Crusaders vs Chiefs Predictions - Crusaders to go top with win over Chiefs

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 09 May 2025

Simon Lewis 09 May 2025

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Crusaders have won 8 of their last 10 matches.
Chiefs have lost their last 2 away matches.
The upcoming match is crucial for determining the league's top team.

Expired

Chiefs beat the Crusaders in their last outing. (Getty Images)

Crusaders vs Chiefs Predictions

The Chiefs thrashed the Crusaders at home earlier this year, but much has changed since then. These are the two strongest sides in Super Rugby, so I do expect a tightly fought encounter. However, given the Chiefs recent away struggles, the hosts are backed to cover the -2.5 handicap.

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

Crusaders have won 8 of their last 10 matches.
Chiefs have lost their last 2 away matches.
Chiefs beat the Crusaders in their last outing.

Head to Head

The Chiefs beat the Crusaders 49-24 when they met earlier this season.

Crusaders Form

The Crusaders are second on the table but level on points with the Chiefs who are top. However, the hosts do have a game in hand.

After a dreadful 2024, the Crusaders have looked close to their best again this season, winning eight of their 10 games thus far. They are favourites to top the table, and this game will probably decide who finishes top.

Since suffering a surprise 45-29 loss to Moana Pasifika at the end of March, the Crusaders have won four in a row. They comfortable saw off Fijian Drua before winning by seven points against the Hurricanes. A three-point win over the Blues followed before thrashing the Highlanders 43-10 last weekend.

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 Cullen Grace, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.

Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 George Bower, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Dallas McLeod.

Chiefs Form

The Chiefs looked like the form side early on in the campaign, but they’ve started showing some cracks recently, particularly away from home. They still top the table, but defeat here will see them get pressure from the Brumbies in third.

The last two away games have ended in defeat for the Chiefs. First, they lost 21-14 to the Waratahs in Sydney before going down 25-17 to the Hurricanes last weekend.

Between those two results, the Chiefs thrashed both the Highlanders and Western Force at home.

Chiefs Injuries & Team News

15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 Ollie Norris.

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Gideon Wrampling.

Verdict

Crusaders v Chiefs

Crusaders are backed to cover the -2.5 handicap.

Crusaders -2.5

Handicap

@1,91 - 3 Units

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Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

You can follow more from Simon at Muckrack, X and LinkedIn.