Why Crusaders have edge over Chiefs in final

In each its match-ups this season, the Chiefs person mislaid conscionable once.

Yet, the Crusaders are being tipped to topple the hosts of this year's Super Rugby Pacific final.

Former Wallabies James Horwill and Stephen Hoiles person backed the Scott Robertson-led squad to bushed Clayton McMillan's men successful Hamilton.

Watch the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific play connected the location of rugby, Stan Sport. All matches streaming advertisement free, unrecorded and connected demand

Braydon Ennor of the Crusaders and Shaun Stevenson of the Chiefs vie for the shot during circular 10 of Super Rugby Pacific. (Hannah Peters via Getty Images)

From 14 regular play rounds, the Crusaders mislaid 4 matches – doubly to the Chiefs, and erstwhile each to the Fijian Drua and Hurricanes.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, lone succumbed to the Reds successful a thrilling three-point loss.

It's been an intriguing finals bid to date. The Chiefs faced the Reds successful a adjacent contest, coming from down to triumph their quarter-final 29-20 earlier a 19-6 triumph implicit the Brumbies.

The Crusaders person had a comparatively cruisy tally through, demolishing the Fijian Drua 49-8 and past the Blues 52-15.

Although the Chiefs person been the astir palmy broadside successful 2023, the Crusaders person momentum firmly connected their side, according to Horwill and Hoiles.

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"I deliberation the Crusaders pip them, just," said Horwill connected Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven.

"I deliberation they instrumentality successful a batch of confidence. They've been playing precise good the past 2 weeks and I'm funny to spot whether the past 2 games person taken it retired of the Chiefs. 

"I deliberation the Crusaders, the past 2 weeks, astir apt person been connected a spot of a canter. They've astir apt got a small spot much petrol successful the tank, truthful I'm tipping the Crusaders, but lone just." 

Hoiles added, "I'm going to spell the Crusaders arsenic well, simply due to the fact that you conscionable can't extremity against the Crusaders successful a crippled similar this. 

"Last week was the 1 that swung maine massively. The Chiefs person been the champion broadside each year.

"The Crusaders had a dilatory start, but this is precise overmuch a emblematic Crusaders precocious run, a ascendant broadside successful the past 10 weeks. It'll beryllium a helluva game, but I'm going Crusaders."

Fantastic Fainga’anuka makes it 13

The Crusaders person scored much than 20 points successful each but 2 matches this season.

Incredibly, the Crusaders mean 34.8 points per crippled portion the Chiefs mean 33.4 to date.

Just arsenic fascinating is the points conceded with the Crusaders letting successful much points than the Chiefs – 18.8 versus 17.9.

In the quarter-final and semi-finals, the Crusaders person amassed 101 points portion the Chiefs person 48 to their credit.

NEW PODCAST! Sean Maloney, Morgan Turinui and Stephen Hoiles enactment retired wherever the Brumbies came unstuck, manus retired immoderate awards and preview the last betwixt the Chiefs and Crusaders

The Chiefs, defensively, person the borderline implicit the Crusaders successful Morgan Turinui's eyes.

"I emotion the champion antiaircraft squad successful the comp – that's wherefore I'm going with the Chiefs," helium said.

"Some of their antiaircraft performances this year, including against the Crusaders, person been excellent. I deliberation that mightiness beryllium capable to get them up by four."

In their 2 contests this year, the Chiefs bushed the Crusaders 31-10 successful the play opener successful Christchurch and 34-24 astatine their Hamilton home.

Coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific last is unrecorded and ad-free connected Stan Sport oregon free-to-air connected 9Gem from 4.30pm (AEST).

Chiefs large lands knockout blow

CHIEFS IN SUPER RUGBY FINALS

APPEARANCES: 4 (2 won/2 lost)

FIRST TITLE: 2012, defeated Sharks

MOST RECENT TITLE: 2013, defeated Brumbies

CRUSADERS IN SUPER RUGBY FINALS

APPEARANCES: 16 (11 won/5 lost)

FIRST TITLE: 1998, defeated Blues

MOST RECENT TITLE: 2022, defeated Blues

CHIEFS (15-1): Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Alex Nankivell, Anton Lienert-Brown, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber (co-c), Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (co-c), Pita Gus Sowakula, Tupou Vaa'i, Brodie Retallick, George Dyer, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Aidan Ross

Reserves: Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, John Ryan, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Josh Ioane, Rameka Poihipi

CRUSADERS (15-1): Will Jordan, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Richie Mo'unga, Mitch Drummond, Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Sione Havili Talitui, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Oli Jager, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams

Reserves: George Bell, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Reuben O'Neill, Quinten Strange, Dom Gardiner, Willi Heinz, Fergus Burke, Chay Fihaki

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