Fijivillage
NEWS SPORTS IN DEPTH
27 April, 2026, 5:16 am
Central - 23°C Clouds
IN DEPTH
27 April, 2026, 5:16 am Central - 23°C Clouds

Crusaders want to keep playoff winning record at home intact

Crusaders want to keep playoff winning record at home intact

By Mosese Raqio
12/06/2023
Photo:Crusaders

Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific defending champions, the Crusaders will be looking to keep their playoffs winning record at home intact when they take on the Blues on Friday night in Christchurch.

For the past 27 years of Super Rugby, no visiting team has won a playoff game in Christchurch and that record will again be on the line this weekend against an ever-improving Blues side.

With both sides having injury concerns heading into this weekend, both teams will be reaching deep into their well of players to cover up for the holes left by the injured players.

The Crusaders finished their quarter-final clash against the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua with just 13 men on the pitch because of injury while the Blues were hit with their setback as lock Patrick Tuipolotu has been ruled out with a broken arm and Caleb Clarke was absent in their quarter-final with a quad issue.

Former gold medalist with the All Black Sevens, Karl Te Nana has highlighted that this Blues team possesses the ability to punish teams in ways last season’s side couldn’t.

He says the Blues at the moment are finding ways to score and they’re quite explosive and very different from last season.

He adds the Blues have got that X-factor that they can strike from anywhere.

The Blues will take on the Crusaders at 7.05pm Friday in Christchurch.

The second semi final will be between the Brumbies and the Chiefs at 7.05pm Saturday in Hamilton.


DateTimeTeamTeam

FNRL
FEATURE NEWS
Fijian Drua fall 42-22 to Chiefs in Super Round clash
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua went down 42-22 to the Waikato Chiefs in their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific Super Round game at One New Zealand Stad...
10 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Father questions delay in search for 9 missing fishermen, Police say response was immediate
The father of one of the nine fishermen still missing at sea, Iosefo Balenatuvu says he believes valuable time may have been lost after the group ...
10 hours ago

Singh calls for greater use of Hindi to preserve culture and identity
The Hindi language plays a critical role in preserving cultural identity and must be actively promoted across homes, schools, and communities. This ...
12 hours ago

Lautoka residents find new ways to cope with rising cost of living
Residents in Lautoka have started using backyard gardening and carpooling to cope with rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of goods and ...
12 hours ago

Fiji advances relocation plans for communities affected by climate change
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is reviewing progress on plans to relocate communities vulnerable to the growing impacts of climate ...
12 hours ago

Local government elections will directly impact community services
Who sits on your town or city council will directly affect services in your community — from cleaner streets to better roads and drainage. That is ...
12 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Drug lord Jone Vakarisi dies in military custody as investigations find unauthorised weapons outside RFMF inventory
Druglord, Jone Vakarisi has died in military custoday, 3 other associates have been released after questioning, 1 RFMF personnel remains in military ...
6 days ago

Citizens to oppose proposed TNG Waste-to-Energy incinerator in Saweni, Vuda
Serious concerns are being raised regarding a proposed Australian company's TNG Waste-to-Energy incinerator in Saweni, Vuda, and a group of concerned ...
6 days ago

Ratu Epeli Nailatikau's State Funeral
Ratu Epeli was a highly respected Fijian chief and a people’s President as many would remember him on many occasions walking on the streets of Suva ...
11 days ago

TOP