Super Rugby final: Crusaders, Chiefs find balance between local talent and scouting
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 10: Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs, Chay Fihaki of the Crusaders and Gideon Wrampling of the Chiefs (L-R) compete for the ball during the round 13 Super Rugby Pacific match between Crusaders and Chiefs at Apollo Projects Stadium, on May 10, 2025, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by) CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 10: Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs, Chay Fihaki of the Crusaders and Gideon Wrampling of the Chiefs (L-R) compete for the ball during the round 13 Super Rugby Pacific match between Crusaders and Chiefs at Apollo Projects Stadium, on May 10, 2025, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by)
THE FACTS
It's possibly coincidence – but probably not – that the Crusaders and Chiefs have operated with a similar formula that has seen them cleverly blend a core of locally developed players with a healthy smattering of well-identified recruits from around New Zealand.
This seems to be the right
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Crusaders vs Chiefs in Super Rugby final
The Super Rugby final is here and the Crusaders and Chiefs are seeking to carve out their own slice of history on Saturday night in Christchurch. Rugby reporter Joe Porter has more. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Motivation aplenty for Super Rugby finalists as title decider looms
Photo: RNZ Crusaders v Chiefs Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday, 21 June Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Live blog updates on RNZ The Super Rugby final is here and the Crusaders and Chiefs are seeking to carve out their own slice of history on Saturday night in Christchurch. The Crusaders' unbeaten home playoff record will be on the line as they host a record eighth final and vie for a record 13th title, while the Chiefs, beaten in the last two finals, are chasing their first title since 2013. Scott Barrett scores a try during the Crusaders v Chiefs, Super Rugby Pacific match, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch. Photo: Martin Hunter/ActionPress The Crusaders have never lost a playoff at home, winning 31 consecutive finals matches, including last week's come-from-behind victory over the defending champion Blues. However, the Chiefs insist they won't be overawed by the prospect of facing the Canterbury-based side in their Christchurch stronghold. The Chiefs have won recently in Ōtautahi, beating the Crusaders 35-19 in their regular season clash last month. Coach Clayton McMillan said they were not scared . "We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," McMillan said. "We're one team that has had our fair share of success down there, but we know it's not going to be easy." Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ The Chiefs have been beaten finalists the last two seasons, including a loss to the Crusaders in Hamilton in 2023. First-five Damian McKenzie is hoping it will be third time lucky in this weekend's title decider, which will be the last game as Chiefs coach for McMillan, nicknamed 'Donk', before he heads to Ireland to take charge of Munster. "Do it for Donk (McMillan). Do it for the region. Do it for our fans and our families," McKenzie said. "The support we've had throughout the year has been amazing. We've been disappointed in the last few years where we haven't quite been able to to win a final. So, it's not only just doing it for guys who are leaving, it's also for guys who have been here in the past. "We've got a lot to play for and a lot of motivation." Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ McKenzie believes McMillan will leave a lasting legacy after five years in charge. "We're going to miss his presence around the place," McKenzie said. "He's held in high regard and well respected. The job he's done since he's came into the Chiefs (has been great) and he's really built our culture. "You know he's the boss. When he talks, you listen. He's a guy you would definitely follow into battle. "He's going be sorely missed, so hopefully we can send him off in a good way." It will be the Crusaders' last big game at Christchurch's "temporary" stadium in Addington, which they've been at for 14 seasons following the 2011 earthquake, with the team set to move to the new roofed Te Kaha Stadium in April next year. Crusaders fullback Will Jordan celebrates a try. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Covered in scaffolding and seating just 17,000 people the Addington ground isn't the most glamorous, but vice-captain Will Jordan said the Crusaders have grown quite fond of it. He said they're determined to send the stadium off by winning the franchise a record 13th Super Rugby title. "Protecting our home patch has been a huge thing for us throughout the whole year," Jordan said. "It's the last year for this stadium which has given us a lot of joy. I've personally been coming here for 15 years and she's not perfect, but it's home for us and it's been a bit of a fortress for us. "We get one more week to try and protect that again." The Chiefs have had the wood over the Crusaders so far this season, winning both games between the sides. Crusaders coach Rob Penney isn't concerned by those results and he's confident the hosts can get the job done on Saturday night. "Got full faith in our group. We've got a group capable of winning," Penney said. "As I said before, the past is the past. This is a one-off occasion. We're at home in front of our people. Last time we're at Orangetheory (Apollo Projects Stadium) and that's just going to be such an a magic occasion." The match is set to be a sellout with a final release of tickets going out Thursday morning and while there should be plenty of Chiefs supporters in attendance, there won't be any cowbells . Fans have been banned from bringing the noise makers, used by Waikato rugby supporters for more than 70 years, into the ground. Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge said the Addington stadium was too cramped and it would present a health and safety issue. "There's also the fact that it's tight. It's not FMG (Farmers Mutual Group) Stadium or Eden Park, New Zealand. It's tight. It's compact and there's just enough room to wave a really thin flag. There ain't no room to swing a bloody big cowbell and take out the person sitting in the seat beside you."
