Chiefs v Crusaders, Super Rugby Final - teams and prediction
PREVIEW: The Crusaders aim to secure a seventh straight Super Rugby title and a triumphant swansong for talismanic All Blacks-coach-to-be Scott Robertson this Saturday.
However, the in-form Chiefs could spoil the party.
Having lifted silverware with the Crusaders each season since he took charge in 2017, this is Robertson's last game before leading the New Zealand national side after the World Cup.
With a host of All Blacks on display, tickets for the Final at the Waikato Stadium sold out.
Robertson knows to expect a rough reception from the home crowd.
"It's going to be hostile, it's going to be passionate," he told reporters on Thursday.
"You know you are walking into a pressure environment. Crusaders love these moments."
Victory would complete the set of seven consecutive titles for the Crusaders - including 2020 and 2021 when they won a domestic competition for New Zealand's five teams with the borders shut due to Covid-19.
"To have the ability to go seven in a row means a lot to this group," added Robertson.
He anticipates a tough Final against the Chiefs, who finished the regular season top of the table before the play-offs.
"They have set the benchmark. It's going to be a great occasion."
Whitelock returns
The Crusaders, who bulldozed past the Blues 52-15 in the semifinals, have named a powerful starting side with New Zealand lock Sam Whitelock back after an Achilles tendon injury.
"He's played about 1,000 first-class games, he's a pretty seasoned campaigner and knows what it takes to win these sort of games," Crusaders' All Blacks star Will Jordan said of Whitelock's timely return.
"When things get tight out there, just having his experience will be huge."
Along with Robertson, this will also be the final Crusaders appearance for Whitelock, who joins French club Pau after the World Cup, and flyhalf Richie Mo'unga, who has signed for Japanese team Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.
"It's definitely a bit of motivation for us. 'Razor' [Robertson], Richie and Sam have been a huge part of this little era of the Crusaders," added Jordan.
"It would be nice to win for them."
The Chiefs are bidding for their first Super Rugby title since 2013, having lost just once all season.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane will make his 150th appearance for the Chiefs.
He is joined in the back-row by barnstorming flank Pita Gus Sowakula in the only change to the starting side which beat the Brumbies 19-6 to reach the Final.
Loose forward Samipeni Finau, who has been named in the All Blacks squad for the first time, starts on the bench.
Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan said the hosts are ready to spoil Robertson's farewell.
"The Crusaders are clearly a quality side who will come here well prepared, with a lot of belief, and a legacy of turning up on the big stage," said McMillan.
"We respect that - there's no point denying it, but we aren't daunted by the task at hand either."
Team news
All Blacks great Sam Whitelock will return from injury to play his 178th and last game for the Crusaders.
Whitelock missed the Crusaders' play-off matches against the Fijian Drua and Blues with an Achilles tendon injury and All Blacks coach Ian Foster doubted he would recover in time to play in the title decider.
But the 34-year-old lock has made a massive effort to play one last match for the Crusaders before he leaves to join the French club Pau.
All Black playmaker Richie Mo'unga also will be playing his last match for the Crusaders before moving to Japan and coach Scott Robertson, who has led the franchise to six Super Rugby titles, will be departing to replace Foster in the All Blacks' coaching role after the World Cup in France.
Pita Gus Sowakula will start on the blindside flank in the only change to the Chiefs' line-up for the Final from the one that started the semifinal against the Brumbies.
Sowakula joins All Blacks Sam Cane and Luke Jacobson in the back row.
The ladder-topping Chiefs have named an experienced line-up with an average of 78 Super Rugby caps per player.
Cane will be playing his 150th match for the Chiefs.
Head to head
Road to the Final
Prediction
@rugby365com: Crusaders by three points
Teams
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber o-(co-captain), 8 Luke Jacobson, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Pita Gus Sowakula, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 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: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Dallas McLeod, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitch Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Sione Havili Talitui, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Oli Jager, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Chay Fihaki.
Date: Saturday, June 24
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.05 (07.05 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Nic Berry (Australia)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
* Sources: AFP & AAP