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Crusaders v Chiefs - The Hard Numbers
By Sam Smith
The Crusaders host the Chiefs in an all New Zealand semi final in Christchurch this weekend where they will look to continue an incredible home finals winning streak.
The Chiefs have had the wood on the Crusaders in recent finals meetings however the Crusaders appear back to their dominant best. Read on for all the key numbers ahead of this one which is bound to be a real thriller.
- The Crusaders won 31-24 when these teams met in Round 13 this season, their first win against the Chiefs since 2014; they’ll now be looking for back-to-back wins against them for the first time since Round 14, 2011.
- This will be the third Finals meeting between these teams after they met in the semi-finals of both 2012 and 2013, the Chiefs earning wins in both but by no more than three points on either occasion.
- The Crusaders have never lost a Finals fixture when playing as the home team on the day (W17).
- The Crusaders (17m 47secs) average the most time in possession of any team so far this season, while the Chiefs (14m 19secs) average the least.
- Only Damian McKenzie (74) has beaten more defenders than David Havili (58) so far this campaign.
- James Lowe has made 37 clean breaks so far this season, four more than any other player, and has found the try line in five of his last six games against the Crusaders.
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Latest Comments
Come on, it's an open secret in world rugby that there's a steroid problem in Sth African rugby. That infamous photo of the Syringeboks with their jerseys off says it all.
Go to commentsThat absolute BS, when did you come up with this idea?
All three were well on track to being All Blacks. They simply decided it was smarter to take the money right now rather than slog on for another 3 or 4 years waiting for their opportunity to line up.
Many AB quality players have not even got the chance to earn a cap for heavens sake, it is simply as you suggest elsewhere, better utilization of global talent to have them qualify for another nation.
The only problem is that the ABs get all the best players, mostly because they pay more, and the island nations, even the home nations, just get those that can't make it or want a bit more limelight.
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