Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson celebrates with Richie Mo unga and Codie Taylor after the Crusaders beat the Blues in Auckland.
OPINION: How do the Crusaders and Chiefs before their Super Rugby Aotearoa final on Saturday?
Stuff takes a look at the match-day squads and gives its verdict on who has the edge.
CRUSADERS
15. Will Jordan: Can beat defenders for fun but in the past couple of weeks he has improved in the parts of the game he doesn t find so easy. Defence is the key, and if nails it he can be world class.
8
14. Sevu Reece: A far better year from the explosive finisher who continues to deceive defenders with his pace off the mark.
Super Rugby: Crusaders hone in on breakdown ahead of decider against Chiefs
stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Chiefs are going into the Super Rugby Aotearoa final with a nothing-to-lose attitude.
The Chiefs are embracing the underdog tag and a nothing-to-lose attitude as they look to re-write the history books in Saturday night’s Super Rugby Aotearoa final. On what has been a rollercoaster 10-week campaign, which began with successive losses and a record-equalling 11-game losing streak, then saw five consecutive heart-in-the-mouth wins to book a spot in the decider with a week to spare, the Chiefs now have their chance at a fairytale finish. Standing in their way, though, is all the might of the Crusaders, in their fortress of Christchurch, and it’s going to take some never-before-seen effort to trump the champs in this first-ever Kiwi comp decider.
Scott Robertson is on the cusp of guiding the Crusaders to a fifth straight title.
Ensuring the Chiefs don’t feast at the breakdown will go a long way to winning a fifth straight Super Rugby title on Saturday night. The Crusaders aren’t afraid to admit they’ve put the area under the microscope ahead of the home decider at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch, knowing they’ve been pillaged by the opposition in recent fixtures. They also know ball hungry Chiefs loose forwards Pita Gus Sowakula, Lachlan Boshier and Luke Jacobson will be licking their chops as the visitors attempt to accomplish something no side has done – beat the Crusaders in Christchurch in a home playoff game.
Aaron Goile16:30, Apr 29 2021
Michael Bradley/Getty Images
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has made wholesale changes to his lineup to play the Blues.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan says there are “probably seven” spots up for grabs for his team’s Super Rugby Aotearoa final against the Crusaders in Christchurch next weekend. That should at least ensure some sort of intensity from his makeshift lineup for Saturday night’s dead rubber against the Blues in Auckland. The Chiefs have 11 players putting their feet up, 12 injured, and 23 others who will trot out on Eden Park, including half a dozen set for Super Rugby debuts, in a team captained by Sean Wainui, from centre.
vimarsana © 2020. All Rights Reserved.