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Crusaders player ratings vs Chiefs | 2026 Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals
at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
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Rob Penney’s Crusaders have been knocked out of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific competition following a 49-12 defeat at the hands of the Chiefs.
The away side couldn’t handle the Chiefs’ attacking threats around the paddock and capitulated on defence, conceding six tries in the first half.
For the Crusaders, it’s the end of an era for Penney and a couple of his players, including Sevu Reece, Dallas McLeod, and Braydon Ennor.
Jono Gibbes’ Chiefs will await the result of the Hurricanes and Blues semi-final in Wellington to determine where they will contest their fourth straight Super Rugby Pacific final.
Here is how the Crusaders rated in the semi-final against the Chiefs.
1. Finlay Brewis – 6
VIDEO
Huge shift for the young prop. Brewis spent most of his stint chasing the Chiefs around the field. Fronted on the defensive end, making nine tackles in the first 40 minutes. Off at 68 minutes, after a big battle, contributing ten tackles and nine carries.
2. Codie Taylor – 6.5
One of the only Crusaders players to make a positive impact on the game, although the lineout was disrupted heavily during the first half. Scrum went backwards as the game progressed, but his influential work around the field can’t be understated. Played the full 80 minutes.
3. Fletcher Newell – 5
Largely anonymous in the first half, the scrum was stable and even, and he carried twice and made three tackles. Newell wasn’t at his usual best, but more importantly, from Dave Rennie’s All Blacks perspective, the prop got through his shift after his injury scare two weeks ago.
4. Antonio Shalfoon – 5
Bruising in contact, but missed two tackles from his eleven over the course of the opening 40 minutes. Lineout struggled, but wasn’t given an opportunity to change the game with ball in hand. Off at 50 with only two carries and six tackles.
5. Jamie Hannah – 5
The ever-present young lock bobbled his first catch on kick off, then followed that with a mistimed jump and catch from the Crusaders’ first lineout of the game. Hannah’s performance in the semi-final could have been sharper, and he would have liked to have a couple of moments back.
Latched onto a perfect Rivez Reihana bullet pass, but his offload found the hands of Jared Proffit.
6. Ethan Blackadder – 5.5
Came up with a crucial tackle in the ninth minute, stopping what was a certain Chiefs try under the posts. Couldn’t get himself into things around the breakdown, with the Chiefs’ cleaners stopping any possible breakdown turnovers.
Blackadder was a constant presence, launching himself into every possible collision. Only made four carries, but was the equal-top highest tackler on the night for the Crusaders. Missed three tackles.
7. Leicester Fainga’anuku – 6
Like usual, battled hard despite the Crusaders being on the back foot from the get-go. Succumbed to a nasty ankle injury in the 35th minute. Was seen in a moon-boot post match.
8. Christian Lio-Willie – 6.5
No one will doubt Lio-Willie’s determination in the effort areas of the game, where he excelled once again in a disappointing first-half performance. Helped take two attackers over the sideline alongside Taylor, and didn’t stop on either side of the ball until the final whistle.
Lio-Willie didn’t do his All Blacks chances any damage against other possible loose-forward candidates, even with the result.
9. Noah Hotham – 4
The Crusaders’ No.9 picked out the ground on a long pass to David Havili, after a Chay Fihaki break, which was the first threatening moment of the contest. That exact combination then combined for another error, this time off first-phase.
Hotham’s impact was limited with ball in hand, largely due to the way the Crusaders were defending. Couldn’t dot down for a much-needed try in the 43rd minute, as Ennor’s pass was behind the No.9 as a try went begging.
10. Taha Kemara – 5
It was a far from an ideal start by the former Hamilton Boys High School first-five, but bounced back magnificently in the 26th minute, breaking through endless Chiefs defenders before firing an inch-perfect left-to-right pass to Chay Fihaki to score in the corner. Replaced by Rivez Reihana in the 47th minute.
11. Sevu Reece – 5
Reece started the Friday night semi-final with direct intent to make sure it wouldn’t be his last game in red-and-black, probing with ball in hand after receiving the kick off. The all-time leading Super Rugby Pacific try-scorer’s right boot was used early from inside their own half, as he was forced to clear on multiple occasions.
Reece missed a game-high three tackles in the first half, and like many of his Crusaders teammates, didn’t have enough of a say on the game in attack.
12. David Havili – 6
In a mouthwatering matchup against likely All Black midfield starter Quinn Tupaea, the Crusaders captain started off on the back foot. Havili wasn’t helped by his No.9’s distribution at times, while on defence, his opposite number barged straight over the top of the 30-year-old.
The 30-Test All Black stood up in the second half, dotting down close to the posts in the 61st minute after a strong carry.
13. Braydon Ennor – 5.5
Ennor, who replaced injured centre Dallas McLeod in the starting 15 for the semi-final, missed a crucial tackle on Lalakai Foketi for Isaac Hutchinson’s try during the first half.
The rest of his semi-final was solid, but lacked the final touch of quality in the 43rd minute where a simple draw and pass for Hotham would have seen the Crusaders score the first try of the second half.
14. Chay Fihaki – 6
Fihaki started the contest at FMG Stadium Waikato with the first break, looking lively and full of pace through the middle of the field. Was caught up in the line by a Damian McKenzie grubber kick, which was clinically put away by Kyren Taumoefolau.
The right-winger finished off Kemara’s 26th-minute break expertly, moments before taking Kyren Taumoefolau out of play with a last-ditch, try-saving cover tackle. Can be proud of his efforts in 2026, showcasing a wide-range of skills on both sides of the ball.
15. Johnny McNicholl – 5
After recovering from a niggly hand issue against the Blues, last week’s hero looked to get involved from minute one, but wasn’t helped by the way the game played out. Ballooned a couple of kicks deep inside the Chiefs’ half, and had two nice touches out of the back of a shape attack. Off in the 46th-minute.
Reserves
16. Manumaua Letiu – 5
On with ten minutes to play, packing down on the side of the scrum.
17. Jack Sexton – 4
Gave away a penalty in his first action on the field.
18. George Bower – 5
The experienced All Blacks prop entered the contest in the 49th minute, and was immediately pinged at scrum time against Jared Proffit.
19. Tahlor Cahill – 5
On at 50 mins, and didn’t impact the contest.
20. Dominic Gardiner – 8
On at 34 mins after Fainga’anuku’s injury, and provided the Crusaders with a more physical presence with ball in hand. Seven carries in a matter of 25 minutes in his stint, and added positive impact, yet again, off the bench.
Gardiner led the race in a crucial defensive chase-down after a McKenzie kick, the only Crusader alongside Ennor to be close. The versatile 24-year-old led the carry count for the Crusaders when he was on the field, and made another strong intervention defensively late in the game on Josh Jacomb.
21. Kyle Preston – 5.5
On earlier than expected, and usual, tasked with trying to get the away side on the front foot in Hamilton. Made one misread off the boot, giving McKenzie an easy mark call. The one-Test All Black charged down a McKenzie clearing kick, and nearly had a consolation try in the final ten minutes.
22. Rivez Reihana – 6
Tough circumstances to come on down 37 points, and had to deal with a leaky defence in front of him. A couple of below-par kicks out of hand, but made two instinctive breaks in the second half with ball in hand.
23. Macca Springer – 6
Lively as ever every time the replacement winger touched the ball, but couldn’t link up with Fihaki when the young outside-back had one to beat.
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