Crusaders head coach Rob Penney says the Chiefs’ round one win over the defending champion Blues has placed them as the team to beat in 2025.
Having emerged victorious from their 2024 final rematch in round one, the Chiefs have returned to Hamilton to host their 2023 final opponents the Crusaders in a grudge match.
There’s star power across the backline and plenty of grunt up front for the home team in the contest, with All Blacks Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i and Luke Jacobson named in the starting XV and Samipeni Finau set for another impact performance off the bench.
“They were awesome against the Blues. They were very combative, physical, all the things the Chiefs have traditionally been known for. We’re expecting all of that and more,” Penney told reporters in Christchurch.
Meanwhile, in the backline, star playmaker Damian McKenzie has again been named at fullback as the club looks to develop their first five-eighth of the future, Josh Jacomb.
McKenzie shifted into the No. 10 role 50 minutes into the Auckland win, injecting pace and unpredictability into the attack and scoring two tries for his efforts. The All Black star’s influence was key in turning around a 6-14 defecit at halftime.
“He’s dangerous in all elements. He’s got a great running game, and kicking game. He’s the beating heart of that group on their attack. The way he closed the game out, he took it away from the Blues is probably indicative of what they’re looking to do this week as well,” Penney added.
For the Crusaders, they’ll be without their newest All Black for the game, with halfback Noah Hotham set for a stint on the sidelines with an ankle complaint. A timeline has not yet been given for recovery.
Despite losing an international in just the eighth minute of the game, the Crusaders were lifted in the scoring column by Hotham’s replacement, Kyle Preston.
The Wellingtonian scored three tries on debut for the side and has been named to start this week ahead of veteran Mitchell Drummond.
“He’s a fabulous bloke and a quality player and there’s been a lot of expectation put on him after last week, it’s a bit unfair. Let the kid grow and mature. That’s the way it’s been done. He was awesome and he’ll do his best to make sure it doesn’t overawe him in any way. And, hopefully, he keeps producing like that.”
The Super Rugby rookie will line up against Xavier Roe in the starting XV, who piled plenty of pressure on Blues counterpart Taufa Funaki with his defence around the ruck.
In 2025, the halfback has additional protections around the ruck, maul, and scrum: no player involved in or previously involved in the ruck or maul may play at the halfback within one metre of said ruck or maul.
Preston will have his hands full facing the side his coach says have “set a marker of being the ones to beat in this competition.”
