Rieko Ioane fuels the believing Blues ahead of semis

Rieko Ioane might well put Carlos Spencer to shame if the Blues make history against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night.

The All Blacks’ centre turned antagonist was at it again after the Blues rocked the Chiefs and kept their title defence alive on Saturday night.

Once he was done with them, he wasted little time retrieving his phone and taking to social media.

“Should’ve killed me when you had the chance,” Ioane, who is known to fire back at critics, posted alongside photos of him with his finger placed on his lips.

“As the saying goes, shouldn’t have let us get one. See you soon. Believe!” Ioane posted.

Twenty-one years after the bird-flipping Spencer let rip at Crusaders fans at Lancaster Park, Ioane could go nuclear if the Blues roll into the Garden City on Friday night and hand the red and blacks their first home playoff defeat. As Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said shortly after his side conceded a last-ditch converted try, which didn’t doom their season but did cost them the No 1 seed to the Crusaders, they were desperate to terminate the Blues’ campaign for reasons other than retaining the top spot.

Fresh from trouncing the Reds, the Crusaders are in the box seat, and are as healthy as they’ve been in years, including when they won their most recent title in 2023.

The Crusaders play the Blues at 7.05pm Friday while the Chiefs play the Brumbies at 7.05pm Saturday.

[Source: stuff.co.nz]