2023 Super Rugby Pacific final

Last updated

2023 Super Rugby Pacific final
2023 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final
Event 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season
Chiefs Crusaders
Flag of New Zealand.svg Flag of New Zealand.svg
2025
Date24 June 2023
Venue Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Man of the Match Sam Whitelock (Crusaders) [1]
Referee Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Attendance25,000 [2] [3]
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The 2023 Super Rugby Pacific final was a rugby union match contested between the Chiefs and the Crusaders at Waikato Stadium on 24 June 2023. It was the 28th Super Rugby final, staged to determine the premiers of the 2023 season. The match, attended by 25,000 spectators, was won by the Crusaders by a margin of five points, marking the franchise's twelfth Super Rugby title. Sam Whitelock was named "Man of the Match" in his 181st and final match for the Crusaders.

Contents

Background

The Chiefs and the Crusaders finished first and second, respectively. [4] [5] It was the teams' first encounter in a Super Rugby final. [6]

Both finalists had won a Super Rugby title, with the Crusaders being the two-time, back-to-back defending champions and holding the most title victories in the Super Rugby (11), with the Chiefs' last Super Rugby title being in 2013. The head-to-head results overall in the Super Rugby before their encounter was 27–19, with the Crusaders holding an eight victory lead. Six of their last ten matches went the way of the Crusaders, and, in 2023, the Chiefs won both fixtures against the Crusaders. The odds for the final were equal, with both teams not being considered favourite. [7]

Road to the final

Final ladder placings (showing top eight)
Pos.TeamSeasonPoints
PWDL
1Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 14130159
2Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 14100448
3Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 14100446
4Flag of Australia (converted).svg ACT Brumbies 14100446
5Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes 1490541
6Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs 1460831
7Flag of Fiji.svg Fijian Drua 1460826
8Flag of Australia (converted).svg Reds 1450924

Bracket

 
 Quarter-finals Semi-finals
 
          
 
10 June – Hamilton
 
 
 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 29
 
17 June – Hamilton
 
 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Reds 20
 
 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 19
 
 
Flag of Australia (converted).svg ACT Brumbies 9
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16 June – Christchurch
 
 
 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 15
 
10 June – Christchurch
 
 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 52
 
 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 49
 
 
 Flag of Fiji.svg Drua 8
 

Final

24 June 2023
17:05 NZST (UTC+12) [8]
Chiefs 20–25 Crusaders
Try: Shaun Stevenson 23' c
Emoni Narawa 43' c
Con: Damian McKenzie (2/2) 24', 44'
Pen: Damian McKenzie (2/4) 20', 49'
Cards: Anton Lienert-Brown Yellow card.svg 9' to 19'
Luke Jacobson Yellow card.svg 26' to 36'
Sam Cane Yellow card.svg 72'		 Report Try: Codie Taylor (2) 28' m, 73' c
Richie Mo'unga 36' c
Con: Richie Mo'unga (2/3) 37', 74'
Pen: Richie Mo'unga (2/2) 9', 80+1'
Chay Fihaki (0/1)
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Attendance: 25,000 [2] [3]
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Kit left arm redborder.png
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Kit socks long.svg
Chiefs
Kit left arm adidas redstripes.png
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Kit right arm adidas redstripes.png
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Crusaders
FB15Flag of New Zealand.svg Shaun Stevenson
RW14Flag of Fiji.svg Emoni Narawa [a]
OC13Flag of New Zealand.svg Alex Nankivell Sub off.svg 77'
IC12Flag of New Zealand.svg Anton Lienert-Brown Yellow card.svg 9' to 19'
LW11Flag of New Zealand.svg Etene Nanai-Seturo Sub off.svg 60'
FH10Flag of New Zealand.svg Damian McKenzie
SH9Flag of New Zealand.svg Brad Weber (cc)Sub off.svg 60'
N88Flag of New Zealand.svg Luke Jacobson Yellow card.svg 26' to 36'
OF7Flag of New Zealand.svg Sam Cane (cc)Yellow card.svg 72'
BF6Flag of New Zealand.svg Pita Gus Sowakula Sub off.svg 50'
LL5Flag of New Zealand.svg Tupou Vaa'i Sub off.svg 60'
RL4Flag of New Zealand.svg Brodie Retallick
TP3Flag of New Zealand.svg George Dyer Sub off.svg 60'
HK2Flag of New Zealand.svg Samisoni Taukei'aho Sub off.svg 69'
LP1Flag of New Zealand.svg Aidan Ross Sub off.svg 50'
Substitutes:
HK16Flag of New Zealand.svg Tyrone Thompson Sub on.svg 69'
PR17Flag of New Zealand.svg Ollie Norris Sub on.svg 50'
PR18IRFU flag.svg John Ryan Sub on.svg 60'
LK19Flag of New Zealand.svg Naitoa Ah Kuoi Sub on.svg 60'
FL20Flag of New Zealand.svg Samipeni Finau Sub on.svg 50'
WG21Flag of New Zealand.svg Cortez Ratima Sub on.svg 60'
SH22Flag of New Zealand.svg Josh Ioane Sub on.svg 60'
CE23Flag of New Zealand.svg Rameka Poihipi Sub on.svg 77'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Clayton McMillan
FB15Flag of New Zealand.svg Will Jordan
RW14Flag of New Zealand.svg Dallas McLeod Sub off.svg 13'
CE13Flag of New Zealand.svg Braydon Ennor
SF12Flag of New Zealand.svg Jack Goodhue
LW11Flag of New Zealand.svg Leicester Fainga'anuku
FH10Flag of New Zealand.svg Richie Mo'unga
SH9Flag of New Zealand.svg Mitchell Drummond Sub off.svg 50'
N88Flag of New Zealand.svg Christian Lio-Willie
OF7Flag of New Zealand.svg Tom Christie
BF6Flag of Tonga.svg Sione Havili Talitui Sub off.svg 57'
LL5Flag of New Zealand.svg Sam Whitelock
RL4Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Barrett (c)
TP3IRFU flag.svg Oli Jager Sub off.svg 77'
HK2Flag of New Zealand.svg Codie Taylor
LP1Flag of New Zealand.svg Tamaiti Williams Sub off.svg 69'
Substitutes:
HK16Flag of New Zealand.svg George Bell
PR17Flag of New Zealand.svg Kershawl Sykes-Martin Sub on.svg 69'
PR18Flag of New Zealand.svg Reuben O'Neill Sub on.svg 77'
LK19Flag of New Zealand.svg Quinten Strange
FL20Flag of New Zealand.svg Dominic Gardiner Sub on.svg 57'
SH21Flag of England.svg Willi Heinz Sub on.svg 50'
WG22Flag of New Zealand.svg Fergus Burke Sub on.svg 74'
WG23Flag of New Zealand.svg Chay Fihaki Sub on.svg 13'Sub off.svg 74'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Robertson

