Strap yourself in for another unpredictable epic this Friday night.<\/p>\n
The Crusaders and Chiefs<\/a> have, largely, set the bar in recent years. While others have challenged, no other teams can lay claim to such consistency. <\/p>\n Earlier this year the Crusaders title hopes were on the ropes after their dire tour to Australia. At that point, reaching the top six appeared tenuous but a typical late season surge captured a home quarter-final that propelled them to a familiar faceoff with the Chiefs. <\/p>\n Only this time, one contender will be eliminated before the big dance. <\/p>\n While they start heavy underdogs travelling to Hamilton for a knockout match won\u2019t daunt the Crusaders. They\u2019ve been here before, most notably in their successful heist in the 2023 decider. <\/p>\n After five straight finals victories and three successive wins \u2013 two this year, one in Hamilton \u2013 against the Chiefs, the Crusaders seemingly have their number.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a testament to the Crusaders\u2019 character that they have, to this point, overcome Will Jordan and Scott Barrett\u2019s absences \u2013 and adapted their game to use the ball much more in their new roofed home.<\/p>\n On a cold, dewy night in Hamilton, though, the Crusaders must summon their set piece and forward-dominated strengths of old to match the Chiefs\u2019 All Blacks-laden pack that will be intent on imposing their will and laying the platform for more Samisoni Taukei\u2019aho maul tries. <\/p>\n Fletcher Newell\u2019s return will significantly help the Crusaders on that front but he can\u2019t do it alone. <\/p>\n This is where the rubber meets the road for Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes. <\/p>\n In his first year at the helm, after assuming the reins from Clayton McMillan, Gibbes will attempt to lead the Chiefs to their fourth straight final. <\/p>\n After three failures, the Chiefs could be timing their run under Gibbes. Their bench also appears stronger which could yet swing this contest. <\/p>\n To earn another shot at an elusive title, the Chiefs must extract revenge on their great modern foes. <\/p>\n All Blacks watch: <\/p>\n Christian Lio-Willie: <\/p>\n In career best form. New Zealand\u2019s loose forward stocks remain stacked, despite Devan Flanders joining Dalton Papali\u2019i and Hoskins Sotutu in the departure lounge, but Lio-Willie is firmly in the frame. He is, perhaps, undersized to dominate the test scene but his relentless work-rate on both sides of the ball fits Rennie\u2019s demands for repeat efforts. <\/p>\n David Havili: <\/p>\n After a middling start to the season, Havili has hit form at the right time. In recent weeks he\u2019s single-handedly inspired the Crusaders with match turning plays \u2013 from a try assist to a 50\/22 kick and the dummy and go try against the Blues last week. With Quinn Tupaea opposite him in Hamilton, though, Havili must be at his best to contain the one-man wrecking ball. <\/p>\n Leicester Fainga\u2019anuku: <\/p>\n Another week for Fainga\u2019anuku to enhance his compelling hybrid credentials. It\u2019s no coincidence the Crusaders\u2019 revival coincided with Fainga\u2019anuku\u2019s switch to openside flanker. While he\u2019s honing his craft, specifically when to contest the breakdown and when he should fill the defensive line, Fainga\u2019anuku\u2019s influence and involvement is undeniable. A loose forward battle with All Blacks Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson and Simon Parker offers another chance to signal Fainga\u2019anuku\u2019s must-have versatile presence on the All Blacks bench. <\/p>\n Leroy Carter: <\/p>\n Will be desperate to impress off the bench after last week\u2019s false start prolonged his extended injury absence. His speed could cause havoc late among tiring defenders. <\/p>\n Damian McKenzie: <\/p>\n McKenzie tellingly missed both losses to the Crusaders this year. This week he could be the most influential player on the park in his 150th Super Rugby match. Stepped up in a big way against the Reds last week to suggest he\u2019s ready to lead the Chiefs to another title tilt. <\/p>\n Cortez Ratima: <\/p>\n Pressure to retain his spot from Kyle Preston and injured young prodigy Dylan Pledger will ramp up but with Xavier Roe unavailable last week, Ratima delivered his best performance of the season. <\/p>\n Prediction: Chiefs by a whisker <\/p>\n Hurricanes v Blues: <\/p>\n As the Blues trek to the capital, it\u2019s impossible to envision anything other than the Hurricanes <\/a>booking their first home final in a decade.