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Super Rugby U20: Crusaders and Chiefs reach final as young hooker leads the way
By Henry Lee
Owen Delany Park in Taupo has played host to the Super Rugby U20 competition for 2025, where the Crusaders and Chiefs have won both of their semi-final games to reach the final on Saturday afternoon.
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All teams have played two games, where the Crusaders, Blues, Hurricanes and Chiefs were victorious in the quarter finals, putting themselves through to Tuesday night’s semi-finals.
The Crusaders will be in the final to defend their Super Rugby U20 title, after beating the Blues in a back and forth thriller.
Crusaders hooker Eli Oudenryn was huge for the Canterbury-based side, scoring a hat-trick in the semi-final.
Oudenryn who plays for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC, also scored in their quarter-final against Moana Pasifika.
Auckland NPC first-five Rico Simpson steered the Blues around the park well, where New Zealand Schools 2024 representative Cohen Norrie scored a try late in the game to bring the Blues back into the contest.
Norrie was on the end of a fantastic breakaway reserve halfback Luke Aitken, before passing to the replacement prop in support, who offloaded to Norrie who went in under the posts.
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The two late tries from the Blues weren’t enough, as the Crusaders held on to reach Saturday afternoon’s final.
FT: 45-43 to the Crusaders.
In the first semi-final on Tuesday afternoon, fans were treated to a high-scoring affair between the Hurricanes and the Chiefs.
Despite the challenging conditions due to the two games prior, attacking rugby was on show where a cruical second half flurry of tries got the Chiefs over the line against the Hurricanes.
All Chiefs tries were scored by different players, showcasing how effectively the Chiefs used the 12 substitutes on offer due to the short turnaround.
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Chiefs first five Pyrenees Boyle-Tiatia was a standout, scoring a try in the 63rd minute of the match, putting his points tally up to 18 for the game.
Boyle-Tiatia’s try was brilliant build-up from the Chiefs, as the first five threw a pass from the middle of the park to the left wing, before Chiefs midfielder Jack Wiseman beat two before throwing a pass back to Boyle-Tiatia who, like all good players, was in support close to the line.
As for the Hurricanes, Leti Campbell brought impact off the bench, scoring a second-half double to try and wrestle back some momentum for the Hurricanes. His first try showcased his powerful leg drive, pushing himself over the line from just under five metres out.
Campbell’s second try was great work from replacement playmaker CJ Mienie, who freed his arms and fired an offload to Campbell who scored in the corner.
The teams traded yellow cards during the last ten minutes, before two late tries from the Hurricanes closed the margin to 10.
FT: 48-38 to the Chiefs.
Saturday’s Super Rugby U20 fixtures:
7th/8th – Fijian Drua U20 v Moana Pasifika U20 – 11:05 AM
5th/6th – Highlanders U20 v NZ Barbarians U21 – 1:05 PM
3rd/4th – Hurricanes U20 v Blues U20 – 3:05 PM
1st/2nd – Crusaders U20 v Chiefs U20 – 5:05 PM
All games are live on Sky Sport.
