Super Rugby 2025 Thread

[Gumboot]

Chiefs vs Brumbies kicking off shortly in sunny Kirikiriroa.

Chiefs:
Damian McKenzie, Emoni Narawa, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Manasa Mataele, Josh Jacomb, Cortez Ratima; Simon Parker, Jahrome Brown, Samipeni Finau, Tupou Vaa’i (capt), Josh Lord, George Dyer, Brodie McAlister, Aidan Ross
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ollie Norris, Sione Ahio, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaylum Boshier, Xavier Roe, Daniel Rona, Gideon Wrampling

[Hugo]

Beautiful pass by Tupaea.

[Gumboot]

15-all at HT.

Chiefs losing possession in the Brumbies' 22 way too often. In contrast, the Brumbies have been clinical when given their chances.

Damn shame DMac couldn't ground the ball after that epic run.

[Hugo]

Damn shame DMac couldn't ground the ball after that epic run.

Yup, that was a miraculous cover tackle.

Brumbies have played some good stuff, anyone's game tbh.

[Hugo]

15-all at HT.

Chiefs losing possession in the Brumbies' 22 way too often.

As you were saying.....

[Gumboot]

Tupaea on fire!

[Hugo]

Hope DMac is ok.

[Gumboot]

Hope DMac is ok.

Yep, and Lord.

Chiefs prevail 49-34, but the Brumbies were good value for much of the game.

[Hugo]

Superb end to a superb game.

[Gumboot]

Great to see Taukei'aho back.

[Gumboot]

Hurricanes vs Blues about to kick off in Wellington...

[Gumboot]

Blues just ahead 21-19 at HT.

Great to see our 'Arry in such good form. Hope he can kick on from here and own the 10 jersey.

[Gumboot]

Blues break their drought with a 33-29 win.

Great try by Tele'a to ice it.

[Moral Dilemma]

All it took was BB feeding a scrum on his own line, to a n00b hooker, with Sotutu in the bin.

Never in doubt...

[Hugo]

Any updates on MacKenzie's injury? I saw him signing autographs after the game for a long time so Im guessing it's not that bad but he was still limping.

[Dan54]

Any updates on MacKenzie's injury? I saw him signing autographs after the game for a long time so Im guessing it's not that bad but he was still limping.

Nothing as yet Hugo, but a lot of knee injuries you don't know how bad they are until next day. They stiffen up etc overnight.

[Enzedder]

Missed the games as I am in Taupo supporting my daughter at the Ironman.

Quick summary

I was able to update Liam Messam on the scores as he ran past a few times
Chiefs won - just
Daughter finished the Ironman - just
DMac, daughter and Enz are all knackered. (How the hell she finished the last 2 laps with the chafing she had is unbelievable)

I understand Tupaea took quite a whack as well, dammit

[Gumboot]

Daughter finished the Ironman - just

Respect. Just thinking about doing an Ironman leaves me exhausted

[Hugo]

Daughter finished the Ironman - just

Respect. Just thinking about doing an Ironman leaves me exhausted

+ 1. That is a great achievement.

[Enzedder]

Good news for Chiefs fans

The collective sigh of relief around Chiefs country might be enough to power the Te Uku wind farm for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season, with news Damian McKenzie has been cleared of any serious injury.

Clayton McMillan’s outfit top the table through three rounds, but the chances of the two-time reigning runners-up making it third time lucky, in the coach’s final season before departing to Munster, would take a monumental turn should their talisman, and All Blacks playmaker, be consigned to the sideline.

And after last Saturday’s 49-34 win over the Brumbies, it looked quite the possibility, after the man in the No 15 limped off FMG Stadium Waikato thanks to a 71st-minute collision where Anton Lienert-Brown’s shoulder had clattered into his team-mate’s right knee.

It’s the same knee McKenzie ruptured his ACL in during the 2019 season, which also ruled him out of that year’s World Cup, and, after lying on his back and receiving medical attention, he then hobbled through the handshakes post-game, which would have left supporters of the Hamilton-based franchise, not to mention All Blacks coach Scott Robertson among a few others, anxiously fearing the worst and hoping for the best.

As it turns out, that hope has turned to reality, with Chiefs assistant coach Roger Randle able to put more than a few thousand minds at ease on Tuesday.

“He went in for a scan, and fortunately it’s not too bad,” Randle revealed, of what was understood to be bone bruising.

“He’s a tough little bugger. I spoke to him the next morning and he said he was feeling pretty good as well, so the scan kind of just confirmed that.”

Randle even went as far as saying McKenzie could “potentially” play this weekend against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka.

