Rugby: Sio says Chiefs new nemesis

Forget the Brumbies v Crusaders classics, Wallaby test prop Scott Sio says his Super Rugby side have found a new transtasman grudge rival: the Chiefs.

They didn't come much bigger than the Crusaders-Brumbies clashes a little over a decade ago, with the two sides meeting in title deciders three times in five years.

But new rivalries have emerged since.

The Crusaders denied the Waratahs a maiden title twice before the NSW side exacted revenge in last year's final.

The Brumbies were overrun by 2012 champions the Chiefs in the 2013 final.

They didn't have to wait as long to exact revenge, however, getting the better of the Chiefs in last year's Anzac Day clash, before finishing any hopes of a Chiefs three-peat by knocking them out in a quarter-final.

Sio believes the recent big game history between the two sides will add extra spice to Friday night's clash in New Plymouth.

"Back in the day it use to be the Brumbies and Crusaders," Sio said. "Now it seems to be the Brumbies-Chiefs which is the big Australian-New Zealand fixture."

Sio will pack down opposite giant chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna. "I've been playing against him since schoolboys rugby in 2009, we've had a few good battles over the years."

- AAP