The Chiefs and the Crusaders meet in Hamilton on Saturday for what should be a thrilling Super Rugby Pacific Final. We take a look at the game from a betting angle.
CHIEFS
The Chiefs finished top of the log with just 1 defeat in 14 starts and they went into their quarter-final against the Reds as double digit favourites. They were pushed hard though eventually winning 29-20 and they faced another Australian team in the semi-finals when they hosted the Brumbies last weekend. It was a tense low scoring affair with the Chiefs eventually drawing clear to win 19-6 which is very much where the bookmakers had set the handicap.
Squad – Chiefs
Gus Sowakula7: Sam Cane (Co-Captain)8: Luke Jacobson 9: Brad Weber (Co-Captain)10: Damian McKenzie11: Etene Nanai-Seturo 12: Anton Lienert-Brown 13: Alex Nankivell 14: Emoni Narawa 15: Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16: Tyrone Thompson 17: Ollie Norris 18: John Ryan 19: Naitoa Ah Kuoi 20: Samipeni Finau 21: Cortez Ratima 22: Josh Ioane 23: Rameka Poihipi
CRUSADERS
The Crusaders finished 11 points behind the Chiefs in 2nd place on the log with 4 defeats in their 14 matches. Their quarter-final clash was at home to the Fijian Drua where they had few problems in seeing the visitors off 49-8 after a fast start.
Much was expected of the semi-final clash at home to the Blues last week and the Blues were well backed to beat the Crusaders, all be it they started as slight underdogs. Crusaders fans and backers need not have worried though as they absolutely cruised to a 52-15 victory over the Auckland based outfit.
Squad – Crusaders
1: Tamaiti Williams 2: Codie Taylor (VC) 3: Oliver Jager 4: Scott Barrett (C) 5: Sam Whitelock 6: Sione Havili Talitui 7: Tom Christie 8: Christian Lio-Willie 9: Mitchell Drummond 10: Richie Mo’unga 11: Leicester Fainga’anuku 12: Jack Goodhue (VC), 13: Braydon Ennor 14: Dallas McLeod 15: Will Jordan
Reserves: 16: George Bell 17: Kershawl Sykes-Martin 18: Reuben O’Neill 19: Quinten Strange 20: Dominic Gardner 21: Willi Heinz 22: Fergus Burke 23: Chay Fihaki
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Chiefs had the better of the Crusaders in the regular season action beating them 34-24 in Hamilton and in the opening weekend of the competition beating the Crusaders 31-10 in Christchurch.
FINALS HISTORY
Last season the Crusaders hosted the Blues in the Final winning 21-7 and the last time the Chiefs made a Super Rugby Final they were hammered 61-17 by the Bulls at Loftus, that was way back in 2009.
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BETTING – Click here to bet
Chiefs 1/1
Draw 28/1
Crusaders 19/20
The Chiefs opened slight favourites, but money has come for the Crusaders and at the time of writing Bookmakers can barely separate the sides.
Although the Crusaders won both of their playoff matches easily as opposed to the Chiefs who were pushed by the Reds and the Brumbies, I think we are going to get a close game here and I am going to have a punt in the Tribet Market. Here any other result is trading at 17/10 which effectively means that either side can win the game, but not by 7 points or more.
Other popular markets punters can look at is over or under 46.5 points and 1st, Last and Anytime Try Scorer Markets will be out closer to kick-off.
Suggested Bet: Tribet, Any Other Score at 17/10
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
