Blues vs Chiefs Predictions & Tips - Defending champs to dominate at home

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 13 Feb 2025

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Ralph Staniforth 13 Feb 2025

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Blues dominated Chiefs twice last season, including a 41-10 final win.
Blues to cover the -5.5 handicap with a strong core lineup.
Chiefs finished fourth last season; seeking redemption against champions.

Expired

Blues to start title defence with home win (Getty Images)

Blues vs Chiefs Predictions

The Blues were dominant in both home games against the Chiefs in 2024, including the Super Rugby final. I am backing the defending champions and hosts to cover the -5.5 handicap in round one.

Blues vs Chiefs Predictions
Head to Head
Blues Form
Blues Injuries & Team News
Chiefs Form
Chiefs Injuries & Team News

Blues have won 4 of their last 5 matches against the Chiefs.
Blues have won their last 2 home matches against the Chiefs by more than 5.5 points.
Blues beat the Chiefs 41-10 in their last encounter.
Blues won Super Rugby in 2024.
Blues have won 15 of their last 17 Super Rugby matches.
Chiefs won 11 of their 16 matches last season.

Head to Head

The Blues beat the Chiefs twice last season, both games were played in Auckland. The second one ended 41-10 to the Blues in the Super Rugby 2024 final.

Blues Form

The Blues were superb in 2024, claiming the Super Rugby title. They beat the Chiefs in the final 41-10.

Throughout the season, the Blues dominated the table along with the Hurricanes, winning 12 of their 14 league games. In the quarter-final, the Auckland side cruised past Fijian Drua before seeing off a spirted Brumbies 34-20 in the semi-final.

The final was a one-sided affair as the Blues dominated from the off. The hosts will expect much the same this weekend.

Blues Injuries & Team News

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Cameron Suafoa, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.

Replacements: 16 Nathaniel Pole, 17 Josh Fusitua, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Che Clark, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Fin Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes.

Chiefs Form

The Chiefs were very inconsistent in terms of results and performance in 2024. They, however, did pull it together towards the end to qualify for the final – where they lost comfortably to the Blues.

Winning nine of their 14 league games was enough to secure fourth place and a home quarter-final. They beat the Reds convincingly at home before going on to cause an upset in the semi-final, beating the Hurricanes 30-19 away from home.

The final was a step too far for the Hamilton side though as the Blues bossed the game from minute one.

Chiefs Injuries & Team News

15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Josh Lord, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAllister, 1 Ollie Norris.

Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert Brown, 23 Emoni Narawa.

Verdict

Blues v Chiefs

Blues can beat Chiefs in repeat of the 2024 Super Rugby final. The hosts are tipped to win by more than 5.5 points.

Blues -5.5

Handicap

@10/11 - 5 Units

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