Though, by the sight of him walking with the cross-trainers on instead of boots, and sitting to the side of training, it suggests the Chiefs’ highest points-scorer in history is likely to be given a week to rest up, before a big clash against the Blues in Hamilton seven days later.

Meanwhile, the news was also decent, if not quite as bright, for All Blacks lock Josh Lord, who left the Brumbies game after just five minutes with his own knee injury, which had him skip team training completely on Tuesday.

“His one is still short-term, but it could be for a couple of weeks more than Damian’s,” Randle said.

Second-five Quinn Tupaea, whose hot start to the season has him making a big early statement for an All Blacks recall, has pulled up fine after having also hobbled off the park last Saturday, while Randle said captain Luke Jacobson, who broke his nose against the Crusaders and sat out last weekend, was back in training and looking good to return.

[Guy Smiley]

[Hugo]

^ I think that's B Barrett first start at 10 for the Blues.

[Guy Smiley]

^ I think that's B Barrett first start at 10 for the Blues.

I don’t know why anyone thinks that’s a good thing. I’ll put it down to early season panic at the Blues, which could also be the name of a long lost, previously unreleased single by The Jam.

[Dan54]

^ I think that's B Barrett first start at 10 for the Blues.

I don’t know why anyone thinks that’s a good thing. I’ll put it down to early season panic at the Blues, which could also be the name of a long lost, previously unreleased single by The Jam.

I think it's sensible when the only option is Plummer. Blues pack aren't playing on top of teams like last year, and Plummer certainly has struggled without the go forward ball of last year. He is a good but limited player at 10, remember he was playing at 12 until injuries last year resulted in him moving to 10.
I know he was a 10 that fitted in at 12,(and seemed better there) but as I say a pretty limited one, I thought.

[Gumboot]

^ I think that's B Barrett first start at 10 for the Blues.

I don’t know why anyone thinks that’s a good thing. I’ll put it down to early season panic at the Blues, which could also be the name of a long lost, previously unreleased single by The Jam.

I think it's sensible when the only option is Plummer. Blues pack aren't playing on top of teams like last year, and Plummer certainly has struggled without the go forward ball of last year. He is a good but limited player at 10, remember he was playing at 12 until injuries last year resulted in him moving to 10.
I know he was a 10 that fitted in at 12,(and seemed better there) but as I say a pretty limited one, I thought.

Yep, with Plummer off the boil and Perofeta still out, it's not like Cotter had other options.

Good to hear that DMac's OK, and I'm keen to see how Narawa goes at fullback. And how Stevenson goes off the bench.

[Guy Smiley]

Minutes away from another episode of the best tier 2 competition on the planet, folks.

[Gumboot]

Dangerous home game for the Blues, I reckon. If the Brumbies front up and get their outside backs some good quick ball, they have the talent to really cash in.

Can Beauden dominate proceedings, or will he resort to repeatedly kicking away good attacking ball?

[Hugo]

Dangerous home game for the Blues, I reckon. If the Brumbies front up and get their outside backs some good quick ball, they have the talent to really cash in.

Can Beauden dominate proceedings, or will he resort to repeatedly kicking away good attacking ball?

Agreed. Honestly, as good as the Brumbies played last week I make the Blues underdogs in this game. The Blues have not yet fired this season, hopefully they can put together a performance.

[Hugo]

Argh. Unforced error.

[Firewater]

10-10

Barrett's playing well so far

[Firewater]

Blues too many unforced errors

[Hugo]

Blues too many unforced errors

Yup must be half a dozen knock ons by now.

[Guy Smiley]

Findlay Christie is a very frustrating player to watch.

[Hugo]

Findlay Christie is a very frustrating player to watch.

Just like right there, wins a turnover immediately kicks it away.

[Gumboot]

Blues ahead 20-10 at HT, after Rieko scores his 50th Supe try, but his first since May 2023!

Looks quite slippery underfoot.

[Firewater]

20-10 Blues

3 tries to one. Barrett playing well but goal kicking not good

Rieko finally scores after a blank 2024.

[Guy Smiley]

Blues ahead 20-10 at HT, after Rieko scores his 50th Supe try, but his first since May 2023!

Looks quite slippery underfoot.

Both teams capable of lethal counter attack but the bounce has favoured the Blues more so far... some scintillating breaks made. The Blues loosies are scary, really good.

[Hugo]

No Barrett in the 2nd half. Strange, never saw the collision that led to his hand being injured.

[Hugo]

Christie should've passed there.

[Firewater]

Blues scrum destroyed

Score 20-18