Hurricanes vs Crusaders Predictions - Crusaders to keep pressure on Hurricanes

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 09 Apr 2025

Simon Lewis 09 Apr 2025

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Hurricanes are 7th on the Super Rugby table with 3 wins in 7 matches.
Crusaders are performing well as they are currently 2nd on the table.
The Crusaders won against Hurricanes in their first encounter this season.

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Crusaders beat the Hurricanes when they met earlier this season. (Getty Images)

Hurricanes vs Crusaders Predictions

This has the ability to be an absolute cracker on Friday morning. The Hurricanes have underperformed this season and will be desperate to get a home win while the Crusaders are second on the table. I am backing this to be close with the visitors to just get over the line.

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

Hurricanes have lost 4 of their last 7 matches.
Crusaders have won 5 of their last 7 matches.
Crusaders beat the Hurricanes when they met earlier this season.

Head to Head

These sides met in round one of Super Rugby 2025, a match the Crusaders won 33-25 on home soil.

Hurricanes Form

The Hurricanes come into the ninth round in Super Rugby 2025 sitting seventh on the table, much lower than many expected. They have managed just three victories in their seven fixtures to date.

The Canes began the season with a 33-25 loss away to the Crusaders before beating Fijian Drua at home. That was followed by two successive defeats to the Blues at home and Moana away. The rot stopped with a 20-18 victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin.

At the end of March, the Hurricanes thrashed the Waratahs 57-12 at home but lost 19-18 in Auckland to the Blues last weekend.

Hurricanes Injuries & Team News

15 Ruben Love, 14 Ngatungane Punivai, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Riley Hohepa, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Brayden Iose, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua (co-captain), 1 Xavier Numia.

Replacement: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Callum Harkin, 23 Fatafehi Fineanganofo.

Crusaders Form

The Crusaders are not quite at their former best but they are still second on the table, a large improvement from what they managed in 2024. With five wins and two defeats, the 12-time champions are within two points of the Chiefs at the top.

The Christchurch-based outfit beat the Hurricanes in round one this season but lost in round two to the Chiefs. They then beat the Reds and Force at home, both comfortably before seeing off the Blues in Auckland.

A shock result followed though as the Crusaders lost 45-29 to Moana on home soil. They did rest many players, but it was still a game they would have fancied winning. Last week, the Crusaders bounced back to beat Fijian Drua 31-14 away.

Crusaders Injuries & Team News

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

Replacements: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 George Bower, 18 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 19 Antonio Shalfoon, 20 Tom Christie, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Macca Springer.

Verdict

Hurricanes v Crusaders

The Crusaders are backed to win this game by 1-12 points.

Crusaders Win

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