Chiefs v Crusaders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 21 Feb
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Both the Chiefs and Crusaders are coming off impressive wins in the pulsating first weekend of Super Rugby Pacific, so this showdown in Hamilton will really set a gauge on which team will continue their winning ways.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan and Crusaders coach Rob Penney have named very strong sides for the match, however not without a few talking points scattered through. The Chiefs are hoping for a big turnout at a venue that traditionally draws very healthy Friday night crowds.
Rob Penney coach of the Crusaders and Clayton McMillan head coach of the Chiefs during the Super Rugby Pacific rugby match between the Chiefs and the Crusaders at FMG Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand on Friday February 23, 2024. Copyright photo: Aaron Gillions / www.photosport.nz Photo: Aaron Gillions / Photosport
Team lists
Chiefs: 1. Aidan Ross, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. George Dyer, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Luke Jacobson; 9. Xavier Roe, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Rameka Poihipi, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Damian McKenzie
Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Jared Proffit, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Gideon Wrampling
Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Ioane Moananu, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Cullen Grace, 7. Ethan Blackadder, 8. Christian Lio-Willie; 9. Kyle Preston, 10. Taha Kemara, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili (c), 13. Levi Aumua, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Manumaua Letiu, 17. George Bower, 18. Sam Matenga, 19. Tahlor Cahill, 20. Corey Kellow, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod
Chiefs selections
Xavier Roe dives to score. Photo: Photosport
You certainly can't argue with McMillan's policy of rewarding those who stood out in preseason, with the foundation for the win over the Blues built on a strong defensive ethic from the get go. That's continued this week, with Simon Parker retaining his spot in the loose forwards and Xavier Roe starting at halfback. Tupou Vaa'i, Anton Lienert-Brown and Emoni Narawa all return to the starting lineup, with Josh Jacomb and Damian McKenzie still paired at first five and fullback.
Crusaders selections
Kyle Preston scores a try on debut for the Crusaders against the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby season-season opening match at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch, 14 Feb 2025. Photo: Photosport
Only the one, injury-enforced change and it was a pretty easy call for Penney to bump Kyle Preston into the starting line-up after the halfback's hattrick on debut last weekend. Taha Kemara once again starts after an assured performance in the win over the Hurricanes, with a very impressive shift by James O'Connor late in the game giving Penney a very secure option there.
Key stats
Sevu Reece scores. Highlanders v Crusaders, round 12 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand on Saturday 11 May 2024. Photo credit: Michael Thomas / www.photosport.nz Photo: www.photosport.nz
The Chiefs and Crusaders each made 41 tackle breaks in the opening round of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, more than any other teams in the competition. Damian McKenzie (11) and Sevu Reece (10) were the only players to make at least 10 tackle breaks.
The Chiefs have won only one of their last five Super Rugby Pacific games against New Zealand opposition during the regular season, while the Crusaders have won three of their last four such fixtures including their last two in a row.
Sevu Reece has scored nine tries across his last eight Super Rugby Pacific games and has scored six tries across his last six away games against the Chiefs in the competition.
What they're saying
"We've got to evolve our game, play multiple styles of game…(but) I think that teams and creatures of habit. We've got our own DNA and the Crusaders are the same, there's similarities in the way they've always played." - Clayton McMillan.
"Our forward pack's got a massive job ahead of it this week around the lineout, matching their physicality." - David Havili
The last time they met
Crusaders 37 - 26 Chiefs
This was when everyone last year presumed the Crusaders had finally broken out of their slump, with a commanding win over the Chiefs in round five supposedly heralding a return to form for the then-defending champs. Johnny McNicholl was the unlikely hero for the home side with two tries, that also featured a George Bell try that was so impressive it may well have earned him an All Black call up. Of course, it wasn't to be as they bumbled their way to an ignominious ninth-place finish, while the Chiefs took their lessons and made it all the way to the final.
What's going to happen
It will be interesting to see just how much McMillan deviates from his smash and grab style that worked so well last weekend, and how the Crusaders cope with the incredible threat McKenzie poses. Both packs are really evenly matched, so you'd think whoever makes early use of their speed merchants out wide will be able to gain ascendency. The pressure is more on the Chiefs though, with expectations now very high after two losing finals appearances in a row, while the Crusaders still have a bit of leeway in what really is a rebuild year.
