Crusaders vs Hurricanes Predictions - Hosts backed for narrow win

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 12 Feb 2025

Simon Lewis 12 Feb 2025

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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.

Expired

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.