After finishing ninth in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific competition, many questioned whether the Crusaders would be able to get back to their best and compete for their 15th Super Rugby title this season.
It’s now clear that 2024 was a bump in the road, as, on Saturday evening, the Christchurch-based franchise beat the Chiefs at Apollo Projects Stadium 16-12 to win the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific competition.
The Crusaders kept their long-standing home-winning playoff record intact at the same time, extending it to 32 games without a loss in Christchurch.
Crusaders captain David Havili has been at the Crusaders for a decade, and has been a part of more than his fair share of championship-winning sides, but says the belief in the 2025 group is what separates them from the others.
“Just the belief, we knew we had the group to do it, the experience, the youth, we just had to believe,” Havili told media post-match in Christchurch.
“We’re a different beast in the playoffs and once we’re at home, it’s a tough place to play and it was so cool to be able to be in front of our fans for the last time in the stadium, so pleased with the result.”
Havili admits the playing group was determined to win the title for coach Rob Penney, who in 2024, was under huge amounts of pressure in the role.
“Yeah 100 per cent, we wanted to do it for him, and not only him, but our playing group like it was pretty tough last year, but to bounce back off the canvas and stick to what we what we’re about as Crusaders, and get back to the top is pretty special.”
Two standout performers from the final on Saturday were All Black fullback Will Jordan and first-five Rivez Reihana, two players that Havili couldn’t speak more highly about.
“He’s (Will Jordan) world-class, everyone knows that, so grateful that he’s on our side and he’s a massive leader for us as he does each week, so he’s an excellent player.
“I’ve said that Rivez has been doing that at training and the only thing that’s been keeping him out, is just a few minor injuries at the start of the year, and he’s just been waiting for his opportunity.
“You can see what he does, he’s a world-class No.10 and to be able to come out and do a performance like that against a quality Chiefs side is huge for his confidence in he’s such a young man with a huge Crusaders future.”
There was a moment in the match where Havili was 50/50 to return, as he was sent for an HIA early on in the game after head-on-head contact with a Chiefs player.
Havili passed the HIA but admits he was slightly nervous going into the room, knowing that his final could be over.
“Yeah, 100 per cent, like I knew it wasn’t concussed but yeah, obviously you’re going into a room where you take your boots off, the adrenaline’s really flowing through your body and you’re sweating.
“I guess, you have to bring your body down to pass the test and I wanted to make sure that when I was walking up the tunnel I kept my heartbeat down.”
