Chiefs 19 Crusaders 34
Chiefs - Nankivell 2 & Ratima tries, Gatland 2 conversions
Crusaders - Grace, Fainga'anuku, Taylor, Reece & Jordan tries, Mo'unga 3 conversions & penalty
Second half
40th minute - One last dig for the Chiefs from a midfield scrum, but the service is sloppy and Crusaders kick upfield.
They steal a lineout and mounta an attack, as the siren sounds. Blackadder bullocks over the 22, but the move breaks down and the game ends.
Comprehensive win from the Crusaders. The word 'clinical' seems overused for them, but it's apt.
38th minute - Chiefs steal a lineout near halfway and charge onto attack, but Crusaders turn the ball over and Doleman brings them back for a knock on.
37th minute - Havili has the ball from the breakdown, but can't unload it and Thompson pounces for the Chiefs.
36th minute - Chiefs still building pressure on halfway, but the Crusaders rush up on them, forcing back into their own territory.
34th minute - TRY to Taylor
Blackadder wins the lineout and maul rolls over the line. Guess who pops up with the ball?
Mo'unga hits the upright with his conversion, CRU 34-19
33rd minute - Crusaders earn a penalty just outside the Chiefs 22 and Mo'unga kicks to the corner.
32nd minute - Crusaders take an age to kick off, perhaps wary of another big finish from the Chiefs.
31st minute - TRY to Ratima
Good continuity from the Chiefs and Nankivell finds space between two forwards, with Ratima running a good line in support to score. Gatland converts, CRU 29-19
30th minute - Chiefs win a scrum and shift left. Gatland shows some footwork in midfield and Nanai-Seturo has a second carry.
29th minute - From a scrum on their 22, Crusaders bust upfield, but Ratima knocks the ball from Havili's grasp.
28th minute - Garland and Lord combine in midfield, Cane tries to create something, but Crusaders tackling is sound. Gatland tries to put Trask through a hole, but he can't handle the pass.
27th minute - Crusaders charge back over halfway, but Chiefs win a turnover and try to mount something on halfway.
25th minute - Chiefs build phases and enter the 22, but Christie wins a turnover at the breakdown. The ball is kicked downfield and eventually beats Jordan over the dead-ball line.
24th minute - Trask takes high kick on halfway and the Chiefs mount an attack. Nankivell beats a couple of tackles and Chiefs have a penalty advantage.
22nd minute - TRY to Fainga'anuku
Crusaders win the lineout and swarm into the 22. They lay seige on the goal-line and eventually Fainga'anuku barges over by the posts.
Mo'unga converts from in front, CRU 29-12
21st minute - Jordan wins another penalty at the breakdown and Mo'unga finds touch outside the Chiefs 22.
20th minute - Crusaders have the ball from the kickoff, but Mo'unga kicks long and Trask breaks over halfway.
18th minute - TRY to Reece
Gatland kicks inside the 22 and Jordan runs it back. When the Crusaders break over halfway, Reece has a man outside him, but doesn't need him, dummying and cutting infield to score under the bar.
Mo'unga converts from in front, CRU 22-12
17th minute - From the scrum, Chiefs break upfield, Stevenson just stays in play, but they lose the ball on the 22 and Havili clears.
16th minute - Chiefs win a free-kick at a midfield scrum, but they want another shot at the Crusaders pack.
15th minute - Barrett wins a lineout and Havili takes on the line, but Barrett drops the ball cold.
14th minute - Reece is safe under a high ball and charges over halfway. Jordan chips over the top, but Weber reads it and kicks out on the full.
12th minute - Chiefs have the ball in their own territory, but Bower rips the ball away and Crusaders roar onto attack. The move breaks down, when Mo'unga is penalised for using his hands on the ground.
10th minute - Crusaders on halfway and Jordan threatens to break through. When the ball shifts left, Barrett tiptoes down the sideline and passes infield to Grace, who seems to skilfully gather a difficult bounce and score.
Reviews show Barrett's pass drifts forward, so the try is ruled out
Ninth minute - Chiefs win their scrum and Cane charges away from the breakdown. Bridge takes a high kick, but Mo'unga high kick bounces about in midfield.
Eighth minute - Crusaders still have the ball, probing away in midfield, but eventually knocked on by Strange. Taavao enters the game for his 100th Super Rugby appearance.
Seventh minute - Good continuity from the Crusaders, but unable to find a way through.
Sixth minute - Crusaders are drive back in the tackle and Cane steals the ball briefly.
Fifth minute - Nanai-Seturo makes a complete hash under a kick and Crusaders will have an attacking scrum just outside the 22.
