Kiwis collide
Blues out to end Crusaders home dominance
INNIE SEMIS: Barrett and Blues
Image: Backpagepix
DEFENDING champions the Auckland Blues are in bullish mood as they seek to end the Canterbury Crusaders' ominous home play-off record in the Super Rugby semi-finals today at 9.05am.
The Blues were surprise 20-19 winners in their elimination match against the top-seeded Chiefs last weekend thanks to All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett’s late conversion.
It set up a semi-final against the Crusaders in Christchurch, where the 14-time tournament winners have won 30 play-off matches and never lost.
The Crusaders are gunning for an eighth title in nine years after a poor 2024 season which saw them miss the play-offs entirely in coach Rob Penney’s first year in charge.
They enter Friday’s clash without All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams after he succumbed to a knee injury in the dominant 32-12 win over the Reds in their qualifying final.
The Chiefs are aiming to bounce back from their loss to the Blues when they host the Brumbies in Hamilton tomorrow at 9.05am.
Their lifeline came courtesy of a new format for Super Rugby, where the three qualifying final winners, and the top-ranked loser, go through to the last four.