Crusaders skipper Sam Whitelock has hailed Seta Tamanivalu as he helped beat the Chiefs and secure a place in the Super Rugby final.

The Crusaders saw little of the ball but managed to overcome their New Zealand rivals in Christchurch with a 27-13 victory over the Chiefs.

Bryn Hall got on the scoresheet in the first half before Israel Dagg crossed the line to see the Crusaders pull clear.

However, it was a brace of tries from Tamanivalu that helped guarantee the victory and Whitelock was full of praise for the 25-year-old winger.

"I don't know how Seta does it, he seems to make a try out of nothing," Whitelock said.

"We didn't have the ball much and the boys were definitely blowing and the legs were heavy, but full credit to the boys they were just hanging on and showed some real determination and grit."

There are concerns for Kieran Read ahead of the final, with the All Blacks skipper suffering a knee injury in the latter stages of the clash with the Chiefs.