Fourth minute - From the scrum on halfway, Nankivell slices through midfield, with Trask looming outside him, but the ball slips out of his hands as he contemplates the pass and the move breaks down.
Third minute - Trask kicks to Jordan and the Crusaders charge over halfway, but lose the ball forward.
Second minute - Chiefs win the lineout and swarm towards the posts, but Christie is there again, winning a clearing penalty at the breakdown.
First minute - Gatland kicks off, but Chiefs regain the ball and go onto attack. Christie wins a turnover, Havili finds a long touch, but the ball was taken back over the 22 and Chiefs will have an attacking lineout.
Halftime
40th minute - Chiefs barely control the kickoff and as the siren sounds, Gatland finds touch to end the half.
39th minute - TRY to Nankivell
Ah Kuoi wins the lineout and a long skip pass from Tupaea finds Nankivell in space for his second try. Gatland converts, CRU 15-12
38th minute - Vai'i wins the lineout and Chiefs charge towards the posts, winning a penalty at the breakdown. Gatland kicks to the corner and they back their lineout.
37th minute - Doleman eventually comes back for the advantage and Gatland looks to the sideline, finding touch inside the 22.
36th minute - Barrett wins a lineout in Crusaders half and Hall pumps up a high kick. Chiefs try to break out of their half and win a penalty...
35th minute - Chiefs just outside the 22 and Trask slices through the defence, but Jordan is over the breakdown again to earn a clearing penalty.
33rd minute - Jordan gathers a long clearance kick and Havili crashers over halfway, but Chiefs win a penalty in the tackle.
32nd minute - From broken play, Mo'unga scampers over halfway and Havili kicks ahead, Jordan narrowly misses the bounce.
31st minute - Retallick has left the field and doesn't look happy - it's either a thumb or shoulder injury.
29th minute - Chiefs drive Crusaders back in a tackle, but Jordan gets over the top of the breakdown and wins a penalty in front of the posts. Mo'unga slots the penalty, CRU 15-5
28th minute - From a scrum, Crusaders mount pressure on the 22, but good line defence from Chiefs.
26th minute - Crusaders swarm onto attack, Cane rips the ball off Christie, but Taukeiaho knocks on, so Crusaders scrum just outside the 22.
25th minue - Vai'i steals the long throw and Stevenson clears for the Chiefs.
24th minute - From the scrum, Hall kicks into the 22 and Trask's clearance is hurried.
23rd minute - Weber is through on the Crusaders scrum, but knocks on. Mo'unga tries a chip kick, Chiefs regather, but knock on again.
22nd minute - Retallick needs some attention to his thumb, which seems to have been wrenched in a tackle. He's back in the action.
21st minute - Crusaders have the ball again - they have dominated possession - and swarm into Chiefs territory. Trask is up in the defensive line, so Hall kicks to the goal-line, but it bounces too far.
18th minute - TRY to Jordan
From a scrum, Havili makes a midfield break and finds Jordan steaming outside in support. Mo'unga's conversion is off target, CRU 12-5
17th minute - Crusaders inside Chiefs half and a chip forward has Gatland under pressure, but the Chiefs clear.
Chiefs coaching box has a cutout of coach Clayton McMillan, who is absent tonight with COVID-19. Warren Gatland has the coaching reins.
15th minute - Trask fields a kick outside his 22, but Chiefs can't clear effectively and Crusaders will have a scrum from a knock-on.
11th minute - TRY to Nankivell
Trask and Stevenson combine to the right, and when the ball comes back right, Nankivell slithers over to score. Some question about a double movement and Doleman reviews.
Replays show Nankivell lands short of the line and then places the ball over the line, so good try, Gatland's conversion misses, CRU 7-5
10th minute - Chiefs have a lineout just outside the Crusaders 22 and charge into centrefield.
Eighth minute - TRY to Grace
Crusaders win the lineout and Havili busts towards the posts. Forwards take over, Barrett almost gets to the line and Grace is next cab off the breakdown to score.
Mo'unga converts, CRU 7-0
Seventh minute - Mo'unga puts up a high kick and Havili gets there first for the Crusaders. Vai'i is penalised at the breakdown and Mo'unga kicks to the corner.
Sixth minute - Mo'unga tries a kick to his wing, but it's flanker Christie who tries to knock the ball back infield. Nanai-Seturo gathers and hares upfield, but play is called back, because Christie's foot was on the touchlin.
Fifth minute - Crusaders swarm into the the Chiefs 22, but solid defence holds them out.
