Crusaders

George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Antonio Shalfoon, Jamie Hannah, Ethan Blackadder, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Sevu Reece, David Havili (c), Dallas McLeod, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan

Replacements: Manumaua Leita, Jack Sexton, Seb Calder, Liam Jack, Dom Gardiner, Kyle Preston, Taha Kemara, Johnny McNicholl

Chiefs

Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Sione Ahio, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Josh Jacomb, Kyren Taumoefolau, Quinn Tupaea, Kyle Brown, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Issac Hutchinson

Replacements: Brodie McAlister, Jared Proffit, George Dyer, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Daniel Rona

Really interested to see how Hutchison goes.

Blackadder will play a strong 12 minutes before being injured

What is up with Cullen Grace? Has he got a long-term injury?

@jamsb he suffered a very serious knee injury in Round 5 of the NPC last year. Came at the worst time for him too— with his contract up at the end of this season.

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Really interested to see how Hutchison goes.

First time playing without McKenzie too so a bit more pressure will fall on his shoulders.

Going to be difficult for Gardiner to show he can be a Test blindside if he's on the bench, backing up the perennially injured and a winger...

@BellsGeorg said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@jamsb he suffered a very serious knee injury in Round 5 of the NPC last year. Came at the worst time for him too— with his contract up at the end of this season.

Off overseas isn't he?

Jordan back and no Dmac, sold out Chch. Crusaders by a thouwsand.

I don't understand leaving Cahill out. I thought he'd made every post a winner so far this season. It's a must win game, and I reckon his physicality would have come in handy.

@Crazy-Horse read that he is injured

Some of the Chiefs outside backs are getting closer to returning.

UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY
Lalakai Foketi – Calf – TBC
Damian McKenzie – Concussion – TBC
Reuben O’Neill – Concussion – Round 16 `
Emoni Narawa – Foot – Round 16-QF
Leroy Carter – Hamstring – QF
Etene Nanai-Seturo – Foot – Round 16-QF
Jayden Sa – Shoulder – Season

@Chuck72 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Crazy-Horse read that he is injured

That would explain it. Cheers

@Frank said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Blackadder will play a strong 12 minutes before being injured

Fixed

I hope these two teams batter each other. Pretty hard to bet against the Crusaders with Jordan at home, and also considering the Chiefs don't have DMac.

@Jnr God bless the Welsh for making sure our down on our luck players can still find a job somewhere

This game will be a good test for LF to see if he can back up his recent outings.

I'd really like to see the Chief step up and win in Christchurch. I think for them it will cement their status as contenders or pretenders. Yes they're without DMAC but the Crusaders aren't the Crusaders of old.

Also it would be great to see the Crusaders lose both their final games, at home and slide out of the 6.

@TheMojoman said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

I'd really like to see the Chief step up and win in Christchurch. I think for them it will cement their status as contenders or pretenders. Yes they're without DMAC but the Crusaders aren't the Crusaders of old.

Also it would be great to see the Crusaders lose both their final games, at home and slide out of the 6.

I'd love to see the Crusaders lose but this Crusaders team isn't much different to the one that won SRP last year. I think they're mentally tougher than the Chiefs ( who have proven themselves flakey in tough games over the years ) and if LF keeps improving at 7 he offers a point of difference.

The Crusaders loose trio is a good balance when it comes to workrate and impact. The Crusaders are nuggety as f and they will be wanting to keep their win record at the new stadium intact for as long as possible. The fans love the new stadium.

If I were the Chiefs I'd attack the Crusaders lineout. The Crusaders have been lucky with a lot of not straight throws when oppo is competing being ignored. The Chiefs loosies and midfield need to shut LF down. If they can do that the Crusaders midfield is a bit stale and doesn't offer much. Jordan might be a bit quiet coming back.

If the chiefs are to win, they need their forwards to step up big time and dominate the Crusaders pack. There are some big battles out there tonight.

Big night for Jacobson. Bit of a forgotten man of NZ rugby.

@Tim most likely in the 4 names for Captain of ABs he is tho.

Also a big opportunity for Sione Ahio. Off contract at end of season?

@TheMojoman said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

I'd really like to see the Chief step up and win in Christchurch. I think for them it will cement their status as contenders or pretenders. Yes they're without DMAC but the Crusaders aren't the Crusaders of old.

Also it would be great to see the Crusaders lose both their final games, at home and slide out of the 6.

The trauma is strong in this one.

A pretty clear case of not-rolling/releasing.

Nice ruck speed from the Chiefs.

Nice try. Great work against some soft cover defence.

Well done Chiefs backs there

Surprised that Jacomb is kicking below 70%. Sharp passing in that movement.

@Tim said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Surprised that Jacomb is kicking below 70%.

I'm not when I saw the kick....

Is it me or does Kyren just look a more well rounded player this year? He was an absolute turnstile in defence last year but he looks markedly better this year.

@Fale009 said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Is it me or does Kyren just look a more well rounded player this year? He was an absolute turnstile in defence last year but he looks markedly better this year.

It's not just you. As the season has gone on he has gotten better and better. A function of going from a cellar dweller team to a top team

@Donsteppa said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

Nice try. Great work against some soft cover defence.

Straight through Sevu like it was nothing

@Landers92 Insane that he was an AB last year or the year before.

Great steal Vaa'i

@Tim said in Crusaders v Chiefs:

@Landers92 Insane that he was an AB last year or the year before.

Robertson should have been sacked for that alone...

Hotham has some real wheels

Now sleepy D from the Chiefs down that side of the park...

LCF could have ran a few more steps and tackled him normally there. Be regretting that when he sees the replay

good start from both teams good watching