There is only one major statistical category in which the Crusaders have outperformed the Chiefs in 2025, but no one beats the storied club on its home soil.
25 capped All Blacks have been named across the respective match-day 23s, with a handful of fringe prospects also looking to make their mark.
The Chiefs had two statement wins over the Crusaders in the round-robin stages, and while the teams ended the season with the same record, with just three losses from 14 games, it’s the Hamilton-based outfit that scored more points and conceded fewer than anyone in the competition.
The Crusaders, though, have owned the playoffs for the better part of the last decade and have proven to be all but invincible at Apollo Projects Stadium.
These are two efficient attacking outfits, the two most prolific point scorers in Super Rugby 2025. But, even with that being the case, the gap between the Chiefs’ points average and the Crusaders’ is still wide.
The Chiefs scored more than five points per game more than the Crusaders this season, despite claiming the same number of tries per game.
The Chiefs play with the ball the most of any team in 2025, as evidenced by them making the most passes per game and ranking in the top three for carries, carry metres, linebreaks, defenders beaten, and offloads.
The Crusaders don’t beat the Chiefs in many attacking metrics, but have comparable numbers when it comes to offloads.
The Crusaders are twice as likely to score off a turnover, while the Chiefs are slightly more likely to score off of set piece.
The Chiefs made 89 per cent of their 195 tackle attempts in their semi-final against the Brumbies. Both finalists had less possession than their opponents in those games.
The Chiefs’ scrum is the most effective in the competition, with the best rate of scrums won via penalty for both attacking and defensive efforts.
The Crusaders are as accurate in the lineout as anyone, and this area is the one that stands out as one of the biggest advantages for the hosts. The Crusaders are three per cent more successful in the lineout than the Chiefs.
The Crusaders play the Chiefs at 7.05 tonight at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch.
[Source: Rugbypass]
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