Live updates: Super Rugby Pacific – Chiefs v Crusaders from Hamilton's FMG Stadium

Newshub's Ollie Ritchie previews the new season with NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson. Credits: Image - Photosport; Video - Newshub

Click here for match wrap

Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific season opener between the Chiefs and Crusaders at Hamilton's FMG Stadium. 

For the second time in as many years, these two face off in the first game of the season - and now a replay of the 2023 final.  

The Chiefs beat the Crusaders home and away in 2023, but fell to defeat when it mattered most, as coach Scott Robertson signed off with a seventh successive title. That era is over and the Crusaders go again under new coach Rob Penney.  

The reigning champions have lost a bulk of experience, after senior names like Sam Whitelock, Richie Mo'unga and Jack Goodhue departed New Zealand for overseas pastures. The Crusaders starting XV still contains seven All Blacks, with another three on the bench.   

While Penney will back his up-and-coming class of youngsters, the absence of fullback Will Jordan for the season could be telling.  

Meanwhile, the Chiefs enter this season as one of the more settled sides.  

Along with the Highlanders, they have the same head coach in place - Clayton McMillan - and can build on their success of last season.

The absence of Sam Cane, and the departures of Brad Weber and Brodie Retallick see Luke Jacobson assume captaincy, while Damian McKenzie has the chance to prove he's the best No.10 in the country.

Join us at 7pm for kickoff.

TAB odds: Chiefs $1.47, Crusaders $2.80, draw $16 

Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-Reuben O'Neill, 4-Naitoa Ah Kuoi. 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Kaylum Boshier, 8-Luke Jacobson (c), 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15-Shaun Stevenson

Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Jimmy Tupou, 20-Simon Parker, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Daniel Rona 

Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-George Bell, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Quentin Strange, 6-Dominic Gardiner, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Mitch Drummond, 10-Rivez Reihana, 11-Macca Springer, 12-Dallas McLeod, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Chay Fihaki  

Reserves: 16-Quentin MacDonald, 17-Joe Moody, 18-Owen Franks, 19-Jamie Hannah, 20-Christian Lio-Willie, 21-Noah Hotham, 22-Taha Kemara, 23-Ryan Crotty