But Blues coach Vern Cotter can do a bit better.

"When I was at Clermont, we won 77 games in a row (at home) and, in the end, the pressure was heavy," Cotter said this week.

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Vern Cotter of Clermont at Stade Marcel Michelin in 2007.

The remarkable run at Stade Marcel-Michelin spanned four years and came to an end in 2014 when beaten by Castres in France's Top 14 playoffs.

It gives 'Stern Vern' a unique insight into the expectation on Crusaders coach Rob Penney - and Cotter has delighted in his media duties ahead of Friday's Super Rugby Pacific semi-final in Christchurch.

The Crusaders have won a ridiculous 14 Super Rugby titles and haven't lost a knockout game at home.

Coach Vern Cotter of the Blues looks on.

"Yet," Cotter countered when reminded of those numbers.

"All I'm saying is nothing lasts forever. One day we knew it was going to happen. They're on 30 and one day it's going to happen. Will it be this week? I don't know but the boys will be up to push it as best they can."

Blues centre Rieko Ioane has also been an agitator.

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After beating the Waratahs in the last round of the regular season to clinch the last place in the playoffs, Ioane posted "you shouldn't have let us get one."

It was a reference to American baseball and basketball teams who have won playoff series from 3-0 down.

This week, more theatrically, he posted "should've killed me when you had the chance."

Rieko Ioane of the Blues celebrates the win.

The defending champion Blues upset the top ranked Chiefs to advance to the semis.

"We're enjoying this," Cotter said.

"That's the key thing. Going down to Canterbury – we're aware of their record. Thirty without losing. One day they're going to lose and they've got the pressure of that on top of them."

The Crusaders will be without All Blacks loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams who helped make their scrum such a dominant force against the Reds.

"That's how they accessed their game against the Reds. It was through their scrum and lineout and field position," Cotter said.

"It could be 80 minutes, it could be longer. We're mentally preparing for a rugged sort of evening."

https://x.com/StanSportRugby/status/1933026480659050837

In Saturday's second semi-final against the Chiefs, the Brumbies will attempt to become the first Australian team in 20 attempts to win a playoff match in New Zealand.

They progressed to the semis after a 35-28 win over the Hurricanes in Canberra last weekend.

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has named an unchanged 23.

https://x.com/StanSportRugby/status/1932966078646530550

"We're in a pretty good space in terms of our routine," Larkham said.

"We've got a plan this week in terms of some of the stuff that we've been building on through the year and then some specific stuff for the Chiefs.

"We want to get the boys as fresh as possible by the end of the week and get them into the game with as much confidence as possible. Then, focus on the performance as opposed to the outcome."

- with AP

Semi-final 1: Crusaders vs Blues

Friday, June 13: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch (5.05pm kickoff AEST)

CRUSADERS (1-15): George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Antonio Shalfoon, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Sevu Reece, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan

Replacements: George Bell, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah, Cullen Grace, Kyle Preston, James O'Connor, Dallas McLeod

BLUES (1-15): Joshua Fusitu'a, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Laghlan McWhannell, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali'i, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele'a, Zarn Sullivan

Replacements: Kurt Eklund, Jordan Lay, Angus Ta'avao, Josh Beehre, Anton Segner, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Cole Forbes

Referee: James Doleman

Assistant referees: Paul Williams, Fraser Hannon

TMO: Richard Kelly

https://x.com/StanSportRugby/status/1932669011453751772

Semi-final 2: Chiefs v ACT Brumbies

Saturday June 14: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (5.05pm kickoff AEST)

CHIEFS (1-15): Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei'aho, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Leroy Carter, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson

Replacements: Brodie McAlister, Jared Proffit, Reuben O'Neill, Jimmy Tupou, Kalyum Boshier, Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Gideon Wrampling

BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright

Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli, Feao Fotuaika, Lachlan Shaw, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Declan Meredith, Ollie Sapsford

Referee: Nic Berry

Assistant referees: Damon Murphy, Jordan Way

TMO: Brett Cronan