Then there were four.
The business end of the Super Rugby Pacific season has arrived and the semi-finals promise fireworks in New Zealand
In Christchurch on Friday night, the Blues head south to face the Crusaders in a heavyweight Kiwi showdown that feels more like a final than a semi. It’s a rivalry steeped in history and hostility, and with the Crusaders unbeaten in home playoff games. A staggering 30-0 record, the Blues will need more than form to break Fortress Christchurch. But after last week’s heroic upset over the Chiefs, The Blues won’t be short on belief. All eyes will be on the 10–12 axis and the breakdown battle, where games like this are won or lost.
Then on Saturday, it’s the Chiefs hosting the Brumbies in Hamilton. The Chiefs minor premiers and crowd favourites, suffered a blip last week but remain lethal across the park. Don’t write off the Brumbies. The most balanced Australian side in years, they outclassed the Hurricanes with smart territory play and brutal defence. If they can slow down the Chiefs’ tempo and win the kicking duel, an upset isn’t out of the question.
Two blockbuster semis. Four teams with everything to play for. And in a season already full of surprises, don’t be shocked if one more twist awaits.
Strap in. The road to the Super Rugby final runs through Aotearoa this weekend and it’s going to be brutal.
Crusaders
Blues
Last Match Form
Crusaders
- Christian Lio-Willie (76) and Will Jordan (68) made the most- and second-most carry metres last weekend. Lio-Willie made the joint-most dominant carries (five) and the second-most post-contact metres (22), and Jordan beat the most defenders (six).
- The Crusaders have averaged the most points per 22m entry (3.0) so far this season; 43% of their entries have resulted in a try (1st).
- The Crusaders have made the most tackles (2773) and won the most turnovers (125) so far this season.
Blues
- The Blues have had the best tackle success rate (82.5%) and the best gainline success rate (49.9%) among the teams so far this season.
- Beauden Barrett had made the most kicks (147) so far this season; 28 have been contestable (3rd), and 22 have been retained (2nd). He has assisted three tries with kicks (1st).
- The Blues have scored the most points from 20-40 (145) but the second-fewest from 0-20 (69).
Crusaders (1-15): George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Antonio Shalfoon, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Sevu Reece, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan
Bench: George Bell, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah, Cullen Grace, Kyle Preston, James O’Connor, Dallas McLeod
Blues (1-15): Joshua Fusitu’a, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Laghlan McWhannell, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Zarn Sullivan
Bench: Kurt Eklund, Jordan Lay, Angus Ta’avao, Josh Beehre, Anton Segner, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Cole Forbes
Chiefs
Brumbies
Last Match Form
Chiefs
- The Chiefs have had the best scrum success rate (97.1%) so far this season - they have lost just three. They have won 28 scrum penalties (1st) and eight against the feed (1st).
- Damian McKenzie is the top point-scorer so far this season (185); he has had a goal kick success rate of 79.8% (2nd). He has also made the most retained kicks (24).
- The Chiefs have averaged the most 22m entries per game (14.1) so far this season; 62% of their entries have resulted in a try or penalty won (2nd).
Brumbies
- Tom Wright has made 1139 carry metres (1st) and beaten 50 defenders (3rd) so far this season. He has also assisted the joint-most line breaks (19), and the joint-third most tries (nine).
- The Brumbies have averaged 7.3 successful 22m entries per game (2nd) so far this season; they have averaged 2.6 points per visit (3rd).
- The Brumbies have had an average ruck speed of 3.5s (2nd) and a ruck success rate of 96.5% (2nd) so far this season. 37.8% of their rucks have been in the opposition 22m (1st).
Chiefs (1-15): Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Leroy Carter, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
Bench: Brodie McAlister, Jared Proffit, Reuben O’Neill, Jimmy Tupou, Kalyum Boshier, Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Gideon Wrampling
Brumbies (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
Bench: Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Leli, Feao Fotuaika, Lachlan Shaw, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Ollie Sapsford
