Last season’s Super Rugby champions the Crusaders get a tough start to their title defence as they face a team that have won four out of the last six matches between the sides.
Overall the Crusaders and Chiefs have met 31 times and the Crusaders have won 18 times and the Chiefs have won 13 times. That gives the Crusaders a record of winning 58% of their matches against the Chiefs.
- The Crusaders have won their last two games against the Chiefs, the last time they won more against them in succession was a four-game streak from 2009 to 2011.
- The Chiefs have won each of their last three regular season games away from home against the Crusaders.
- The Crusaders have won seven of their last eight games against fellow New Zealand opposition; four of those wins coming after they were level or trailing at half-time.
- Seta Tamanivalu has scored seven tries in his last six games for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, including a brace in his last game against the Chiefs.
- Damian McKenzie beat 80 defenders in Super Rugby 2017, 19 more than any other player in the competition (David Havili, 61).
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off.
The Crusaders are on the field. The Chiefs are now on the field.
In the meantime why not have a look at the match preview.
0.01 Damien McKenzie kicks off and the match is underway.
1.00: The Chiefs win the first line out of the match and immediately McKenzie gets into space and the Chiefs are racing to the corner. The ball is lost 5m out from the tryline. Early defensive problems for the champions there. Crusaders scrum.
4.00 The Crusaders win a scrum inside the Chiefs half. They go through the phases gradually making territory. Jack Goodhue gets them to a metre out and the ball is recycled. Matt Todd crashes over with the ball and the Crusaders have scored! TRY!
6.00: Richie Mo’unga misses the conversion.
9.00: The Crusaders are back on attack. They go through several phases just outside the Chiefs 22 but the ball is lost forward.
11.00: Scrum penalty to the Chiefs against Wyatt Crockett. McKenzie kicks for touch and sets up the line out.
12:00 : The Chiefs win the line out but as they move the ball down the line the ball bounces back towards the line off Ryan Crotty’s head. Richie Mo’unga chases the ball, gathers it and scores the try. The TMO confirms that it is not a knock on. TRY!
13.00: Mo’unga converts the try.
17.00: Penalty to the Chiefs – almost in front of the posts. McKenzie will have a shot at the posts.
18.00: McKenzie slots the penalty and the Chiefs are on the board.
19.00: The Chiefs get on the attack and Charlie Ngatai breaks and gets them to 5m out with a break. Richie Mo’unga plays the ball on the ground illegally so he is yellow carded. The Chiefs take a scrum.
21:00: The Chiefs win the scrum but after a number of phases the Crusaders turn it over and kick for touch. There is however a penalty for tackling with the shoulder (Brodie Retalick) in a late tackle so the Crusaders have a penalty kick.
23:00: They kick for touch.Dominic Bird has come off due to injury. Looks like a shoulder injury.
25:00: Penalty to the Crusaders on the 22 but almost in front of the posts. Lachlan Boshier is on for Bird.
26:00: David Havili takes the shot as Mo’unga takes the penalty kick but the ball falls over just as he goes to kick the ball so he misses.
29.00: The Crusaders get back on attack in the Chiefs 22. They spread the ball wide and Goodhue offloads to Jordan Taufua who is able to run in and score the Crusaders third TRY!
21.00: Mo’unga returns to the field as Havili converts the try.
32.00: The Chiefs break out from the half way line. McKenzie passes to Sam Cane who races for the line selling dummies on the way and is tackled just short of the line but he slides over to score. TRY!
33.00: McKenzie slots the conversion.
34.00: The TMO is called in for a high tackle on Damien Mckenzie. It’s high and there is a shoulder so Michael Alaalatoa is yellow carded.
35.00: For the penalty McKenzie kicks for touch to set up the line out.
36:00 The Chiefs chip the ball ahead towards the line and it finds touch 5m out.
37:00: The Crusaders win the ball at the line out and clear it into touch near the half way line.
39.00: The Chiefs win a scrum inside thee Crusaders 22. they have the advantage and play on through the phases. The Chiefs move the ball from side to side but the Crusaders defence holds strong.
40.00: The Chiefs continue to attack and eventually they find a hole and Solomon Alaimalo slips through and scores. TRY!
41.00: McKenzie takes the conversion kick – he nails it.
It’s half time.
The half time score was Crusaders 19 Chiefs 17
The Crusaders kick off and the second half is underway. The Crusaders start the half with 14 players as Alaalatoa is still in the bin.
