The Crusaders and Blues have met in two other finals, including last year when the Crusaders won again at Eden Park. The Blues have lost their last three meetings against the Crusaders but won in Christchurch last year, a 27-22 victory in round five which ended an 18-year losing run in the Garden City.
When it comes to semifinals, the Crusaders have an enviable record. Played 20, won 15. Coach Scott Robertson has yet to lose a semifinal and Friday’s will be his final one with the side.
Chiefs and Crusaders should be worried about the Blues - Gregor Paul
Just two teams have got within seven points of the Crusaders in those 13 semifinal wins - the Sharks in 1998 and the Hurricanes in 2019.
The Blues have a pretty handy semifinal record as well. They’ve played in the final four on seven occasions and won five. All of those wins were at Eden Park however, and the Blues have never won an away semi.
Crusaders’ Super Rugby semifinal record
1998 Beat Sharks 36-32, Christchurch
1999 Beat Reds 28-22, Brisbane
2000 Beat Highlanders 37-15, Christchurch
2002 Beat Highlanders 34-23, Christchurch
2003 Beat Hurricanes 39-16, Christchurch
2004 Beat Stormers 27-16, Christchurch
2005 Beat Hurricanes 47-7, Christchurch
2006 Beat Bulls 35-15, Christchurch
2007 Lost to Bulls 27-12, Pretoria
2008 Beat Hurricanes 33-22, Christchurch
2009 Lost to Bulls 36-23, Pretoria
2010 Lost to Bulls 39-23, Soweto
2011 Beat Stormers 29-10, Cape Town
2012 Lost to Chiefs 20-17, Hamilton
2013 Lost to Chiefs 20-19, Hamilton
2014 Beat Sharks 38-6, Christchurch
2017 Beat Chiefs 27-13, Christchurch
2018 Beat Hurricanes 30-12, Christchurch
2019 Beat Hurricanes 30-26, Christchurch
2022 Beat Chiefs 20-7, Christchurch
Blues’ Super Rugby semifinal record
1996 - Beat Northern Transvaal 48-11, Auckland
1997 - Beat Sharks 55-36, Auckland
1998 - Beat Highlanders 37-31, Auckland
2003 - Beat Brumbies 42-21, Auckland
2007 - Lost to Sharks 34-18, Durban
2011 - Lost to Reds 30-13, Brisbane
2022 - Beat Brumbies, 20-19, Auckland
