WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The Super Rugby tournament, after a long regular season of 77 matches followed by five playoff encounters, has reached a conclusion that many expected from the start. The much-anticipated final will see the Hamilton-based Chiefs, who topped the regular season standings, go head-to-head with the second-placed Crusaders in Christchurch this Saturday.
Despite the Chiefs’ stumble against the Blues in the opening playoff round, the Crusaders have claimed the top seeding and will host the final for a record eighth time. Both teams ended the regular season with impressive 11-3 records, clearly emerging as the frontrunners throughout the competition.
During the playoffs, the Crusaders overcame the Queensland Reds and the Auckland-based Blues, while the Chiefs had a mixed run. They faced a loss to the Blues but managed to defeat the ACT Brumbies, progressing to the semifinals as the highest-ranked losing team from the quarterfinals.
Following their narrow 21-14 victory over the Blues, the Crusaders preserved their remarkable 31-0 record in home playoff games. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are returning to the final for the third consecutive year after being defeated by the Crusaders in 2023 and the Blues in 2024.
The Crusaders, aiming to secure their 13th full Super Rugby title, including two wins in regional tournaments during the pandemic, face the Chiefs who are aspiring for their first championship win since 2013 and their third overall.
Redemption has been a significant theme for the Crusaders this season under head coach Rob Penney. After a difficult last year with only four victories, Penney returned this year to lead his team to the finals. Asked about celebrating the semifinal success, Penney mentioned, “very quietly. The job is not done.”
The defensive determination that has defined the Crusaders was on full display when they resisted a late push from the Blues, enduring over 40 consecutive phases near their try-line before Christian Lio-Willie clinched a decisive turnover in the 85th minute. Penney attributed the team’s staunch defense to their hard work over the season, thanking defense coach Matt Todd for his contributions.
In the Chiefs’ clash against the Brumbies, flyhalf Damian McKenzie played a crucial role by scoring 22 points, including six penalties and two conversions, which helped his team secure the victory after leading narrowly at halftime. They eventually pulled away, scoring 18 unanswered points to claim the win.
McKenzie praised his team’s composure and execution, noting how the Brumbies started strong. However, losing Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio due to a head injury in the 11th minute was a significant setback for the Brumbies. Despite reaching the semifinals in consecutive years, the Brumbies once again fell short of the final, with Australian teams now failing to win any of their 21 playoff matches in New Zealand.
Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham expressed his disappointment, saying, “There’s frustration because it’s the same story as last year.” The team’s struggle to make it to the final after a promising run remains a challenging narrative for them to confront.