Super Rugby Semi-Finals: What to Expect
The Super Rugby Semi-finals get underway this weekend with two epic games to look forward to. On Saturday, the Chiefs take on the Crusaders in Christchurch while on Sunday, the Hurricanes head to Johannesburg to take on the Lions. Putting aside current playing conditions and recent winning statistics, let’s take a look at how the semi-finals might play out according to historical data.
Historically, the Crusaders have an advantage going into the first of the semi-finals. The Crusaders have won a total of 11 semi-final matches in their history, a figure far higher than any other team in the Super Rugby franchise. If that doesn’t make you think twice, consider this. Of the 11 matches, 9 of them were victories that took place on home soil. It seems the Crusaders have never been beaten in a semi-final that took place in Christchurch.
The one thing that the Chiefs can take into the match is the fact that two out of the five semi-final defeats suffered by the Crusaders were at the hands of the Chiefs back in 2012 and 2013. The Chiefs also managed to win a game in Christchurch last season in round one. This season though, the teams have only met once with the result going the way of the Crusaders. It is also worth noting that the Chiefs have never won an away semi-final.
History is on the Home Side
In the second semi-final, things are looking good for the Lions. The Africa 2 conference champions hold the top qualifying spot and are aiming to force the first ever Super Rugby final in Johannesburg. The Lions have not yet faced a New Zealand side this season. The Lions achieved their first ever semi-final victory last season. Previously, they only made two semi-finals playing as the Cats in 2000 and 2001.
Meanwhile the Hurricanes have never earned a place in the final with an away win. Most telling of all the statistics is the semi-final home advantage. Of the forty-two Super Rugby Semi-finals played since 1996, only eight of them have been won by an away team. If you are putting your money on the Chiefs and the Hurricanes meeting in the final, you might want to reconsider. In the history of Super Rugby, there has been only one instance where both away teams won their semi-finals, and that was in 1999.
More About Jennie Martin
After completing her degree, Jennie Martin began her journalism career by working as an intern on the entertainment pages. However, her passion for sport was quickly noticed, and she began covering local events.
She now puts her considerable expertise and more than a decades worth of experience to good use, keeping readers up to date on Australian and international sports betting news.
From the latest sporting results to the thrills and spills of the online betting industry, Jennie is the australiansportsbetting.net expert in the field.
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