Crusaders vs Chiefs preview:

This game is going to be a thriller and it is going to give us all goosebumps if it lives up to the hype.

Chiefs:

I do know that the Chiefs at this moment is at the bottom of the log ,but I do believe that they are the third best team in this competition. They have lost their first game to the Highlanders. That was a game that they threw away because they could have sealed the win in that game early on but struggled with their finishing. They have shaken of most of that rust by now and will be a well oiled machine when it comes to game time.

Crusaders:

The Crusaders are a team that has no out and out superstar , but they have allot of up and coming youngsters that punch above their weight. Players like Ennor and Reece cant be classified as superstars yet because they have not played allot of rugby yet. It is players like those two that have made this Crusaders team this good. Every single player does not see himself as just another peg in the wheel they all take on the challenge and make sure that they leave their mark on every game to get the team closer to the win.

Key match-ups:

Joe Moody vs Nepo Laulala: I don’t have a’lot of prop match-ups and I believe it is because the scrum does not play that big of a roll in normal Super rugby matches don’t get me wrong if your scrum sucks you will pay but most of the scrums match up quite well in Super rugby. Getting back to these two they will have to do more than just anchor the scrums for their teams. These two will have to take up the challenge of this immensely physical battle and do allot of the carrying and defensive work close to the ruck. If this game is going to come down to the wire it is going to be one good tackle or drive from one of these men that gives the team the boost to get over the line.

Jack Goodhue vs Anton Lienert-Brown: These two is probably the two centers that will start together for the All-Blacks when international rugby finally kicks off again. This weekend however they are facing each other and will want to show that they have the upper hand. Jack is however playing out of position and usually plays 13 , but with his class he will adapt quite well. The battle of these two will be more defensive than attacking. The reason I say that is because both these teams are very good at running with the ball and they will keep on playing like that always do so the difference will be made in defence. These two will have to organise their teams defensive line and make sue it is impenetrable if they want to get the upper hand and stand a bigger chance in winning this game.

Teams:

CrusadersChiefs

Starting XV
Joe Moody	1	Aiden Ross
Codie Taylor	2	Bradley Slater
Michael Alaalatoa	3	Nepo Laulala
Sam Whitelock	4	Mitchell Brown
Mitchell Dunshea	5	Naitoa Ah Kuoi
Cullen Grace	6	Lachlan Boshier
Billy Harmon	7	Sam Cane
Whetu Douglas	8	Pita Sowakula
Bryn Hall	9	Brad Weber
Richard Mo’unga	10	Aaron Cruden
George Bridge	11	Sean Wainui
Jack Goodhue	12	Anton Lienert-Brown
Braydon Ennor	13	Quinn Tupaea
Sevuloni Reece	14	Solomon Alaimalo
Will Jordan	15	Damian McKenzie
Bench
Brodie McAlister	16	Samisoni Taukei’aho
George Bower	17	Reuben O’Neill
Oliver Jager	18	Ross Geldenhuys
Luke Romano	19	Adam Thomson
Ethan Blackadder	20	Mitchell Karpik
Mitchell Drummond	21	Lisati Milo-Harris
David Havili	22	Kaleb Trask
Leicester Fainga’anuku	23	Tumua Manu

My prediction:

I am going to go against the flow and say that the chiefs is going to win this game. I know it is bold going against the tournament favorites and gooing with the bottom team on the log , but I believe that Gatland would have created a game plan to stop the crusaders and if his team is able to execute the plan they will be able to win the game.