Crusaders v Jaguares: Super Rugby final match preview, tip & TV details

TV: Sky Sports Action, 8.35am Saturday

Los Jaguares have reached their first Super Rugby final in just their fourth season in the competition but now they face their biggest challenge against the champion Crusaders, who are aiming for a third title in a row and are unbeaten at home in the last three seasons.

The teams have met twice before and the Crusaders won comfortably on both occasions - 40-14 in Buenos Aires in 2016 and 32-15 in Christchurch last year.

The Argentinian side's introduction to the Crusaders came in their first season in the tournament when they won just four matches all campaign, three of them at home.

That record has steadily improved and they ended the regular season this year with 11 wins from 16 games, five of them on the road including two wins in New Zealand, repeating their feat of last year.

Home advantage was a big boost for the Jaguares in the last eight and semi-finals as they took on opponents who had to cope with travel and jetlag at short notice, but there was no doubt they deserved their convincing victory over the Brumbies in the semis, where they were dominant in the line-out.

Things are on the up for the Argentinian side, but - and it's a huge but - they are taking on a team who have been head and shoulders above the rest for the last three seasons and who are nearly invincible at home.

This is a huge step up and this time the boot is on the other foot as they face a 6,000-mile journey and a 15-hour time difference.

They may look to take on the Crusaders at the line-outs again as the New Zealand outfit are without lock Scott Barrett while fellow All Black Ryan Crotty is also absent in midfield.

The Jaguares will almost certainly not roll over but they look set to come up against an early barrage from the confident Crusaders who should be able to build a comfortable cushion and keep themselves safely in front.

Recommendation
Crusaders to win by 11 to 20 points
1pt 11-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

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