What a tasty way to kickoff the semifinals, with a rematch of last year’s final, and at the same venue where the Crusaders stunned the top-seeded Chiefs in the 2023 decider.
And, for the first time in an age, the Crusaders boast a healthy three-match winning streak against the team that’s had more success than any other team against them.
Of course, as Crusaders head coach Rob Penney was wise to point out this week, the fact the Crusaders swept the regular season matches this year means zilch.
The Chiefs, after all, did so in 2023 and 2025, only to cough up the match that mattered most.
They’re still searching for their first title since 2013 as a result, while the Crusaders are now a couple of wins away from a ninth in 10 years.
Penney has his team humming, too, winners of four straight after spluttering through the first two thirds of the season.
However, all those matches were played in their shiny new indoor stadium, and the Chiefs will know the defending champions aren’t blessed with injured trio Will Jordan, Tamaiti Williams and Scott Barrett.
The Chiefs, for the first time this year, have playmaker Damian McKenzie available to face the Crusaders, too.
They might not get a better chance to get one back over their rivals.
The Chiefs host the Crusaders at 7.05 tonight at FMG Stadium, Waikato.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will meet the Blues in the second Shop N Save Super Rugby semi final at 7.05pm tomorrow.
Source: stuff.co.nz
