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RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby semifinals: History favours Chiefs and Crusaders
The Chiefs host the Brumbies on Saturday night. Photo: Michael Thomas / action press Chiefs v Brumbies Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday, 14 June FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Live blog updates on RNZ Crusaders v Blues Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday, 13 June Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Live blog updates on RNZ It is semifinal time in Super Rugby with three New Zealand sides and an Australian team seeking to cement their place in the final. The Crusaders and Chiefs are hosts and favourites to beat the defending champion Blues and ACT Brumbies respectively, but the visitors have plenty of reasons to be motivated and will fancy their chances of an upset. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport The Chiefs were beaten by the Blues last Saturday but still advanced to the semifinals by virtue of being the highest ranked loser from the opening round of the playoffs. Chiefs lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi said they're determined to make the most of their second chance. "We were top of the table coming into the playoffs which gave us a lifeline and we can't waste it," Ah Kuoi said. "We've got to be grateful that we're here and make sure we nail that opportunity." The Chiefs, beaten finalists the last two seasons, haven't won a title since 2013, and Ah Kuoi said that, and last week's defeat, has them fired up for Saturday night's do or die clash with the Brumbies in Hamilton. "For us there's no motivation needed besides the fact that it's a semifinal," he said. "We know what's going to be coming, we know they're going to be coming hard for us at home. "We're trying to make sure our home field is a fortress and that didn't happen last week. We're trying to make amends and also do one better than the previous years." Naitoa Ah Kuoi. Photo: Jeremy Ward / Photosport History is against the Brumbies but they will be buoyed by the Blues victory over the Chiefs as the Australians seek to win their first Super Rugby title since 2004. The Brumbies have lost four straight semifinals in New Zealand and haven't won a final four playoff since 2013. They're also underdogs with the bookies. First-five Noah Lolesio said the Blues proved the Chiefs could be beaten at home. "It shows that if you show up physically with the right mindset, you put yourself in a good position to win," Lolesio said. "That's where our heads are at as a team. We know, backs and forwards, it's going to be a physical battle." Noah Lolesio scores a try. Photo: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Lolesio has extra motivation to keep the Brumbies season alive. The Wallabies playmaker is heading to Japan at the end of the year, leaving the Super Rugby team he's been with since 2020. "I'm giving everything into this game and this weekend if selected. Knowing that it could be my last," Lolesio said. "This organisation [Brumbies] have been so good to me every year since I came to Canberra as a 17-year-old. "The last three or four years have led to this moment and I can't wait." On Friday night, the Crusaders host the defending champion Blues and history is also against the visitors. The Crusaders have never lost a playoff game at home, winning all 30 finals matches in Christchurch. If they beat the Blues they will secure a record eighth home Super Rugby final. Coach Rob Penney said the Crusaders love playing in front of their fans. "Hopefully get a great crowd in," Penney said. "That always gives the boys a real impetus and a lot of energy. The Crusader crowds, there's none better." Photo: Joseph Johnson/ActionPress Blues coach Vern Cotter insisted they're not intimidated by the Crusaders home playoff record. "That's the key thing. Going down to Canterbury, we're aware of their record. Thirty without losing. One day they're going to lose and they've got the pressure of that on top of them. "They're going to lose one day. When I was [coach] at [French club] Clermont, we won 77 [home] games in a row and, in the end, the pressure was heavy. "One day we knew it was going to happen. They're on 30 and one day its going to happen. Will it be this week? I don't know but the boys will be up to push it as best they can." Cotter believed the defending champions will rise to the occasion. "The guys know how to win big games," Cotter said. "That's what it's about, winning big games and enjoying it. Enjoying helping each other. It could be 80 minutes, it could be longer. We're actually looking at extra time stuff, so the boys are preparing themselves for a rugged evening." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby: Chiefs determined not to waste lifeline against Brumbies
Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Leroy Carter of the Chiefs. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 Chiefs v Brumbies Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 14 June FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Live blog updates on RNZ Sport The Chiefs admit it's a "weird one" entering a Super Rugby semi-final on the back of a loss. The Waikato based side, who finished top of the standings, were upset 20-19 by the Blues in last week's qualifying playoffs. Lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi concedes they got it wrong against the Blues, but he doesn't think it was the home side's attitude that let them down. "I think we prepared really well. If we look back at our week, we did everything right, but finals footy is a different kettle of fish and those guys were a desperate team," Ah Kuoi said. "We didn't plan to lose or we didn't think about losing we thought about gaining momentum for three games and hopefully making the finals. We didn't think for once that we had a lifeline in terms of a loss so our mindset was still right. "The Blues came firing for 80 minutes. There's definitely a few learnings on the field, but it's just understanding that it's finals footy." Naitoa Ah Kuoi. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ The Chiefs received entry into this week's semi-finals by virtue of being the highest ranked loser from the opening round of the playoffs. They host the Brumbies in Hamilton on Saturday night and Ah Kuoi is adamant they've learnt the lessons from the Blues defeat. "We've been here before [the finals], it's just making sure we're clear and understanding on what it takes. "For us there's no motivation needed besides the fact that it's a semi final," Ah Kuoi said. "We know what's going to be coming, we know they're going to be coming hard for us at home. "We're trying to make sure our home field is a fortress and that didn't happen last week. We're trying to make amends and also do one better than the previous years." The Chiefs, beaten finalists the last two seasons, haven't wont a title since 2013, while the Brumbies drought goes back to 2004. The Chiefs will host the Brumbies in the Super Rugby semi-finals. Photo: Brett Phibbs / The Brumbies have also lost four straight semi-finals in New Zealand, including a 2023 defeat to the Chiefs. The visitors will have the added motivation of trying to send Wallabies first-five, Noah Lolesio, off as a Super Rugby champion. Lolesio is heading to Japan at the end of the year having made his debut for the Brumbies in 2020. Ah Kuoi knows the Chiefs will come up against a determined opponent on Saturday night. "Yeah, 100 percent. I think when you get to the semi-finals and finals the motivation is always going to be there. "They're the last Australian team in the playoffs and they're standing for something bigger than just themselves. "They'll be coming down to New Zealand and trying to stake their claim." Naitoa Ah Kuoi Photo: Photosport Ah Kuoi is confident the Chiefs can bounce back from last week's defeat and book their place in the Super Rugby final. "We're always going to be confident in our abilities, but we've got to make sure we don't skip over anything. We leave no stone unturned." Though he concedes it's an odd feeling heading into a semi-final having lost the week before. "It's a weird one, coming into semi-finals after a defeat. You usually come into the semis with a win in the quarter-finals and you've got that energy. "It was a weird Monday for me personally, but coach (Clayton McMillan) came in and just reminded us that we were top of the table coming into the finals which gave us a lifeline and we can't waste it. "Let's just be grateful that we're here. We could be having a loss and celebrating the season that was after bowing out in the quarters like other teams. We've got to be grateful that we're here and make sure we nail that opportunity now that we've been given this extra week." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
