Crusaders vs Blues Predictions - Blues can threaten Crusaders in Super Rugby semi

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 11 Jun 2025

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Simon Lewis 11 Jun 2025

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Crusaders are favorites but Blues might surprise.
Crusaders won 7 out of last 8 games, strong form.
Blues beat the Chiefs, indicating potential for upset.

Crusaders beat the Blues by 3 points earlier this season. (Getty Images)

Crusaders vs Blues Predictions

Crusaders are favourites at home but this Blues side, despite their 2025 struggles, showed their class last weekend with their win against the Chiefs. I am backing the Blues to get within the 6.5 handicap set with an upset win not off the table.

Crusaders vs Blues Predictions
Head to Head
Crusaders Form
Crusaders Injuries & Team News
Blues Form
Blues Injuries & Team News

Crusaders have won 7 of their last 8 matches.
Crusaders beat the Blues by 3 points earlier this season.
Blues have won 4 of their last 5 matches.
Blues beat the Chiefs away from home last weekend.

Head to Head

These two met earlier this season with the Crusaders coming out on top with a 25-22 home win.

Crusaders Form

The Crusaders had a dismal 2024 but bounced back to finish second on the table in 2025, winning 11 of their 14 matches. They come into this semi-final having won seven of their last eight matches.

The only defeat the Crusadres suffered in this run came against the Chiefs. Since that loss, the Crusaders have beaten the Waratahs, Highlanders and Brumbies, two of them away from home.

Last week, in the quarter-final against the Reds, the Crusaders were too good on home soil. They won the game comfortably 32-12.

Crusaders Injuries & Team News

15 Will Jordan, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili (captain), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.

Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Cullen Grace, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod.

Blues Form

The Blues came into the 2025 Super Rugby campaign as defending champions but did little through the tournament to show they can defend it. They were inconsistent at best, but they did manage to scrape into the playoffs.

After beating the Western Force and Fijian Drua, the Blue lost to Moana. Fortunately, in their final round robin game, the Auckland side managed a 46-6 win over the Waratahs to send them into the quarters.

Qualifying sixth was never going to be ideal but the Blues showed that their class from 2024 still remains. They came out and beat the table topping Chiefs 20-19 to secure a semi-final berth, the first home defeat of the season for the Chiefs.

Blues Injuries & Team News

15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Adrian Choat, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a.

Replacements: Kurt Eklund, Jordan Lay, Angus Ta’avao, Josh Beehre, Anton Segner, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Cole Forbes

Verdict

Crusaders v Blues

I am backing the Blues to get within the 6.5 handicap with a chance of an upset win.

Blues +6.5

Handicap

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Blues Win

Result

@2/1 - 1 Unit

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Earn up to R3,000 in bonus funds PLUS 300 Free Spins, on your first three deposits. To get started, register and make a First Deposit *Min R10 and get 100% free up to R1,000 plus 100 free slot spins. | T&Cs apply.

Bet at Sportingbet SA