Chiefs v Crusaders Prediction, Tips and Bet Builder

In a repeat of last season's Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final, the Chiefs will be hoping for revenge when they host the Crusaders at FMG Stadium Waikato in Friday's semi-final.

The Crusaders caused an upset in the finale last term, beating the Chiefs 16-12 in a nail-biting encounter at Apollo Projects Stadium.

Another tense encounter is expected in Hamilton in this Super Rugby Pacific semi-final and perhaps home advantage will prove the difference come the final whistle.

Chiefs v Crusaders Tips Summary

Best Bet - Chiefs -4.5 handicap @ 1.91
Alternative Bet - Over 58.5 total points @ 1.87
Bet Builder - Chiefs to win, Kyren Taumoefolau & Damian McKenzie anytime tryscorers @ 7.50

Chiefs v Crusaders Prediction

Best Bet: Chiefs -4.5 handicap @ 1.91

Winning nine of their last 10 games, the Chiefs have certainly hit their stride at the business end of the season.

Currently on a seven-game winning run at home, FMG Stadium Waikato has been a real fortress for Jono Gibbes’ side.

The Crusaders are an outstanding team but given how well the Chiefs have been playing at home of late, the hosts are backed for the victory and to cover the -4.5 handicap here.

Alternative Bet: Over 58.5 total points @ 1.87

Friday will see two of the top attacking teams in the competition go head-to-head and a high-scoring encounter can be expected at FMG Stadium Waikato.

The Chiefs have scored 31 or more points in all of their last six games, while exactly the same goes for the Crusaders.

With the attacking threats on show and having seen 68 points scored when these sides last crossed paths in May, going for the over 58.5 total points gets the thumbs up here.

Chiefs v Crusaders Bet Builder Tip

• Chiefs to win

• Kyren Taumoefolau anytime tryscorer

• Damian McKenzie anytime tryscorer

  Pays 7.50

With the Chiefs tipped up to triumph on Friday, in-form stars Kyren Taumoefolau and Damian McKenzie are also backed to score tries in this three-fold bet builder.

Taumoefolau has scored in all of his last three games, with four tries in that spell, while McKenzie marked his return from injury with a brace of tries against the Reds last time out.

Both players are set to play big roles on Friday and both are backed to get on the scoresheet with at least a try each.

Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.

Key Match Stats

• The Chiefs have won their last three semi-finals in Super Rugby Pacific

• The Crusaders won their two regular-season meetings with the Chiefs this season

• The Chiefs have won nine of their last 10 matches

• The Crusaders are currently on a four-game winning streak

• The Chiefs are on a seven-game winning run at home

Read more rugby union betting tips and predictions on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.