The Chiefs have stormed into a fourth straight Super Rugby Pacific final, dismantling the defending champion Crusaders 49-12 in a Hamilton semifinal that was effectively over by halftime.
On a chilly Friday night at FMG Stadium Waikato, Jonno Gibbes’ side produced one of the most ruthless 40 minutes of finals rugby seen in recent years, running in seven tries before the break to lead 42-5. The Crusaders, who have lifted the trophy in each of the past two seasons and built a dynasty on suffocating finals defence, simply had no answer to the speed and accuracy of the home side.
The Chiefs finished with eight tries in all. Wing Kyren Taumoefolau crossed twice, with further tries to Isaac Hutchinson, hooker Samesoni Taukei’aho, Leroy Carter, lock Tupou Va’ii and halfback Xavier Roe. The Crusaders managed late consolation tries through Chay Fihaki and David Havili, but the result was beyond doubt long before then.
At the centre of it all was Damian McKenzie, who marked his 150th match for the franchise in the perfect fashion. The first five eighth pulled the strings with the kind of mercurial running and clever kicking that has made him an All Blacks fixture, setting up attacking platform after attacking platform. Midfielder Lalakai Foketi was also prominent, repeatedly punching holes in the Crusaders’ defensive line that the Chiefs were quick to exploit.
For the Crusaders it was a chastening way for a reign to end. Young first five Taha Kemara showed flashes of individual brilliance with his footwork and passing, but he was given little to work with as the Chiefs pack dominated the collisions and the breakdown. The second half was a scrappier, error-strewn affair, with each side adding a single try, but by then the contest had become a procession.
Gibbes was understandably delighted with the performance, telling reporters afterwards that he could not have scripted a better opening half. The win extends a remarkable run of consistency for the Chiefs, who have now reached the final in four consecutive seasons. The frustration, of course, is that they have lost each of the past three, including last year’s decider to these same Crusaders. A fourth shot at the title carries the weight of finally turning all that regular season excellence into silverware.
The result also reshaped the picture at the top of the New Zealand game. With the Crusaders out, the 2026 champions will be either the Chiefs, the Hurricanes or the Blues, guaranteeing a New Zealand winner. All four semifinalists this year were New Zealand franchises, the first time that has happened, underlining how the balance of power in the competition has tilted firmly back across the Tasman in recent seasons.
The Chiefs will not know their final opponent until later this weekend. The second semifinal sees the Hurricanes host the Blues in Wellington on Saturday night, with the winner booking a place in the decider on 20 June. The Hurricanes finished higher up the table and start as favourites at home, while the Blues have made it this far as the so called lucky loser, the highest ranked side to fall in the qualifying finals, slipping into the fourth seed despite their earlier defeat.
Gibbes left little doubt about who he expects to meet. After the win he all but wrote off the Blues, suggesting the capital was the likely destination for next weekend’s final and that he anticipated facing the Hurricanes. It was a pointed prediction, and one the Blues will no doubt be keen to throw back in his face if they can pull off an upset in Wellington.
For neutrals, the prospect of a Chiefs v Hurricanes final would be a mouthwatering one. The two sides share a fierce regional rivalry and a similar attacking philosophy, and a McKenzie led Chiefs backline against the Hurricanes’ own dangerous runners would promise plenty of points. A Chiefs v Blues final, meanwhile, would carry its own intrigue, pitting Gibbes’ settled and battle hardened group against an Auckland side that has surged into form at exactly the right moment.
Whatever the matchup, the Chiefs have served notice that they intend to be more than gallant runners up this time. Three straight final defeats have left a clear scar, and the manner of Friday’s demolition suggested a team determined to rewrite that narrative. If they can reproduce anything close to that first half intensity in the decider, the title that has eluded them for so long may finally be within reach.
The Chiefs’ victory over the Crusaders was covered by RNZ, Stuff and the Waikato Times, with the semifinal fixtures confirmed by Super Rugby Pacific.
Who do you want to see lift the trophy on 20 June, and can the Chiefs finally go one better this year? Share your predictions in the comments below.
This article was written by AI, briefed to report the facts, hopefully without some of the bias people bring to the job 🙂
Leave a Reply