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
Former Crusader Bryn Hall disappointed cowbells silenced for Super Rugby final
Some young Waikato fans. Photo: Bruce Lim / The chief executive of the Crusaders says he expects "polite applause" from visiting fans, renewing his stance that cowbells will be prohibited from the Super Rugby grand final. The Crusaders will host the Chiefs in Saturday's decider at Christchurch's Apollo Projects Stadium, likely to be one of the last Super Rugby games played at the Addington venue. A capacity crowd of 17,000 is expected with ticket sales tracking towards a sell-out. Although the refusal has been made amid a backdrop of good-natured sparring by both franchises and their respective officials, Crusaders' chief executive Colin Mansbridge claimed the confined dimensions of the ground were a factor. "I don't think people appreciate how small the venue is," he told Checkpoint. "When it's full it's very intimate and very tight. "I think the [Chiefs supporters] should be able to sing and dance and have fun, but I don't think they have the right to turn it into their home ground." The ban was met with mixed views by people RNZ spoke to around central Christchurch on Wednesday. One woman said although the cowbells irked her, she did not know how the ban could be enforced. "I find them really annoying at any of the games that they play. I don't mind Waikato as a team, but yeah keep the bells away," she said. Another man, who was wearing a vintage Canterbury NPC jersey, felt the move was heavy-handed. "It's bulls**t really. Surely they could make a bit of noise." Meanwhile, a man claiming to be a Chiefs supporter said it would not have been an issue if his side had beaten the Blues in their qualifying final earlier this month, which would have given the team home advantage for the final. Former Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall said the cowbells were integral to Chiefs fandom and added to the atmosphere. "Well that's one-nil for the Crusaders (the ban)," he said. "I really enjoy it, it brings something different and it's part of their legacy when you do play the Chiefs. "It'll be disappointing not to have them there. But for the crowd not hearing them will be something positive for the Cantabs." Chiefs chief executive Simon Graafhuis has implored fans to download the digital cowbell to their phones as an alternative. "I think we'll just take it as a compliment that they're probably a little bit worried about our fans and the impact they can have," he said. Crusaders fans. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021 It remains to be seen whether Saturday's final will be the last Super Rugby game played at the Crusaders' post-quake headquarters. Christchurch's new 30,000 multi-use central city venue One New Zealand Stadium, also known as Te Kaha, is due to open in April. After the devastating Canterbury earthquakes damaged Lancaster Park beyond repair, Crusaders home games were moved to the upgraded Rugby League Park in Addington from 2012 onwards. The venue will host its fourth and last final on Saturday . Te Kaha Stadium Photo: Supplied / One NZ With next year's Super Rugby draw still to be finalised, Crusaders management have not ruled out home games at Apollo Projects Stadium during the early stages of next year's competition. One fan RNZ spoke to said he would not be sad to see the back of the ground. "It's cold, it's a hole. And I can see the new one down there, it's going to be awesome." Plans are in motion to bring back Super Round for the 2026 season with Te Kaha the frontrunner to host the event over Anzac weekend.
