The sixth qualifiers will now play the Crusaders in Christchurch in a semifinal on Friday. The Crusaders completed their 30th playoff win by beating the Reds 32-12.
But they may have conceded their right to host the season's finale if they beat the Brumbies, as they will need the Blues to upset the Crusaders to claim that advantage. Should the Crusaders win, they will host the final.
Crusaders 32 Reds 12
Crusaders' scrum power and an impenetrable defence for all but the last 10 minutes shut out the Reds in wintry, wet conditions in Christchurch on Friday. Crusaders props Tamaiti Williams and Fraser Newall and hooker Codie Taylor made life miserable for the Reds up front, inflicting a string of first-half penalties; they conceded 11-6 through the game, which allowed the home to dominate field position and give the visitors little access to the Crusaders' 22m. Trying everything they could, the Reds gained 328 metres, but the accuracy of the home defence and superior acumen with the ball in hand meant that, to score their five tries, the Crusaders only needed to run 302 metres. The pressure mounted, and it was symptomatic of the Reds' problems that from a goalline lineout, Crusaders lock Scott Barrett was able to steal a Reds take to open the scoring. That was backed by Williams barging his way through the Reds defence to give the Crusaders a 12-0 lead at the break.
Nothing changed in the second half. While Reds halfback Tate McDermott had been one player to extend the Crusaders' defences, it was his youthful opposite Noah Hotham who showed his class when, in the clutches of Reds defenders, he put the ball to his foot to chip ahead, regather and score to ensure there was no prospect of a Reds revival. A try to first five-eighths Rivez Reihana in the 66th minute took the Crusaders to a 27-0 lead which finally saw the pressure ease for the Reds to run in tries to replacement hooker Josh Nasser (70 mins) and No8 Fraser McReight (77 mins). But to reinforce their dominance, replacement halfback Kyle Preston finished the triumph with a last-minute intercept try for the home team.
Crusaders 32 (Scott Barrett, Tamaiti Williams, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Kyle Preston tries; Reihana 2 con, pen) Reds 12 (Josh Nasser, Fraser McReight tries; Filipo Daugunu con). HT: 12-0
Chiefs 19 Blues 20
Dealing with the beating up they took from the Blues in last year's final was a motivation for the Chiefs in their 2025 campaign, but the Blues turned back the clock to once again turn the screws, albeit with an injury-time try to lock Josh Beehre to keep their hopes alive while also demoting the Chiefs from the top qualifying advantage. The Chiefs had a first-half dominance of possession and position, but the Blues demonstrated why they have conceded the fewest tries in the competition with 134 tackles to 42 in the half, the Chief's only points coming courtesy of first five-eighths Damian McKenzie's goal-kicking boot with three penalty goals. His Blues opposite, Beauden Barrett, landed one penalty goal in reply. Both teams missed try chances. Chiefs halfback Cortez Ratima couldn't take advantage of a centre-kick to the goalmouth by second five-eighths Daniel Rona, while Barrett created a chance with a kick to space and another kick, he couldn't control the ball as he attempted to slide in under the bar.
The tackle count was reversed in the second half as the Blues responded, also without being able to score tries in the third quarter. Rona scored with 20 minutes left with a penalty goal and conversion from McKenzie, giving them a 19-11 lead. But the Blues bench stepped up as replacement hooker Kurt Eklund scored with 15 minutes left. No8 Hoskins Sotutu had a try disallowed for crawling to the line, but, from the resulting penalty, the Blues mounted several waves at the line before Beehre was driven over close to the posts for the winner.
Chiefs 19 (Daniel Rona try; Damian McKenzie con, 4 pen) Blues 20 (Kurt Eklund, Josh Beerhe tries; Beauden Barrett 2 con, 2 pen). HT: 9-3
Brumbies 35 Hurricanes 28
Knowing they were 2-3 down to the Brumbies in finals games, the Hurricanes were looking to secure their first consecutive wins over the Brumbies, and they started impressively in Canberra with fullback Ruben Love's speed on the end of a backline movement securing the first try after six minutes. But the Brumbies responded with a trademark rolling maul try to hooker Billy Pollard three minutes later. In the 16th minute, the Hurricanes' backline went into action again, with Love giving wing Fatafehi Fineanganofo a chance down the sideline to reclaim the lead. More Brumbies forward power at the line saw prop Allan Alaalatoa score after 22 minutes. Then, on halftime, Pollard scored a second for a 21-14 lead.
A try to fullback Tom Wright seven minutes into the second half rocked the Hurricanes. But they responded six minutes later with wing Bailyn Sullivan running a superb line to punch through the defence to score. But five minutes later, prop James Slipper completed a front-row try-scoring trifecta for the home team to leave the Hurricanes needing to score three times to win. They got one try through prop Pasilio Tosi but couldn't cross again. The Hurricanes threw everything at the home team to finish in front of all the key attacking statistics, but in the loose, the home team claimed six turnovers and dominated the mauls while finishing with only five penalties to 11 conceded.
Brumbies 35 (Billy Pollard 2, Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Wright, James Slipper tries; Noah Lolesio 5 con) Hurricanes 28 (Ruben Love, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, Bailyn Sullivan, Pasilio Tosi tries; Love 4 con). HT: 21-14
DHL Super Rugby Pacific Semi-Finals
Friday 13 June, 7.05pm NZT
Crusaders v Blues, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday 14 June, 7.05pm NZT
Chiefs v ACT Brumbies, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Statistics
Most points: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) 185, Beauden Barrett (Blues) 108, Tom Lynagh (Reds) 104.
Most tries: Carlo Tizzano (Force) 13, Billy Pollard (Brumbies) 10, Andy Muirhead (Brumbies), Leroy Carter (Chiefs), Corey Toole (Brumbies), Kyren Taumoefolau (Chiefs) 9.
Most carries: Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa (Moana Pasifika) 205, Langi Gleeson (Waratahs) 182, Peter Lakai (Hurricanes) 180.
Most clean breaks: Corey Toole (Brumbies) 22, Harry Potter (Force) 20, Ponipate Loganimasi (Drua) 19.
Most defenders beaten: Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders) 78, McKenzie 55, Tom Wright (Brumbies) 52.
Most lineouts won: Darcy Swain (Force) 79, Josh Canham (Reds) 76, Nick Frost (Brumbies) 69.
Most metres gained: Wright 1151, Mac Grealy (Force) 878, Potter 780.
Most offloads: Sevu Reece (Crusaders) 26, Tavatavanawai 18, Hoskins Sotutu (Blues), Rivez Reihana (Crusaders), Potter 15.
Most tackles won: Du'Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes) 220, Fabian Holland (Highlanders) 204, Fraser McReight (Reds), Tizzano 198.