<\/p>\n That\u2019s partly because the Hurricanes smacked the Blues twice this year (42-19 in Wellington, 47-24 at Eden Park). <\/p>\n But largely due to their completely contrasting form. <\/p>\n With 95 tries this year \u2013 obliterating the previous 89 record \u2013 the Hurricanes\u2019 attacking prowess continues to prove too hot to handle. <\/p>\n Welcoming Fehi Fineanganofo<\/a> back from his two-week absence as he hunts the single-season try scoring record outright \u2013 and shifting fellow power wing Kini Naholo to the bench \u2013 enhances that firepower. <\/p>\n The fits and starts Blues, meanwhile, have conceded 30 tries and an average of 48.5 points in their last four straight losses against Kiwi opposition which does not bode well.<\/p>\n Four semi-final and three quarter-final defeats in the past decade will ensure there\u2019s no chance of complacency for the Hurricanes. Many of this year\u2019s squad carry the scars of the Chiefs storming the Cake Tin at this juncture three years ago. This is when they must prove their mental finals vulnerabilities are behind them. <\/p>\n From a coaching, confidence and comparative weapons perspective, the Hurricanes and Blues appear poles apart. <\/p>\n Maybe Beauden Barrett can turn back the clock to spark the Blues attack from fullback. Maybe the Blues can harness their underdog mentality. They\u2019ve certainly got nothing to lose. <\/p>\n The time has come to break the shackles and have a genuine crack \u2013 and source consistent attacking execution. <\/p>\n Amid their spiralling season Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam<\/a> and Anton Segner have been shining lights for the Blues. Their set piece malfunctions and defensive issues evoke major concerns but if they can utilise Clarke to target the air and draw the Canes into a dogfight that goes deep, nerves can do funny things. <\/p>\n This Hurricanes side does not have a soft tight-five underbelly, though. With Tyrel Lomax, one world\u2019s best tighthead props, on the bench they won\u2019t be bullied. <\/p>\n Boxing parlance gives the Blues a puncher\u2019s chance but to have any hope they must land several flush early blows and try to contain Cam Roigard\u2019s ever-present threat. <\/p>\n With coaches Vern Cotter, Craig McGrath, Greg Feek and a raft of players including Dalton Papali\u2019i, Hoskins Sotutu, Stephen Perofeta and Lam among others set to depart, earning another week would allow the Blues to extend those farewells. <\/p>\n Cameron Suafoa sarcoma\u2019s cancer battle is another motivating factor. <\/p>\n Everything, though, suggests the end of an era looms for the Blues this weekend.<\/p>\n All Blacks watch:<\/p>\n Ruben Love: <\/p>\n Forget everything that\u2019s gone before. This is when Love can definitively state his claims to start at No 10 for the All Blacks. Three years ago, Wallace Sititi thrust his rookie name into the All Blacks squad with an irrepressible individual semi-final performance. Finals form makes national selectors take note more than any other time as it\u2019s the closest comparison to test rugby. Love has been outstanding for the Hurricanes. Reinforcing his case with another compelling performance opposite Perofeta and Barrett will strengthen his starting All Blacks portfolio.<\/p>\n Peter Lakai:<\/p>\n Leads the Hurricanes presence at the breakdown where they\u2019ve snaffled more turnovers than anyone this season. Powerful with ball in hand and adept to slot in all three loose forward roles, Lakai can do it all. <\/p>\n Caleb Clarke: <\/p>\n Needs more ball. Clarke should be among this year\u2019s leading try-scorers. He\u2019s shown his hunger with several defensive efforts but it\u2019s criminal such a strike weapon is not utilised more. <\/p>\n Anton Segner: <\/p>\n A consistent force for the Blues this year with his non-stop engine promoting his presence to the All Blacks frame. Another standout contribution against the in-form Canes contingent will elevate his growing status.<\/p>\n Prediction: Comfortable Hurricanes win <\/p>\n Liam Napier<\/a> is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Strap yourself in for another unpredictable epic this Friday night. The Crusaders and Chiefs have, largely, set the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":730248,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[617,64,63,5386,2649,173885,10569,8835,15448,9484,8936,10956,304635,353428,97739,760,27455,29889,9738,85,1643,320,16363,1050],"class_list":["post-730247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-and","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-chiefs","tag-final","tag-finalists","tag-hurricanes","tag-kiwi","tag-liam","tag-napier","tag-over","tag-pacific","tag-pacifics","tag-predicts","tag-reach","tag-rugby","tag-rule","tag-runs","tag-semifinals","tag-sports","tag-super","tag-the","tag-why","tag-will"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=730247"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730247\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/730248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=730247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=730247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=730247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}