Crusaders seek to inflict more finals pain on Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific semifinal blockbuster

Monday, 8 June 2026

A scuffle breaks out in the February clash between the Chiefs and Crusaders in Hamilton.

Playing their best rugby of the season, the Crusaders would love nothing better than tormenting the Chiefs once more on the big stage.

The Crusaders set up a Super Rugby Pacific semifinal blockbuster against their great Kiwi rivals in Hamilton on Friday, a rematch of last year’s grand final won 16-12 by the red-and-blacks.

Fresh off a 52-31 demolition job of the Blues on Saturday in the first playoff match at their new One New Zealand Stadium, a familiar opponent awaits in the last four.

Little love is lost between the sides with tempers boiling over in the first clash in Hamilton in February when Chiefs prop Jared Proffit tipped Crusaders captain David Havili in back play, which left him dazed, and somehow escaped punishment.

The two sides have enormous respect for each other, but the clashes are usually heated with plenty of niggle.

“I don't know whether it's some sort of deep-seated hatred between us but me, personally, I've always had a bit of a chip on my shoulder with the Chiefs anyway,” former Crusaders and All Blacks prop Joe Moody said in 2020.

Fans cheer on the Crusaders in the team’s first playoff game at One New Zealand Stadium on Saturday.

Dislike for each other aside, the Crusaders have owned the Chiefs at the business end of the season in recent times.

The Crusaders toppled the Chiefs in last year’s final in Christchurch, and stormed Waikato Stadium in 2023 to deny the top-seeded hosts the title, winning 25-20.

Add in a 20-7 semifinal win in Christchurch in 2022 and a Super Rugby Aotearoa title win in 2021 (24-13), and it has been grim times for Chiefs fans against their bitter rival.

The Crusaders also won both round games this season, winning 43-33 in Hamilton in February after starting out the year 0-2. They did the regular season double, edging the Chiefs 36-32 at One NZ Stadium just over two weeks ago, a game the visitors should have won, but were unable to close out.

Crusaders fullback Johnny McNicholl dives over for one of his three tries against the Blues.

After a miserable trip to Australia in April, where they lost to the Reds and Force, it appeared the Crusaders might stutter into fifth or sixth spot and be one and done in the finals.

The opening of their flashy new stadium and moving hybrid Leicester Fainga'anuku from centre-wing to openside flanker has helped revitalise their play.

Since losing to the Force in Perth, they have gone 5-1 and have racked up 171 points in their last four games at One NZ (43 per game), scoring 27 tries.

The Chiefs on the road in Hamilton will be a vastly different proposition, especially in a knockout finals game.

Jamie Hannah of the Crusaders and Marcel Renata of the Blues get up close and personal in Saturday’s qualifying final.

“Our challenge now is if the conditions are more traditional I guess in terms of the weather, how we adapt the changes we need to do and this group is capable of doing that. They’ll rise to the challenge, whatever that may be,” Crusaders coach Rob Penney said after the qualifying final.

There were no shortage of game-breakers for the Crusaders, but fullback Johnny McNicholl, stepping in for injured All Blacks star Will Jordan (out for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season) was immense, racking up a team-best 78 metres gained.

McNicholl scored a hat-trick of tries and was everywhere on attack, and defence too when needed. He finished the game with a dislocated finger, but Penney expressed optimism he would be okay to face the Chiefs.

The 35-year-old, who played 10 tests for Wales under Wayne Pivac, would have been sitting on the bench if Jordan was available. His experience, vision, and big match temperament were on full show in the Blues’ win.

“He’s been outstanding. He’s certainly not a fill-in,” Havili said…

“For someone that is doing it at his age, he’s just enjoying it. You can see the smile on his face and I think just being back at home has been a massive shift in the way he prepares. We’re really blessed to have someone like him in our team.”

Centre Dallas McLeod left the field with a groin injury and Penney indicated they had taken a precautionary approach. The Crusaders would need to see how he backed up at training early in the week.

All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell, who missed the qualifying final with a knee injury, could be a possibility to return for the semifinal. Hooker George Bell (calf) appeared unlikely, though, with Manumaua Letiu again set to back up Codie Taylor.

Braydon Ennor left the field for a head injury assessment (HIA) after his smart mouthguard was triggered, but Penney said he was fine for the Chiefs contest.