Play-off picture set as Crusaders dominate, Chiefs overwhelm Blues
- Sanzaar Media
- 16 hours ago
- 8 min read
Defending champions, the Crusaders, beat the competition-leading Hurricanes to claim a home play-off in DHL Super Rugby Pacific when the Blues were heavily beaten by the Chiefs.
The qualifying finals will see the Hurricanes host the Brumbies, who were beaten by Moana Pasifika, in Wellington on Friday, the Crusaders host the Blues at 4.35pm in Christchurch and the Chiefs meet the Reds in Hamilton at 7.05pm.
The three winning teams in the qualifying finals will progress to the semi-finals along with the highest-ranked losing team (the 'lucky loser').
In a variation from last season, in 2026 the 'lucky loser' will be relegated to the lowest seeding for the semi-finals and as such forego any chance to host the semi-final or the grand final, should they progress.
Crusaders 47, Hurricanes 14
Time-honoured Crusaders tactics of starting hard and fast provided the perfect setting to celebrate wing Sevu Reece’s 100th game, at Christchurch against the Hurricanes. Nine minutes after the start, hooker Codie Taylor, No 8 Christian Lio-Willie, second five-eighths David Havili and centre Dallas McLeod contributed to a sweeping move that resulted in Reece opening the scoring.
A minute later, a rare Crusaders handling mistake saw the Hurricanes respond. Halfback Cam Roigard got the ball from wing Taniela Filimone, who had joined the line, to feed flanker Brad Shields in for a try. But, in allowing Havili to break out from the 22m to feed Lio-Willie and Reece, who passed infield to halfback Noah Hotham to score, the Hurricanes were exposed. Hotham took a gap from a ruck, and as the ball was moved by the Crusaders, fullback Johnny McNicholl scored nine minutes from the break.
In the 36th minute, Reece smuggled through a gap, with McNicholl passing on to Lio-Willie, who scored to give the Crusaders a 26-7 lead at half-time.
The Hurricanes were unable to find the necessary drive to pull the margin back in the third quarter and Reece, performing like a jack-in-the-box turning up in action all over the place, helped hooking substitute Manumaua Letiu to a 62nd-minute try. There was a momentary respite for the visitors as prop replacement Pouri Rakete-Stones scored 10 minutes out.
But a McNicholl blindside ruck break took him clear to feed replacement halfback Kyle Preston in for a try. Then, the cap to Reece’s night came with a Bailyn Sullivan pass intercepted by his centre rival, McLeod, to pass out to Reece, who scored, and added a superb sideline conversion.
Reds 45, Drua 24
Drua wing Manasa Mataele picked off a 12th-minute intercept to race 63m to open the scoring against the Reds in Brisbane. But the Reds responded with a line-out maul that included half their backline for hooker Matt Faessler to score.
Five minutes later, in the 30th minute, replacement back Filipo Daugunu hit a passing movement at speed to score. Then, two minutes later, off a lengthy rolling maul, Daugunu fed centre Josh Flook, who scored unopposed. Three minutes from the break, untidy play on the Reds’ line saw the ball lost by the Drua, then regained before prop Meli Tuni got his hands on it to drive low for the try.
Mataele got the Drua within two points five minutes into the second half after 12 phases saw him given the ball. He grubber-kicked ahead and won the chase to score.
Mataele then completed a hat-trick after two chip kicks were regained by the Drua, the second by Mataele to claim the lead 33 minutes from the end. But the Reds quickly responded through their pack with No 8 Harry Wilson scoring from a pushover scrum in the 55th minute and Faessler scoring a second two minutes later from a lineout maul. Mauling play with 11 minutes left saw Seru Uru score with replacement hooker Richie Asiata benefitting from a line-out maul to seal the win.
Brumbies 19, Moana Pasifika 21
It may have been the final performance for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific but they went out on a high note by beating the Brumbies in Canberra, leaving the Brumbies with a playoff game against the top-ranked Hurricanes. It didn’t start well, the Brumbies scoring in the third minute at a goal-line ruck with flanker Rory Scott crossing.
Then, Moana Pasifika had a try ruled out for a forward pass, which allowed the Brumbies to get back downfield for fullback Tom Wright to score in the 16th minute. Then, although a potential try was ruled a knock-on by first five-eighths Patrick Pellegrini and play continued, the TMO had confirmed that the ball had been fairly grounded.
He followed that in the 32nd minute after halfback Augustine Pulu found a gap around a ruck to feed Pellegrini, who ran in by the posts to score his second.
Tied 14-14 at half-time, second five-eighths Faletoi Peni was sin-binned for a tackle off the ball, then with 17 minutes to play, he was involved in head-on-head contact and his second yellow card of the game resulted in a red card. But before that, Moana Pasifika failed to take advantage of an outstanding Pellegrini 50:22 and the Brumbies turned the play back with replacement forward Luke Reimer scoring out wide after 55 minutes.
The Brumbies were denied a try due to a forward pass. Into the 73rd minute, Pellegrini made two kicks ahead, regathered them both, and set the base for replacement Tevita Latu to run out wide, then slip a reverse pass to fellow replacement Melani Matavao, who scored to seal a stunning upset win.
Chiefs 59, Blues 34
Both the Chiefs and Blues may have been down on star power for their final round game in Hamilton but it was the home team that best reflected the skill and commitment through their squad to go close to posting a record score against their neighbour. It was a disappointing outcome for the Queen City-based side, who made an impressive start with flanker Torian Barnes scoring off a line-out move eight minutes after the start. But their failure to take chances allowed the Chiefs to run in three tries in 10 minutes late in the half, before wing AJ Lam responded on halftime to get close at 19-15.
