Chiefs vs Crusaders Predictions - Tight contest in Hamilton

Marc Thomas

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Last updated: 20 Feb 2025

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Marc Thomas 20 Feb 2025

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Chiefs reached the 2024 Super Rugby final, showcasing strong form.
Crusaders triumphed over the Hurricanes, marking a robust start to 2025.
Match expected to be closely contested, with Crusaders at +7.5 handicap.

Expired

Tight contest expected in Hamilton (Getty Images)

Chiefs vs Crusaders Preview

The Crusaders and Chiefs both won in round one and usually these encounters are quite close. I am backing the Crusaders in the handicap market.

Chiefs vs Crusaders Preview
Head to Head
Chiefs Form
Chiefs Injuries & Team News
Crusaders Form
Crusaders Injuries & Team News

Chiefs reached the final of the 2024 Super Rugby tournament.
Chiefs won their last match.
Chiefs won their last home match against the Crusaders.
Crusaders won their last match by 8 points.

Head to Head

Last season these two met on two occasions, each winning their home game. The Chiefs won 33-29 at home while the Crusaders defeated the runners-up 37-26 on home soil in late March.

Chiefs Form

The Chiefs were not at their best last season but managed to pull off a major upset in the semi-final to reach the final. They lost comfortably to the Blues in the 2024 Super Rugby final.

This season, in a repeat of that final in Auckland, the Chiefs were very good, beating the Blues 25-14. From the off the Chiefs were superior and dominated large chunks of the game to deservedly win.

Chiefs Injuries & Team News

15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Aidan Ross.

Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Gideon Wrampling.

Crusaders Form

The Crusaders were determined to make a success of this season after having their worst ever season in 2024. They failed to make the playoffs, something unheard of for the seven-time champions.

After the failure that was 2024, the Crusaders began 2025 with a bang, beating the Hurricanes 33-25 on home soil in round one. The Canes, we remember, were dominant last season, so that was an impressive result indeed for the Saders’.

Crusaders Injuries & Team News

15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Kyle Preston, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Ioane Moananu, 1 Tamaiti Williams.

Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 George Bower, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod.

Verdict

Chiefs v Crusaders

Both teams come off impressive victories in round one. I feel this will be a cracking contest with no more than a score separating the sides. Crusaders are backed on +7.5.

Crusaders +7.5

Handicap

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Crusaders Win

Result

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