Super Rugby Pacific reaches cracking crescendo: Blues vs Crusaders

The 2022 Super Rugby Pacific is set for a fitting crescendo as the competition’s most consistent performers will battle it out for the title. 

The Blues and Crusaders will clash at Eden Park in a celebration of arguably the most revered rivalry in New Zealand’s domestic rugby scene.  

Slightly concerning for the competition as a whole is the dominance that the New Zealand sides held over it this season, with only the Brumbies from the Australian contingent booking a spot in the semi-finals. However, it cannot be argued that the two finalists are not fully deserving of their spots. 

Win or lose, the Blues, particularly, can be proud of their efforts after what has been an extraordinary season which included a remarkable 15 consecutive victories. The Eden Park faithful will have left the ground with a few extra grey hairs on Saturday evening as Beauden Barrett and co. were pushed agonisingly close by the Brumbies in a match which could have gone either way: 

"It was a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for the coaches in the box, and probably the fans. In finals rugby, one point is enough," Blues boss Leon MacDonald said, post-match. 

"We put pressure on ourselves by making discipline errors. We've got to be better there. Two yellow cards played into their hands, and they took them.” 

The Brumbies came out strongly in the second half after spending the first under the Blues’ thumb. 

"They went to the air and got a little bit of reward there, and got a little bit of reward at the maul. And, all of a sudden, we were defending our line,” MacDonald added. 

Looking ahead to this weekend, MacDonald is well aware of the threat posed by the Crusaders, who will be on the hunt for their sixth consecutive Super Rugby title. 

"This is their [the Crusaders] bread and butter. They love finals rugby. You couldn't script it any better," he said. 

"We have to play as well as we know we can, as well as we did in the first half. We need to be massive defensively, disciplined, the stuff that wins you finals. 

"You can't take your foot off the throat, and that was a good lesson for us. One error turned the momentum of the game, and just like that, we went from being the dominant team to the one being dominated." 

"The last game was a cracker [the Blues won in Christchurch 27-23]. If we can fill the stadium, and it's anything like the last game, it's going to be one hell of an event." 

The long rivalry between the two would ensure it would be competitive. 

"In my time at the Crusaders, we loved to come here and play the Blues at Eden Park, and I know the boys in the Blues here have a similar feeling around the Crusaders," he said. 

Scott Robertson’s men put in a gruelling defensive effort in their semi-final outing against the Chiefs, notching up a jaw-dropping 246 tackles, proving that their lines are hard to breach. 

"They weren't telling us anything, we were just tackling to stay in the moment," Robertson said after the encounter. 

"Defence wins championships, as they say, and that's given us a chance for next week. 

"The care, and how deep we went, Scott Barrett made 28 or more tackles – I think everyone's effort in winning moments…They had scored two or three tries for certain. Then, all of a sudden, there was this massive tackle, someone was on the ball, and they just kept getting up for each other. 

"It was a game built on effort and care, I'm extremely proud.” 

The match is a treat for the All Black selectors who will keep eyes trained on intriguing contests in almost every position.  

Particularly enticing will be the battle at flyhalf between Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga while, outside them, David Havili lines up against All Black hopeful Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. 

The New Zealand derbies in this competition have displayed southern hemisphere rugby at its swift and brutal best and the prospect of this final featuring the country’s two best sides slugging it out is one to get the blood of any rugby fan running.