23 Feb 2024

Super Rugby Pacific as it happened: Chiefs down Crusaders 33-29 in thriller

9:00 pm on 23 February 2024
Etene Nanai-Seturo in action for the Chiefs during the Super Rugby Pacific Final between the Chiefs and the Crusaders at FMG Stadium in Hamilton.

Etene Nanai-Seturo in action for the Chiefs during the Super Rugby Pacific Final between the Chiefs and the Crusaders at FMG Stadium in Hamilton. Photo: Aaron Gillions / photosport

The Chiefs and Crusaders have opened the Super Rugby Pacific season at FMG Stadium in Hamilton in a thrilling rematch of last year's dramatic final. It was also a replay of last year's season opener, when the Chiefs went down to Christchurch and handed the Crusaders their biggest ever home loss.

The teams were:

Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (c), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa'i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Reuben O'Neill, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Aidan Ross

Bench: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Daniel Rona

Crusaders: 15 Chay Fihaki, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Dominic Gardiner, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tamaiti Williams, 2 George Bell, 1 George Bower

Bench: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Christian Lio-Willie, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Taha Kemara, 23 Ryan Crotty

Relive the match with our live updates below.

  • 10 unforgettable Super Rugby moments
  • Rule change doesn't go far enough say Crusaders
  • Why all Super Rugby Pacific players are now wearing ‘instrumented’ mouthguards tracking their every move
  • Poor ground condition forces Moana Pasifika to shift Super Rugby game
  • Perenara not yet ready for Super Rugby Pacific return