Chiefs credit physical approach for win

The Chiefs are crediting a more physical approach for winning their way into next week's Super Rugby final.

The opening exchanges of their 20-17 win in Hamilton were scattered with niggle, as the visitors were clearly unhappy with some of the Chiefs tactics.

Co-captain Craig Clarke says they targeted the contact areas as a key facet of the game.

"We certainly knew we had to be a bit more confrontational, because our last two round robin games we haven't been and I think it certainly flustered them a little bit, in that they didn't really have it all their own way."

Rennie says having a week off was a big benefit after finishing the regular season with two losses.

"It did allows us last week to focus on more detail without worrying about an opponent and we had a bit of a seasonal review and we had a chance to look at what went well before the break and maybe a couple of little things that we'd forgotten. And so certainly we got those elements back in our game."

Crusaders captain Richie McCaw believes the Chiefs have found the kind of form that could see them win their first title.

"If they back up that performance I don't see why not. I guess that's the challenge, if you look at it from our point of view we had a good performance last week and we didn't match that this week, and that's always the challenge."

If the Sharks beat the Stormers in the other semi overnight, the Chiefs will host the final, otherwise they'll travel to Cape Town to meet the Stormers.

Meanwhile All Blacks coach Steve Hansen's confirmed Sonny Bill Williams will be considered for the first part of the Rugby Championship, before he departs for Japan.