Chiefs v Crusaders: Chiefs march into Super Rugby Pacific final with 37-point win

Chiefs 49

Crusaders 12

Sweet revenge for the Chiefs.

The Super Rugby Pacific trophy will be hoisted by a contrasting champion after the Chiefs ruthlessly killed off the Crusaders’ hopes of defending the title.

This was personal for the Chiefs. Five straight finals losses – and three successive regular season defeats – to the Crusaders left them with everything to prove against their great modern foe.

And prove it they did, with their biggest win in history against the Crusaders.

What a stage to do it, too.

Nemesis no more, it seems, after this Friday night shellacking in Hamilton.

A relentless semi-final shutout humbled the Crusaders – and ended Rob Penney’s coaching tenure – to propel the Chiefs into their fifth final in six years.

The Chiefs’ intent to right their wrongs against the Crusaders was evident from the outset. They could not have wished for a better start. They turned down multiple shots at goal and were rewarded time after time with six first-half tries to book their progression to another big dance decider.

The Crusaders’ kicking game was largely aimless and they had no answers for the Chiefs’ power ball carries that effortlessly generated unstoppable front foot ball. Winning most, if not all, collisions provided a platform that allowed time and space for the backs to profit, with the Chiefs racking up a scarcely believable 28-0 advantage after 25 minutes.

By halftime, with the Chiefs leading 42-5, the Crusaders were shell-shocked. Any hopes of a comeback were put to bed.

This was attacking execution of the highest order from the Chiefs.

Blending a potent mix of powerful ball carrying, attacking the breakdown to snaffle turnovers, moving the ball to space on the edge and kicking short, the Chiefs brutally exposed poor defensive reads from the Crusaders.

Quinn Tupaea continued his standout season with a masterclass performance that featured several dominant carries – one where he steamrolled over top of opposite David Havili.

Tupaea wasn’t alone, though, with the Chiefs forward pack crushing their opponents at near every opportunity, including their dominant set piece effort.

An ankle injury midway through the second half sparked concerns for Tupaea but he battled through the pain to suggest it is not too serious.

Other than one Taha Kemara break to set up Chay Fihaki and a Havili try, nothing went right for the Crusaders.

Jamie Hannah, one of the Crusaders’ best this season, dropped a regulation kickoff and vastly experienced hooker Codie Taylor had a wonky lineout throw just before the break to illustrate the consuming pressure the Crusaders were under.

Even when they had promising moments, such as Braydon Ennor’s second-half bust and Christian Lio-Willie’s disallowed try for a knock-on in the build-up, the Crusaders’ skills and execution consistently let them down.

The Crusaders deserve credit for rallying from their dire Australian tour – losing successive games to the Reds and Force in April – to win four successive Kiwi derbies and reach the final four.

But away from home, against a Chiefs side who lit the fuse to deliver their best performance of the season, the Crusaders crumbled.

Their exit brings the curtain down on Penney’s three-year tenure, with former All Blacks assistant coach Scott Hansen set to assume the reins next season, and paves the way for the Chiefs, Hurricanes or Blues to claim this year’s title.

This statement performance from the Chiefs against a highly motivated Crusaders side will inspire confidence they are ready, in Jono Gibbes’ first season at the helm, to break their 12-year title drought.

Welcoming All Blacks wing Leroy Carter back from injury at this time of year doesn’t hurt, either.

Damian McKenzie celebrated his 150th match but the more remarkable stat, given the Chiefs’ consistency and squad depth, is he’s yet to savour a Super title.

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie, back in 2012-2013, was the last and only mentor to lead the Chiefs to the title.

Whether they host next week’s final against the Blues, which is highly unlikely on form, or travel to the capital to confront the Hurricanes, the Chiefs will ride a wave of momentum after winning 10 of their last 11 games.

The Hurricanes are also chasing their first championship in a decade, while the Blues claimed their first title in 21 seasons two years ago.

While the Chiefs added one second half try – and lost Liam Coombes-Fabling to a yellow card after a clumsy aerial challenge – the damage was done.

With the result in the bag by halftime it was always going to be difficult to summon the same mental edge.

Such was their dominance, the Chiefs opted to finish the game with 14 men.

In some respects, even a comparatively underwhelming second-half performance can be painted as a positive for the Chiefs.

As they eye another final, Gibbes can use that as fuel to demand further improvements.

The only thing better for the Chiefs than crushing the Crusaders would be banishing the demons of their last three failed finals.

Chiefs 49 (Kyren Taumoefolau 2, Isaac Hutchinson, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Leroy Carter, Tupou Vaa’i, Xavier Roe tries; Damian McKenzie 7 cons)

Crusaders 12 (Chay Fihaki, David Havili tries; Rivez Reihana con)

HT: 42-5