Super Rugby semifinals: What history says

Kieran Read of the Crusaders. Photosport

The Crusaders certainly have history on their side going into this weekend's Super Rugby semifinal clashes.

The seven-time champions have an impressive 11 semifinal victories in their history going into Saturday's clash against the Chiefs in Christchurch. That's the most of any Super Rugby franchise.

Even more remarkable is that nine of those knockout victories took place on home soil with the Crusaders unbeaten in the semifinal stage in Christchurch.

Something the Chiefs can take into Saturday's clash is that two of the Crusaders' five semifinal defeats have been at the hands of the Chiefs, 2012 and 2013 in Hamilton.

The Chiefs also won in Christchurch in round one last season before completing the season sweep in Fiji. The sides met once this season, also in Suva, with the Crusaders winning 31-24.

The Chiefs however have never won an away semifinal and hold a 3-2 record in final four.

The Hurricanes have a 3-4 record and also have never earned a spot in the final with an away win.

The Lions achieved their first ever semifinal victory last season after previously losing their two semifinal games in 2000 and 2001, when playing as the Cats.

The most damning statistic ahead of this week's games is home advantage in the semifinals. Of the 42 Super Rugby semifinals played since 1996, just eight have been won by the away team.

If you're thinking of a Chiefs-Hurricanes final consider this - only once in Super Rugby history have both the away teams won the semifinals. That was 1999 when the Highlanders beat the Stormers in Cape Town and the Crusaders beat the Reds in Brisbane.

In 16 of the 21 previous seasons both home teams have booked their spot in the final.

Semifinal records

Crusaders - 16 semifinals (11-5)
1998 - Beat Sharks 36-32 (home)
1999 - Beat Reds 28-22 (away)
2000 - Beat Highlanders 37-15 (home)
2002 - Beat Highlanders 34-23 (home)
2003 - Beat Hurricanes 39-16 (home)
2004 - Beat Stormers 27-16 (home)
2005 - Beat Hurricanes 47-7 (home)
2006 - Beat Bulls 36-15 (home)
2007 - Lost to Bulls 27-12 (away)
2008 - Beat Hurricanes 33-22 (home)
2009 - Lost to Bulls 36-23 (away)
2010 - Lost to Bulls 39-24 (away)
2011 - Beat Stormers 29-10 (away)
2012 - Lost to Chiefs 20-17 (away)
2013 - Lost to Chiefs 20-19 (away)
2014 - Beat Sharks 38-6 (home)

Hurricanes - 7 semifinals (3-4)
1997 - Lost to Brumbies (away)
2003 - Lost to Crusaders 39-16 (away)
2005 - Lost to Crusaders 47-7 (away)
2006 - Beat Waratahs 16-14 (home)
2008 - Lost to Crusaders 33-22 (away)
2015 - Beat Brumbies 29-9 (home)
2016 - Beat Chiefs 25-9 (home)

Chiefs - 5 semifinals (3-2)
2004 - Lost to Brumbies 32-17 (away)
2009 - Beat the Hurricanes 14-10 (home)
2012 - Beat the Crusaders 20-17 (home)
2013 - Beat the Crusaders 20-19 (home)
2016 - Lost to Hurricanes 9-25 (away)

Lions - 3 semifinals (1-2)
2000 - Lost to Brumbies 28-5 (away)*
2001 - Lost to Sharks 30-12 (away)*
2016 - Beat Highlanders 42-30 (home)

* playing as the Cats