Chiefs vs Crusaders Predictions - Chiefs backed to clinch Super Rugby title

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 23 Jun 2023

Ralph Staniforth 23 Jun 2023

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Chiefs vs Crusaders meet in the Super Rugby final on Saturday (09:05 SAST)
The Chiefs have beaten the Crusaders in both encounters this season
Can the Chiefs stop the Crusaders from retaining the title?

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Chiefs and Crusaders meet in the Super Rugby Final (Getty Images)

Chiefs vs Crusaders Predictions

The Chiefs won both matches against the Crusaders in 2023 and are firm favourites to win the Super Rugby Final. They have been the team to beat all season and I'm backing them to complete a near-perfect campaign with a victory.

Chiefs vs Crusaders Predictions
Head to Head
Chiefs Form
Chiefs Injuries & Team News
Chiefs Starting Lineup & Replacements
Crusaders Form
Crusaders Injuries & Team News
Crusaders Starting Lineup & Replacements

Chiefs have won their last 2 matches against the Crusaders.
Chiefs have won 15 of their last 16 matches.
Crusaders are the defending Super Rugby champions.

Head to Head

Crusaders have won six of their last 10 Super Rugby fixtures against the Chiefs. Both matches this season have gone in the Chiefs’ favour.

Chiefs Form

The Chiefs have been the team to beat all season. They won 13 of their 14 round-robin matches and eased through the quarter and semi-finals.

One concern for the Chiefs will be that their performances have dipped somewhat in recent weeks. Despite getting the results, their fluency has not been what it was earlier this season.

On a more positive note, the Chiefs have beaten the Crusaders home and away this season already, and with little trouble. Last week the Hamilton side overcame a spirited Brumbies team in the semis, winning 19-6 at home.

Chiefs Injuries & Team News

Captain, Sam Cane will make his 150th appearance in the Chiefs jumper. Pita Gus Sowakula joins Cane in the back-row in the only change to the side from last weekend.

Chiefs Starting Lineup & Replacements

Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber o-(co-captain), 8 Luke Jacobson, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Pita Gus Sowakula, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross.

Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 John Ryan, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Rameka Poihipi

Crusaders Form

The Crusaders season started poorly, losing two of their opening three matches. They did, however, bounce back to finish second on the table despite their final round 27-26 loss to the Hurricanes.

Being the most successful side in the history of Super Rugby, the Crusaders know what it takes to come away with results in the final. And they have been in incredible form of late.

In the quarter-final the Crusaders demolished Fijian Drua 49-8. That result was perhaps not completely unexpected, but the semi-final win over the Blues was.

While the Saders were favourites at home last weekend, they produced an incredible performance, thrashing the Blues 52-15 at home. This will give them plenty of confidence to go to Hamilton and walk away with the trophy.

Crusaders Injuries & Team News

The experienced second-rower, Sam Whitelock returns to the Crusaders side after recovering from injury. This will also be his last Crusaders appearance before jetting off to France.

Crusaders Starting Lineup & Replacements

Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Dallas McLeod, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitch Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Sione Havili Talitui, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Oli Jager, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.

Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Chay Fihaki.

Verdict

Chiefs v Crusaders

Chiefs Win

Match Result

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