2023 Super Rugby Pacific final
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.
| 2023 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season | ||||||
| |||||||
| Date | 24 June 2023 | ||||||
| Venue | Waikato Stadium, Hamilton | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)[1] | ||||||
| Referee | Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) | ||||||
| Attendance | 25,000[2][3] | ||||||
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
| Pos. | Team | Season | Points | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | |||
| 1 | Chiefs | 14 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 59 |
| 2 | Crusaders | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 48 |
| 3 | Blues | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 46 |
| 4 | ACT Brumbies | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 46 |
| 5 | Hurricanes | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 41 |
| 6 | Waratahs | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 31 |
| 7 | Fijian Drua | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 26 |
| 8 | Reds | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 24 |
Bracket
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | |||||||||
| 10 June – Hamilton | ||||||||||
| Chiefs | 29 | |||||||||
| 17 June – Hamilton | ||||||||||
| Reds | 20 | |||||||||
| Chiefs | 19 | |||||||||
| ACT Brumbies | 9 | |||||||||
| 16 June – Christchurch | ||||||||||
| Blues | 15 | |||||||||
| 10 June – Christchurch | ||||||||||
| Crusaders | 52 | |||||||||
| Crusaders | 49 | |||||||||
| 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 9' to 19' Luke Jacobson 26' to 36' Sam Cane 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) |
Chiefs
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Crusaders
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Man of the Match:
Assistant Referees:
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Notes
- Narawa was born in Fiji. He did not represent New Zealand until after the 2023 season had already concluded.
References
- "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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- "Quarter-finalists confirmed for DHL Super Rugby Pacific". superrugby.co.nz. 4 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023.
- "Recap: Crusaders edge Chiefs in thrilling Super Rugby Pacific final". Stuff. Stuff Limited. 24 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023.
- 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.
- "DHL Super Rugby Pacific – Gallagher Chiefs v Crusaders Grand Final!". fmgstadiumwaikato.co.nz. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023.
- 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.
- Goile, Aaron (25 June 2023). "Referee review: Ben O'Keeffe's wild ride in Super Rugby Pacific final". Stuff. Stuff Limited.