Crusaders vs Chiefs: Super Rugby Aotearoa live scores, blog

	73	D. McKenzie
	72	E. Nanai-Seturo
F. Burke	69
M. Dunshea	68
R. Mo'unga	63
W. Douglas	62
R. Mo'unga	55
W. Jordan	54
	43
R. Mo'unga	31
R. Mo'unga	26
L. Fainga'anuku	15
	8	D. McKenzie
	3	D. McKenzie
	1	D. McKenzie

5	Tries	2
3	Conversions	2
2	Penalty Goals	1
0	Field Goals	0

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An unbeaten Crusaders side will welcome a Chiefs side that hasn’t won a Super Rugby Aotearoa game yet this season… or last season. The Chiefs will be keen to build on the strong opening to their last game and turn that into an 80-minute performance. But will the ruthless Crusaders let them? Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of what promises to be a thrilling match starting from 5:00 pm AEDT.

Scott Robertson has made a few changes to his line-up for this match and the Chiefs will be facing eight starting All Blacks – not exactly ideal for a team that is hoping to get its first win in the competition since 2019.

These changes will see George Bower join the front row replacing Joe Moody while Sione Havili Talitui will replace Ethan Blackadder in the back row. In the backs, Will Jordan is back in the starting line-up and David Havili will move from his usual fullback position to the centres.

Clayton McMillan has made a number of changes to his Chiefs side too as they desperately seek a victory in the hardest match-up in Super Rugby. Amongst these changes, debutant Josh Lord will have a baptism of fire in the second row as he goes up against one of the best lock pairings in world rugby, let alone the competition.

Elsewhere within the Chiefs starting line-up, Quinn Tupaea starts in the centres while Angus Ta’avao, Tupou Vaa’i and Mitchell Brown have all got a chance to start in the pack.

McMillan will hope that the mixture of youth and experience can challenge the Crusaders, but for the Chiefs, two questions matter more than anything.

Firstly, can their pack compete with the home side to set a good foundation for the rest of their team? Secondly, can Bryn Gatland shake off a poor game from last week to go up against the form flyhalf in the world?

As if this wasn’t a challenging enough game for the Chiefs, they have benched the experienced Anton Lienert-Brown in the hope, you would assume, that when he comes on the game is close. Time will tell.

Prediction
The Chiefs have some inspiring players in the likes of Sam Cane and Damian McKenzie but it would have to be one hell of an inspiring display for the visitors to pull this one out of the bag.

Crusaders by 20.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of what promises to be a thrilling match starting from 5:00 pm AEDT.

Game information

Kick-off: 5:05pm (AEDT)
Venue: Orangetheory Stadium
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Crusaders $1.13, Chiefs $5.90 (odds via PlayUp)

Teams

Crusaders
Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Jack Goodhue, David Havili (vc), Leicester Fainga’anuku, Richie Mo’unga, Mitchell Drummond, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Sione Havili Talitui, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, George Bower

Reserves: Brodie McAlister, Joe Moody, Fletcher Newell, Mitchell Dunshea, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Bryn Hall, Fergus Burke, Dallas McLeod

Chiefs
Damian McKenzie, Shaun Stevenson, Sean Wainui, Quinn Tupaea, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Bryn Gatland, Brad Weber (cc), Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (cc), Mitchell Brown, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Angus Ta’avao, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Reuben O’Neill

Reserves: Bradley Slater, Aidan Ross, Sione Mafileo, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaylum Boshier, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Anton Lienert-Brown, Chase Tiatia

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