Chiefs' McMillan does not fear Crusaders ahead of Super Rugby Pacific final
Waikato Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan is refusing to be overawed by the prospect of facing the Canterbury Crusaders in their Christchurch stronghold when the teams face off in the Super Rugby Pacific final later this week.
The Crusaders have won 31 consecutive playoff matches on home soil in the competition over the last three decades and will take on the Chiefs on June 21 after handing the Auckland Blues a 21-14 defeat on Friday.
The Chiefs, who finished on top of the regular season standings, defeated the ACT Brumbies 37-17 in the semi-finals on Saturday to advance to a third consecutive decider, prompting McMillan to dismiss concerns over the Crusaders' home record.
"We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," he said. "We're one team that's had our fair share of success down there.
"We know it's not going to be easy. They've got a formidable record and they're a quality team and they demonstrated that (against the Blues).
"You've got to be at your best, you've got to take every opportunity that presents itself and the best team on the day will win.
"It's a hostile reception down there no matter when you go, first round of the year or the final. We're pretty accustomed to that and we can generate some energy off that."
The Chiefs' confidence will be boosted by the 35-19 win they secured over the Crusaders in May, although a defeat to the Blues in the first round of playoffs saw McMillan's side surrender their home field advantage in the final.
McMillan will send his players into the decider determined that they work as a team rather than as individuals to claim the title for the first time since 2013.
"We've got to embrace the opportunity that's directly in front of us and we've got to get down to get it done," he said. "There won't be any one (person) that will do that, it will be the collective.
"Our Achilles heel in the past has been that we've wanted something so bad that it becomes detrimental sometimes. You try a little bit too hard.
"All we have to do is back ourselves and do what we've done all year; play Chiefs rugby, work hard for each other, nail the small moments, apply enough pressure on the Crusaders that they feel that pressure.
"If you win enough of those, you give yourself enough of a chance of walking away with the title." REUTERS
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