Crusaders vs Hurricanes Predictions - Hosts backed for narrow win
- Crusaders are determined to improve after a disappointing 2024 season.
- Hurricanes finished strongly, reaching semifinals in 2024.
- Crusaders are predicted to cover the -2.5 handicap in the 2025 opener.
Crusaders set to make strong start to 2025 Super Rugby (Getty Images)
Crusaders vs Hurricanes Preview
Last season's horror show is a thing of the past for the Crusaders. They will certainly be better this season and at home, too strong for the Hurricanes in my view.
- Crusaders vs Hurricanes Preview
- Head to Head
- Crusaders Form
- Crusaders Injuries & Team News
- Hurricanes Form
- Hurricanes Injuries & Team News
- Crusaders lost 10 of their 14 matches in 2024.
- Hurricanes won 4 of their last 5 matches in 2024.
- Hurricanes ended the 2024 Super Rugby season at the semi-final stage.
- Hurricanes won their last game against the Crusaders.
Head to Head
The Crusaders hold a slight 3-2 advantage in their last five matches against the Hurricanes. Last season it was the Canes who came out on top.
Crusaders Form
The Crusaders endured a torrid Super Rugby season in 2024, one of their worst since the 90s. They failed to qualify for the quarter-finals, finishing ninth on the table with four wins and 10 defeats in their 14 matches.
The Canterbury outfit did finish the season in decent form, winning their final two games, one of which was at home against the Blues, the eventual champions.
This season the Crusaders will be hoping for a far better campaign. Last season was the first the franchise had for quite some time without Scott Robertson as coach after he took charge of the All Blacks.
Crusaders Injuries & Team News
15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 David Havili, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christin Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 George Bower, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Tahlor Cahil, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod.
Hurricanes Form
The Hurricanes finished top of the table in the 2024 Super Rugby campaign. They managed 12 wins in their 14 league games, ending on 56 points, one ahead of the Blues.
After dominating much of the league phase, the Hurricanes were expected to be in the final at least. They dominated the Rebels in the quarter-final but came unstuck at home in the semis against the Chiefs 30-19.
That defeat will still haunt the Hurricanes. They were poor on the day and paid the price against a good, albeit inconsistent Chiefs outfit.
Hurricanes Injuries & Team News
15 Callum Harkin, 14 Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Harry Godfrey, 9 Cameron Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shields (co-captain), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Jacob Devery, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputou, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Hugo Plummer, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Ngatungane Punivai.
Verdict
Crusaders are backed to cover the -2.5 handicap in the 2025 Super Rugby opener.
Crusaders Win
Result
@17/25 - 5 Units
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Crusaders -2.5
Handicap
@10/11 - 3 Units
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