The third quarter became a slug fest as both sides sought the advantage, skipper and No 8 Wallace Sititi scoring six minutes in, with Blues replacement hooker Eli Oudenryn crossing eight minutes later.
But once Chiefs wing Daniel Sinkinson responded immediately, scoring his second try, his side lifted the tempo and left the Blues trailing in their wake as fullback Liam Coombes-Fabling (59 min), Naitoa Ah Kuoi (63), Reon Paul (68) and Samipeni Finau (74) all scored. Wing Caleb Clarke (70) and second five-eighths Xavi Taele (83) scored for the Blues but it was merely academic as the side’s downward spiral in the latter stages continued, this in spite of favourable statistics that should have resulted in a much closer outcome.
Force 31, Waratahs 25
With nothing resting on the outcome in terms of play-off chances, the Force took advantage of the situation to steal a march on the Waratahs in Perth to claim seventh place on the ladder. There was time for Waratahs hooker Ioane Moananu to show his ball and goal-line sense by scoring the opening try 14 minutes into the game.
A flustered Waratahs restart after the second of two penalties to Waratahs five-eighths Jack Bowen was enough for wing Dylan Pietsch to impress the TMO that he had touched the uncontrolled ball down in-goal. Wing Harry Potter extended the Waratahs lead in the 29th minute from Moananu’s lob pass. A penalty resulting from second five-eighths Joey Walton’s head contact tackle allowed Pietsch to pick up a second try and a 20-12 lead for the Waratahs at the break.
Seven minutes into the second half, home prop Misinale Epenisa scored from a ruck close to the line. Then, at the start of the final quarter, flanker Carlo Tizzano barged his way over by the posts to claim the lead for the first time. The Waratahs reclaimed the lead after centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made an outstanding break, which yielded a penalty, which was tapped for replacement Apolosi Ranawai to barge his way over to score. But 10 minutes from the end, a line-out maul saw Tizzano complete the business with his second try.
FINALS SERIES WEEK ONE - QUALIFYING FINALS
Friday
Hurricanes (1) v ACT Brumbies (6) - Hnry Stadium, Wellington (7.05pm NZST/5.05pm AEST)
Saturday
Crusaders (3) v Blues (4) - One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch (4.35pm NZST/2.35pm AEST)
Chiefs (2) v Queensland Reds (5) - FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (7.05pm NZST/5.05pm AEST)
After months of debate about the best players from the first 30 years of Super Rugby, the final fan votes have been counted and the Legends XV has been officially locked in.
The Hurricanes led all clubs with five selections in Jonah Lomu, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Christian Cullen and Jerry Collins, underlining the impact of the Wellington-based club on Super Rugby history.
The Nonu-Smith midfield pairing was one of the easiest selections for fans, with the duo widely regarded as one of the greatest-ever centre combinations.
Meanwhile, Cullen’s selection at fullback caps off a backline featuring three of the most electric attacking players to grace the competition.
Lomu’s inclusion also highlighted the emotional connection fans still have with the late superstar, whose influence on the game of rugby transcended pure statistics.
The Crusaders were the next best represented club with four players selected, all in the forward pack.
Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read all made the side after helping establish the Crusaders as the benchmark club across the last 30 years.
McCaw’s selection at openside flanker was among the least surprising results of the fan vote, while Read edged a stacked field of No 8 contenders to complete a formidable loose forward trio alongside Jerry Collins.
The inclusion of both Crockett and Franks also reinforced the lasting reputation of the Crusaders scrum.
Australian rugby’s greatest Super Rugby era was also recognised, with George Gregan and Stephen Larkham reunited in the halves.
The legendary Brumbies duo transformed attacking rugby in the late 1990s and early 2000s, helping turn the Canberra side into one of the competition’s powerhouse clubs.
John Eales was the lone representative from the Reds, while Keven Mealamu and Doug Howlett ensured the Blues were also represented.
One of the more intriguing elements of the fan vote was the inclusion of wildcard nominees representing Super Rugby teams that are no longer involved in the competition.
But despite the strength of the South African contenders, only one wildcard player earned selection - Bulls great Victor Matfield.
The Springbok icon beat out an elite field of locks to partner Wallabies legend John Eales in the second row.
Matfield’s selection means 14 of the 15 players came directly from current Super Rugby Pacific clubs.
The final XV includes multiple Rugby World Cup winners, former World Rugby Players of the Year recipients and players who defined entire eras of Super Rugby.
Collectively, the side spans more than three decades of rugby history, from the competition’s early years in the 1990s through to the professional dynasties that followed.
And while debate around the omissions will continue for years, there is no doubt that this lineup of Super Rugby greats makes a particularly formidable team.
Super Rugby Legends XV: 15 Christian Cullen (Hurricanes), 14 Doug Howlett (Blues), 13 Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), 12 Ma’a Nonu (Hurricanes), 11 Jonah Lomu (Hurricanes); 10 Stephen Larkham (ACT Brumbies), 9 George Gregan (ACT Brumbies); 8 Kieran Read (Crusaders), 7 Richie McCaw (Crusaders), 6 Jerry Collins (Hurricanes); 5 John Eales (Queensland Reds), 4 Victor Matfield (Bulls – Wildcard); 3 Owen Franks (Crusaders), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 1 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders).
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