Fourth minute - Crusaders win the lineout and a penalty advantage. Havili tries a chip over the top and Jordan narrowly failes to gather, so they go back for the penalty.
Third minute - Crusaders again stutter at the set-piece and Chiefs clear again, Nankivell grubbers to touch.
Second minute - Taylor overthrows the lineout and the Chiefs clear their goal-line. They have a big win at their backs and the kick rolls too long, so the Crusaders have a scrum just outside the 22.
First minute - James Doleman will referee this match, but Crusaders have been forced into a late change, with hooker Brodie McAlister injured in warm-up and Codie Taylor promoted to the starting XV.
Chiefs are penalised from the kickoff and Mo'unga kicks to the corner for a lineout...
***
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific clash between the Chiefs and Crusaders at Hamilton.
This encounter is not only a repeat of their match-up two weeks ago, when Rameka Poihipi scored in the dying seconds to snatch a famous Chiefs victory in Christchurch, but also a rematch of last season's Super Rugby Aotearoa finalists.
The northern side rested many of their frontline players against Moana Pasifika last week and welcome back Sam Cane, Brad Weber, Josh Lord and Angus Ta'avao, who will come off the bench for his 100th Super Rugby appearance.
On the other side of the park, All Blacks midfielder David Havili will also notch up his century for the Crusaders, while prop Finlay Brewis makes his debut at this level.
TAB Odds: Crusaders $1.82, Chiefs $1.90
Chiefs: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Josh Lord, 5-Brodie Retallick, 6-Tupou Vaa'i, 7-Sam Cane (cc), 8-Samipeni Finau, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Aidan Ross, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Mitch Jacobson, 22-Cortez Ratima, 23-Josh Ioane
Crusaders: 1-Finlay Brewis, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-David Havili, 13-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14-Chay Fihaki, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Codie Taylor, 17-George Bower, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Mitch Dunshea, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-Sevu Reece
'He's earned it': Chiefs rave over Gatland's stellar start to Super Rugby campaign
Alex Powell
Bryn Gatland's outstanding start to the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season hasn't gone unnoticed, especially by his Chiefs coach, who has retained him in the No.10 jersey for their crunch rematch against the Crusaders.
With All Black Damian McKenzie currently on sabbatical in Japan and missing the entire Super Rugby campaign, the Chiefs seemed likely to miss the influence of a test-quality playmaker at first-five.
But after starting two games on the bench, Gatland, 26, has made that role his own, holding off competition from new signing Josh Ioane and utility Kaleb Trask.
In particular, Gatland's last two outings have seen him shine in the spotlight, steering the Chiefs to a 24-21 victory against the Crusaders at Christchurch and backing that up with another memorable display in a 59-12 win over Moana Pasifika last week.
That form has seen him named at first-five again, as the Crusaders head to Hamilton in search of revenge.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan insists Gatland is finally reaping the rewards of an extended run in the side.
"He's certainly playing well," McMillan says. "He had probably his best day at the office in a Chiefs jersey last time we played the Crusaders a couple of weeks ago.
"You could see in his performance against Moana Pasifika that he took a lot of confidence out of that fixture and he's been rewarded with another start, because he's earned it.
"We've always maintained that he's a hell of a good player, he's just had to battle other good players to get a start.
"I will say, too, the big boys up front for us have been doing a magnificent job, so I imagine, if you're a nine or a 10, it's quite handy being on the front foot."
The Chiefs' start to the season has seen them win three of their first four games, with their only defeat against the Blues at Eden Park coming down to the final kick of the match.
Shaun Stevenson scores for the Chiefs against the Crusaders. Photo credit: Image - Getty Images
With three wins and one loss apiece, the Crusaders and Chiefs sit fourth and fifth respectively on the extended table, behind the Australian Brumbies, Reds and Waratahs - all with an extra game played.
But with the quality on offer in the New Zealand side of the draw, the Chiefs and Crusaders are potentially the competition's two best sides so far.
Despite the Crusaders' ongoing battle with COVID-19, McMillan expects the reigning Super Rugby Aotearoa champions to return serve, after their last-minute defeat two weeks ago..
"We expect a response," he says. "They've been champions for the last 5-6 years now, because they don't often lose and when they do lose, there's a significant response.
"One thing we're really confident of - and will be playing on their mind - is that we are an improved side and we're a continually improving side.
"We've got depth, so when we're affected by COVID and injuries, we're getting better dealing with that.
"Having to come up here off the back of a disrupted week, travel, coming to play a team on a bit of a high will present some challenges for them.
"It goes both ways, but we're under no illusion that they're going to come up here, and try and upset the party."
