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Sport Nation
'I love it': Crusaders welcome war of words ahead of Super Rugby semi-final vs Blues
Stephen Foote • June 13th, 2025 12:45 pm
Rieko Ioane | Photo: Photosport
After an outspoken few weeks, Blues midfielder Rieko Ioane has been relatively quiet in the lead-up to the Super Rugby semi-final against the Crusaders.
The All Blacks veteran has pressed more than a few buttons with his brash approach on social media, most recently after the Blues stunned the Chiefs, when he posted a photo of himself with a finger to his lips with the caption; "Should’ve killed me when you had the chance", laying down the gauntlet for what's to come on Friday.
But according to Crusaders halfback Noah Hotham, rugby - and all sports in New Zealand, generally - would stand to benefit from breaking out of the traditional mould of humility and adding some more spice to the competition with some unfiltered confidence.
The one-Test All Black pointed to the bold approach of athletes in the US, where he says the pre-fight/match hype adds the kind of intrigue that's all too lacking in Kiwi sports.
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"Building that tension up towards game day is something that in New Zealand in general, it's probably a bit foreign to us, but I love it," Hotham told Sport Nation's Mornings with Ric & Chappy.
"You see it in the UFC, the football, the NFL and you just see how much it builds that tension towards the game.
"I don't mind it, but I guess the motto down here is just let your actions do the talking."
Blues assistant coach Daniel Halangahu concedes the generational gap has a huge part to play in how such an approach is perceived across the country.
It's a factor he says he - and the team - have come to terms with, tying into the importance of allowing players to be themselves and step outside of the age-old Kiwi mindset that athletes should never rise above their station.
"We're all really used to being really quiet, head down, humble," Halangahu said.
"But by now, we've realised that this younger generation are probably more genuine and authentic. They'll come out and express themselves in what's actually going on for them and Rieko leads the way with that.
"We just let Rieko be Rieko. We don't encourage or dissuade him from what he does."
Not that either side need any more motivation heading into a showdown between two storied rivals on a patch of grass that has proven legitimately unconquerable in Super Rugby finals history.
If the Blues are to emerge with their hands raised, they'll need to overcome decades of dominance in Christchurch, where the Crusaders have never been beaten in a Super Rugby playoffs fixture.
Halangahu admits the formula to becoming the first team to break the local's 30-0 stranglehold on their city will start and end with their performance of their pack.
With another typically bone-chilling night on the cards in the Ōtautahi, the platform for victory will be founded on who gets the upperhand upfront, something the Blues did with aplomb in their drought-breaking victory in the Garden City back in 2022.
After their dominant display in The Tron, Halangahu sees no reason why they can't replicate that feat further south.
"The forwards stood up that day, and we know that's what's coming," he noted.
"In those really big moments during the game, the Crusaders are going to want to go back to their pack, they're going to eke out some penalties with it, be it scrum or maul.
"What you saw from our pack last week is that they stood up and they've been able to do that."
