The Chiefs booked their place in the Super Rugby Pacific final after hammering the defending champion Crusaders in Hamilton on Friday.
Winger Kyren Taumoefolau grabbed a brace as the hosts ran in seven tries, all converted by flyhalf Damian McKenzie, to triumph 49-12, having led 42-5 at half-time.
The Chiefs punished an error-prone and tactically inept Crusaders team that insisted on kicking possession away to opponents looking to score from anywhere on the pitch.
ALSO: Bulls locked in on Dublin
In the opening exchanges both teams made minor errors on a brisk, dewy night at Waikato Stadium.
It took the Chiefs 10 minutes to click into top gear, and they raced away from a Crusaders side stuck in neutral.
Taumoefolau scored his first untouched on the left wing after an accurate cut-out pass.
Kyren Taumoefolau is on FIRE to star the Semi-Final!
Watch every Super Rugby Pacific Finals Series match live on @skysportnz and @stansportau
#SuperRugbyPacific #SRP30 #SRPFinals #CHIvCRU pic.twitter.com/06l8KbhTfF
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 12, 2026
He doubled the advantage when he collected a McKenzie grubber kick, cut inside and dribbled past his marker to dot down next to the posts.
The short kicking game was working a treat for the Chiefs, McKenzie finding acres of space for his backs to run into.
Fullback Isaac Hutchinson scored after a slick set-piece, hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho crashed over from the back of a ruck, and then replacement fullback Leroy Carter and lock Tupou Vaa’i added extra flourishes to end the half.
This may be one of the best Finals tries we’ve ever seen
Watch every Super Rugby Pacific Finals Series match live on @skysportnz and @stansportau
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 12, 2026
The Crusaders found a rare piece of inspiration from flyhalf Taha Kemara, who beat six defenders before putting winger Chay Fihaki over in the corner.
ALSO: Schmidt lands new role in Aussie rugby
After the break the Chiefs took their foot off the gas, instead looking to stifle any Crusaders comeback.
The visitors did score through centre David Havili, but otherwise lacked any real penetration with the ball in hand.
The Chiefs capped the night with replacement Xavier Roe crossing in the dying moments, setting up a Super Rugby final against either the Hurricanes or Blues who play in Wellington on Saturday (9:05am SA time).
– AFP
Photo: Michael Bradley/Getty Images
The post Chiefs humiliate Crusaders to reach final appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Chiefs booked their place in the Super Rugby Pacific final after hammering the defending champion Crusaders in Hamilton on Friday.
The post Chiefs humiliate Crusaders to reach final appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