42.00: The Crusaders try to hold on to the ball as much as they can while they are a man down. It comes at a price as the Chiefs win a penalty. They take the line out.
44.00: After a long passage of play there is a knock on so thee Chiefs have a scrum near the half way line. Alaalatoa comes back on so the Crusaders are back to 15.
46.00: The Crusaders win a penalty from the scrum. They kick for touch and set up the line out.
48.00: The Crusaders get themselves into trouble in their 22 and the ball is ripped away from them 5m out and goes out behind the touchline. 5m attacking scrum for the Chiefs.
50.00: Massive scrum from the Crusaders – it wins them a penalty. Mo’unga clears thee ball into touch and to safety.
52.00: The Chiefs are lining up some replacements on the sideline. It looks like they will replace the front row. As this happens the referee calls for a scrum to be reset.
53.00: The Crusaders win a scrum and run at the Chiefs. They lose the ball and the Chiefs chip it ahead and get to the 5m line where they go in off their feet and concede a penalty. The Crusaders clear the ball into touch.
55.00 : The Chiefs have replaced their front row.
56.00: Penalty to the Chiefs. McKenzie takes the kick, nails it and the Chiefs lead.
59.00: It’s a much slower half in the second half. Players are starting to puff as it’s early in the season. Several knock ons have led to scrums which the players appreciate as they can get a breather.
60.00: Possession 52% to the Crusaders.
62.00:The Crusaders win a scrum and Goodhue slips through and almost gets away cleanly. The Crusaders recycle and go for the line again and this time Sam Whitelock crashes over to score – taking two players with him. TRY!
63.00: Richie Mo’unga takes the conversion kick and nails it. The Crusaders are back in front.
66:00: Penalty to the Chiefs. McKenzie takes the kick from well out. He nails it.
68.00: Penalty to the Crusaders. They kick to the corner as they want a try. The ball is overthrown so the opportunity is missed for the hosts.
70.00: Penalty to the Crusaders for a high tackle. They kick for the corner. Goodhue comes off.
71.00: The Crusaders win the ball from the line out. Crotty dives for the corner but is tackled high and into touch. The TMO reviews the tackle. Penalty try and a yellow card for Lachlan Boshier. That is a bonus point try if it stays like that.
73.00: Injury break as Marty McKenzie has taken a blow to the head. He gets up and walks off but has been replaced.
74.00: The Chiefs attack by moving the ball down the line but George Bridge intercepts and runs away with the ball and scores. TRY!
76.00 : Mo’unga adds the conversion.
76.00: Another intercept and this time it’s Manasa Mataele who gets the TRY!
77.00: Mitch Hunt takes the conversion. His kick is just short.
80.00: The siren sounds but the Chiefs want points so they are running the ball.
81.00: The ball is kicked into touch. That’s full time. Crusaders win.
To refresh this page click HERE. Live In-Play Betting.
The full time score is Crusaders 45 (19) Chiefs 23 (17)
Scorers
Crusaders
Tries – M.Todd, R.Mo’unga, J. Taufua, S.Whitelock, Penalty try, G.Bridge, M.Mataele
Pen –
Con -R.Mo’unga 3 , D.Havili, Penalty try con
Drop –
Cards -R.Mo’unga (20th min. yellow), M.Alaalatoa (34th min yellow)
Chiefs
Tries – S.Cane, S.Alaimalo
Pen – D.McKenzie 3
Con – D.McKenzie 2
Drop –
Cards – L.Boshier 71st min
Match Officials
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Ref 1: Nick Briant (New Zealand),
Assistant Ref 2:James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO : Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
Teams
Crusaders
15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Peter Samu, 5 Samuel Whitelock (captain), 4 Luke Romano, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Chris King, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Billy Harmon, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Manasa Mataele.
Chiefs
1. Aidan Ross , 2. Nathan Harris , 3. Nepo Laulala , 4. Brodie Retallick , 5. Dominic Bird , 6. Mitchell Brown , 7. Sam Cane – Captain , 8. Taleni Seu , 9. Brad Weber , 10. Damian McKenzie , 11. Solomon Alaimalo , 12. Johnny Faauli , 13. Anton Lienert-Brown , 14. Shaun Stevenson , 15. Charlie Ngatai (c)
Replacements : 16. Liam Polwart , 17. Atunaisa Moli , 18. Angus Ta’avao , 19. Liam Messam , 20. Lachlan Boshier , 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi , 22. Marty McKenzie , 23. Sean Wainui
