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Chiefs vs Crusaders - Semi Final 1

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This stage of the competition has seen this fixture before, as recently as last season in the 2012 Super Rugby Semi-Final which the Chiefs won 20-17.
There will be some great match up's on the cards; Afeaki/Tamafuna vs Wyatt Crockett, Brodie Retallick vs Sam Whitelock, Matt Todd vs Sam Cane and Kerr-Barlow vs Ellis it is set to be the 'test match' of the New Zealand conference. However it all may come down to the battle of the fly halves Carter versus Cruden & who outshines their New Zealand counter part.
In Hamilton when the Chiefs play the Crusaders the average score is Chiefs 22 Crusaders 24.
These teams met just two weeks ago and the Crusaders won the match 43-15 in Christchurch not Hamilton. In Hamilton the Chiefs have won their last two matches against the Crusaders 28-19 (in May) and 20-17 (Jul 2012) and boast a 5 wins & 1 loss all season at home.
The Crusaders on the other hand have played 8 away matches in 2013 and won just three matches giving them a record of winning 38% of their away matches.
The Chiefs will effectively be coming off a bye and they have made seven changes to the team that played the Blues two weeks ago. Worryingly that means that almost half the team have not played a full match in three weeks.
The Crusaders have named an unchanged team for this week and they are the form team currently. They have the longest still current winning streak in the competition and they have scored four tries or more in three of their last four matches. Interestingly enough the last time the Crusaders lost was against the Chiefs, that's one loss in the last 10 outings and have now won 5 in a row.
Prediction
The Chiefs might have won the New Zealand conference but injuries in key positions and a inform Crusaders team might just be to much for the home side to handle. The Saders have peaked at just the right moment and will comfortably win by less than 10.

Chiefs overall record against the Crusaders
Played 22 ,Wins 7 ,Losses 15 ,Draws 0

Referee: Steve Walsh
Assistant Ref 1:Glen Jackson
Assistant Ref 2:Chris Pollock
TMO : Glenn Newman

Teams

Chiefs

1.Toby Smith , 2.Hika Elliot , 3.Ben Tameifuna , 4.Craig Clarke (c) , 5.Brodie Retallick , 6.Liam Messam , 7.Tanerau Latimer , 8.Matt Vant Leven , 9.Tawera Kerr-Barlow , 10.Aaron Cruden , 11.Asaeli Tikoirotuma , 12.Andrew Horrell , 13.Charlie Ngatai , 14.Lelia Masaga , 15.Gareth Anscombe

Replacements : 16.Rhys Marshall , 17.Ben Afeaki , 18.Michael Fitzgerald , 19.Sam Cane , 20.Augustine Pulu , 21.Bundee Aki , 22.Robbie Robinson.

Crusaders

1. Wyatt Crockett , 2. Corey Flynn ,3. Owen Franks , 4. Luke Romano , 5. Sam Whitelock , 6. George Whitelock , 7. Matt Todd , 8. Kieran Read (c) , 9. Andy Ellis , 10. Dan Carter , 11. Zac Guildford , 12. Tom Taylor , 13. Ryan Crotty , 14. Tom Marshall , 15. Israel Dagg ,

Replacements : 16. Ben Funnell , 17. Joe Moody , 18. Luke Whitelock , 19. Richie McCaw , 20. Willi Heinz , 21. Tyler Bleyendaal , 22. Adam Whitelock.

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (@jcba)

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