Man of the Match:
Sam Whitelock (Crusaders) [1] [9]

Assistant Referees:
Nic Berry (Australia)
Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official:
Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) [10]

Notes

  1. ↑ Narawa was born in Fiji. He did not represent New Zealand until after the 2023 season had already concluded.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Crusaders win Super Rugby final in thriller". Otago Daily Times . Allied Press. 24 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. He also paid tribute to two veteran players departing the Crusaders – Richie Mo'unga and lock Sam Whitelock, who was named man of the match in his 181st and final game for the team before he heads off to Europe.
  2. 1 2 Goile, Aaron (26 June 2023). "Chiefs rue missing 'royal chance' to break title drought in Super Rugby final". Stuff . Stuff Limited. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. And, having beaten the Crusaders already twice this year (and six times in his tenure – more than double any other side), the red and blacks sporting a hefty injury toll, the Chiefs featuring an All Black-laden roster and five 100-plus-gamers, and a raucous 25,000 roaring them on at FMG Stadium Waikato, here it all was for them to break their decade-long title drought.
  3. 1 2 Napier, Liam (24 June 2023). "Chiefs v Crusaders: Liam Napier - Savour the Crusaders' greatness as their run will never be repeated". The New Zealand Herald . New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. For the Chiefs, the best team all season having lost one match prior to the final, the hurt will linger particularly for the 25,000 locals in attendance and the loyal departing servants Brodie Retallick, Brad Weber, Alex Nankivell and Pita Gus Sowakula.
  4. ↑ Powell, Alex (4 June 2023). "Super Rugby Pacific playoffs: Highlanders miss out, no Kiwi derbies as 2023 quarter-finals locked in". Newshub. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "Quarter-finalists confirmed for DHL Super Rugby Pacific". superrugby.co.nz. 4 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Recap: Crusaders edge Chiefs in thrilling Super Rugby Pacific final". Stuff. Stuff Limited. 24 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023.
  7. ↑ Foote, Stephen (24 June 2023). "Super Rugby Pacific final: All you need to know - Chiefs v Crusaders". Newshub . Archived from the original on 27 June 2023.
  8. ↑ "DHL Super Rugby Pacific – Gallagher Chiefs v Crusaders Grand Final!". fmgstadiumwaikato.co.nz. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023.
  9. ↑ Lester, Ned (25 June 2023). "Crusaders player ratings vs Chiefs – Super Rugby Pacific". rugbypass.com. Considering Whitelock was questionable to even play in the match, his shift was immense. The lineout work had the Chiefs fumbling and was a crucial factor when the home side was gathering momentum and confidence. Whitelock's final game of a legendary and storied career in red and black came to a fitting end, with a Man of the Match award and the Super Rugby Pacific trophy.
  10. ↑ Goile, Aaron (25 June 2023). "Referee review: Ben O'Keeffe's wild ride in Super Rugby Pacific final". Stuff. Stuff Limited.
Preceded by Super Rugby Pacific Final
2023		Succeeded by
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