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Chiefs to come out swinging against fast starting Crusaders
By Ned Lester
The Crusaders' intensity out of the gates blew the Blues away in the semi-final, but Chiefs No 8 Luke Jacobson says it'll be a different story in the final.
15 Crusaders points in the opening 12 minutes set the tone for the match in Christchurch, which ended with a scoreboard figure of 52-15. The other semi-final offered an entirely different match, with the first try of the game only coming in the 78th minute.
The Chiefs have found ways to win all season and Jacobson, fresh off being named in the All Blacks' 2023 Rugby Championship squad, was looking content with the week ahead when he spoke to the media on Tuesday.
"The Crusaders came out with an awesome mindset," Jacobson told Newshub. "And I think the Blues got left behind.
"The Crusaders came to play, and the Blues missed the jump a little bit. It's finals footy, you've got to be coming out with everything. The Crusaders showed what happens if you don't.
"We won't make that mistake of coming out half-hearted. We'll be there fully.
"They'll be getting a better response than what they got last week."
A championship win would be the dream send-off for the Chiefs' departing players, which include several club legends as well as fan favourites. All Blacks Brad Weber and Brodie Retallick will play their final game for the club as well as Pita Gus Sowakula, Bryn Gatland and Alex Nankivell.
"There's a couple of greats leaving," Jacobson added. "It's going to be sad to see them go. There's a lot of motivation to put the cherry on top for them this season.
"They've added so much to the club. I think they'll be huge this weekend, they'll be leaving everything out there, as everybody else will be.
"But I think there'll be a little bit extra with them - being their last game. I'm looking forward to getting out there and playing alongside them.
"We're going for it. It'll be really awesome to send them off with a win."
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It took a whole season to wash the Foster stink out to be fair. There's still been substantial change though. I think only 7 starters from the RWC QF v IRE started the IRE test in Dublin. This year wasn't the year for full innovation, transition needs to be balanced, & incremental. The new coaches will be able to stamp their full mark on the ABs from 2025 when Razor will select his first proper squad from a mega talented player pool. Exciting times ahead.
Go to commentsWhat on earth is Tele'a doing passing the ball away so quickly on his line break, like a fatty making a bust and trying to find a winger to give the ball to lol
The amount of inconsistency with the head contact law coming into the game. No red yesterday and no yellow today, but then another player gets a suspension for a side on headonhead (as apposed to these two sweet shoulders) contact last week. Happy if there is a referee change to having a bit more commensense.
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