Crusaders and Chiefs booked their Super Rugby Pacific final spots after thrilling semi-final wins over the Blues and Brumbies, respectively.
Super Rugby Pacific has delivered two thrilling semi-finals, setting the stage for an all-New Zealand final between the competition’s fiercest rivals.
With everything on the line, the Crusaders (1.93) and Chiefs (1.90) overcame intense pressure to earn their place in Saturday’s title decider.
Crusaders Dig Deep To Defeat Blues
The Crusaders edged the Blues 21-14 in Christchurch to preserve their perfect home playoff record and reach another final.
After trailing 14-0 following early tries, the hosts responded with scores by Shane Christie and Will Jordan to level.
Jordan struck again, and the Crusaders defended 35 phases on their line to seal the tense victory. The win sets up their eighth final in nine years, proving again why they’re the most dominant team in the competition.
McKenzie Leads Chiefs To Brumbies Blowout
Damian McKenzie’s 22-point masterclass led the Chiefs to a 37-17 win over the Brumbies in their Hamilton semi-final showdown.
He kicked six penalties and created two tries as the Brumbies paid for repeated breakdown infringements and poor discipline. Despite tries from Corey Toole and Billy Pollard, the Brumbies fell behind early and never recovered.
The Chiefs head to Christchurch determined to end their title drought, having lost the past two finals to New Zealand opposition.
All Eyes On The Final In Christchurch
Saturday’s showdown will be the fourth consecutive all-New Zealand Super Rugby final since the revamped format began in 2022. The Crusaders, chasing an eighth title, will host a hungry Chiefs side determined to break their 11-year championship drought.
With McKenzie in top form and the Crusaders’ perfect home record on the line, the 2024 final promises a thrilling conclusion to the season.
