Crusaders v Blues
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 18 April
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Live updates on RNZ Sport
Who's it going to be a Good Friday for tonight in Christchurch? Going on overall form you'd have to say the Crusaders given they're top of the table and have had two good wins in a row; however the Blues are coming off their best performance of the year last weekend.
This stands as a pretty important game for both, with the Crusaders now looking to lock in home advantage for the play-offs and the Blues trying to solidify a spot in the top six.
Team lists
Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Cullen Grace, 7. Ethan Blackadder, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Taha Kemara, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili/Dallas McLeod (c), 13. Levi Aumua, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Ioane Moananu, 17. George Bower, 18. Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 19. Jamie Hannah, 20. Corey Kellow, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Macca Springer/Dallas McLeod
Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Angus Ta'avao, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), 5. Josh Beehre, 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Mark Tele'a, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Cole Forbes, 15. Zarn Sullivan
Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Hamdahn Tuipolotu, 19. Laghlan McWhannell, 20. Cameron Suafoa, 21. Adrian Choat, 22. Taufa Funaki, 23. Harry Plummer
Crusaders selections
Kyle Preston scores a try on debut for the Crusaders against the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby season-season opening match at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch, 14 Feb 2025. Photo: Photosport
Not too many changes, other than the return of Kyle Preston on the bench to back up Noah Hotham, and Antonio Shalfoon into the starting line up at lock. David Havili has been bracketed with Dallas McLeod and will have up until kick-off to prove his fitness.
Blues selections
Zarn Sullivan of the Blues is tackled by Tom Christie of the Crusaders. Photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz
Zarn Sullivan is back from injury and is rushed straight into the starting team at fullback, while Cole Forbes gets a recall to the right wing due to an injury to Caleb Clarke. It means there's no room for Corey Evans or Stephen Perofeta, with Harry Plummer providing the backline cover on the bench.
Key stats
Ioane Moananu and Levi Aumua of the Crusaders celebrate. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz
The Crusaders have won six of their last seven Super Rugby Pacific games against the Blues including each of their last two and have scored an average of 41 points per game in their last three wins in that span.
The Blues' 36-17 win last weekend against Moana Pasifika was the first time they had scored more than 35 points in their eight games this season, winning three of their eight games so far this campaign.
Crusaders hooker Ioane Moananu has scored four tries in his last three Super Rugby Pacific games after not scoring in any of his 10 previous fixtures.
What they're saying
"I think they've certainly got better, I think Beaudy's a massive driver in the way they're playing. Once they've been able to get the ball to the wide channels to Mark (Tele'a) and Rieko (Ioane), they've been really able to exploit teams." - Crusaders captain David Havili.
"I think with two victories there's a little bit more confidence and there's a little bit more spring in the step if you like. But you can't go to Christchurch and underestimate how tough the task will be." - Blues coach Vern Cotter.
The last time they met
Crusaders 42 - 19 Blues
This was a beatdown of the highest order and really threatened to bury the Blues' season then and there. Other than an early Blues try, the Crusaders were dominant at Eden Park in what was the Blues' worst point (so far) in their title defence, resulting in a scoreline that would have been worse had Taha Kemara not missed a bunch of shots at goal.
What's going to happen
While the Crusaders will be firm favourites, if the Blues can impose their gameplan early like they did last weekend, it may well turn into an intriguing clash of styles. One thing the home side has to be mindful of is discipline, they were reduced to 13 men last weekend and somehow still won - it's unlikely they'll be able to get away with that again.
