. "There was one collision at the very end of the game that he was involved in,'' Mr Hollister said. "He was checked by the physio. The other player left the field and about a minute later the game ended. It was only then when the two teams were shaking hands that he collapsed.''
Shakyland
Guest
I wonder why the stats only focus on the last 2 yrs these teams have met to start with and not the hold history, and the second line stated that the Crusaders played in 15 semifinals....Are they try to make the Chiefs history similar or better than the Crusades? The fact is Crusaders have a great Super Rugby history than the Chiefs. Crusaders played in 15 semifinals to a handful for the chiefs says a lot....
Shamseer Jaleel
Guest
I am from Sri Lanka. We are awaiting for a super semi finals. But unfortunalty one NZ side will be out ideally i was looking forward for a Brumbies and Cheifs semi finals. Hopefully to see a all NZ final. Anyway lets hope the better team win
mace 22
Guest
As a hurricane fan it doesn't matter which team wins this one. As the chiefs win will be a home final for them and they will be hard to beat. The crusader win will mean an away final but if any team can win away from home it's the red and black sadists.
Rusty Hatton
Guest
Cannot predict a winner of this match, too many plus and minus for both teams. Could go either way depending on who comes to play rugby. l love it, no crisis will stop me watching this match.
winston
Roar Rookie
Yeah it will be an awesome game. A huge contrast from the likely kick fest in SA. A lot of people have written off the Chiefs but they have a habit of rising for the big games. Some strange selections in there though for the chiefs.
Rusty Hatton
Guest
This will be the match of tournament. Quality players will give us a quality show. Go the Saders.
atlas
Guest
some history/stats for Chiefs v Crusaders, taken from today's NZ Herald - 6th time they've have met in the past two years, Chiefs ahead three wins to two, including their win in last year's Super Rugby semifinal - 15th time Crusaders have played in a Super Rugby semifinal, Chiefs 4th time - From 57 Super Rugby playoff games, the away team has only won 9. The Crusaders have achieved an away win in a semifinal twice from 6 away games - No New Zealand team has ever lost a home playoff game (there have been 15 in total), so history appears to be on the side of the Chiefs - Crusaders have won just three of their 8 away games in 2013. Chiefs have lost one at home (reds) - Chiefs have made the most linebreaks of any team this season, averaging 9.3 per game. The Crusaders are averaging 7.2 per game. - Crusaders average 10.4 offloads per game, Chiefs 12.7. Aaron Cruden is the best of the Chiefs with 26 for the season - Matt Todd is the second highest tackler in Super rugby having finished the regular season with 218, making 94% of his tackles. Liam Messam has made 182 tackles, and has a 93% success rate - Crusaders goal kicking success rate of 84% during the regular season, with Tom Taylor kicking at 90% and Dan Carter at 88%. The Chiefs had a 76% success rate After all that, I remain a fence-sitter and wouldn't risk any money picking a winner.
Eddie
Guest
Good old Probables v Possibles match!
Tui
Guest
Cruden v Carter. All Black riches at 1st 5 we love it!
crusader fan
Guest
Chiefs at home is always tough, I'm hoping the Crusaders continue their current form. Let the game begins and the best team to win, should be a good one Go the mighty Red&Black
felix
Guest
Cruden or Carter,I say Cruden,T.K Barlow vs anybody will win,Chiefs will upset the majority & I'm a great fan of their play I must say,though I mite be so wrong but I'll stick to my prediction,Go Chiefs go Bulls.