The Crusaders have put a seal on one of the great eras of rugby union domination with a 25-20 victory over the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final, sending coach Scott Robertson off to the All Blacks with a seventh straight title.
The Chiefs Rugby Club has announced that the Super Rugby Pacific Final has sold out for the clash between the table-topping Gallagher Chiefs and defending champions the Crusaders.
Coming off a tight 29-20 quarterfinal win in Super Rugby Pacific over the Reds on Saturday evening; the Chiefs had the best preparation for their semifinal against the last remaining Australian team, the Brumbies.
The Queensland Reds have scored three tries to two but lost 29-20 to the Chiefs, Damian McKenzie's perfect boot denying them a slice of history in their Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final.
Western Force's dreams of a first Super Rugby Pacific finals have been shattered in a 43-19 loss to the table-topping Chiefs in a do-or-die clash at HBF Park.
Safely ensconced as the Super Rugby Pacific minor championship winner, the Chiefs have one eye on the future and the other on beating the Force in Perth on Saturday in their selection for the game.
The Brumbies have plenty of work to do if they are to make an impact in the Super Rugby Pacific finals with their chances of a top-two finish over after a 31-21 loss to the Chiefs.
Getting rare time together on their two-week Australian visit was just the tonic for a Chiefs team that showed some frayed edges in beating the Hurricanes 23-12 in their Super Rugby Pacific game in Hamilton.
The Queensland Reds have broken their New Zealand hoodoo and ended the Chiefs' unbeaten season with a stunning Super Rugby Pacific upset in New Plymouth.
Flyhalf Damian McKenzie and fullback Shaun Stevenson led the Chiefs counter-attacking game as the Hamilton-based team beat the Dunedin-based Highlanders 52-28 to extend their winning start to the season in Super Rugby Pacific to 10 matches.
In claiming their second win of the season against the Crusaders on the weekend, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said his side did not display everything they have in their arsenal.
