Super Rugby 2025 Thread

[Kiwias]

Crusaders are playing some seriously good rugby, Fihaki scores a cracker try in the corner and lead stretches to 24 - 10

[Gumboot]

Crusaders are playing some seriously good rugby, Fihaki scores a cracker try in the corner and lead stretches to 24 - 10

Yep, Saders the better team so far and well worth their HT lead.

[Kiwias]

Kemara put in a superb tackle to stop Umaga-Jensen there

[Gumboot]

Saders prevail 31-24, after the Canes at least made a contest of it towards the end.

[Kiwias]

Did it tough at the end with two YCs but we got the win. 31 - 24

[Gumboot]

Next up, Waratahs hosting the Chiefs in Sydney...

Waratahs:
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Andrew Kellaway, Lalakai Foketi, Joey Walton, Triston Reilly, Lawson Creighton, Teddy Wilson, Langi Gleeson, Jamie Adamson, Rob Leota, Ben Grant, Hugh Sinclair, Daniel Botha, Ethan Dobbins, Angus Bell.
Reserves: Julian Heaven, Isaac Kailea, Taniela Tupou, Miles Amatosero, Leafi Talataina, Jack Grant, Jack Bowen, Henry O’Donnell.

Chiefs:
Damian McKenzie, Shaun Stevenson, Gideon Wrampling, Quinn Tupaea, Leroy Carter, Josh Jacomb, Cortez Ratima; Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson (capt), Samipeni Finau, Tupou Vaa’i, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, George Dyer, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ollie Norris.
Reserves: Bradley Slater, Jared Profit, Reuben O’Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaylum Boshier, Xavier Roe, Daniel Rona, Emoni Narawa.

[Kiwias]

Next up, Waratahs hosting the Chiefs in Sydney...

Looks like a pretty decent crowd in for it

[Gumboot]

Tahs ahead 14-7 at HT.

[Kiwias]

Chiefs looking somewhat unsettled, and not playing with their normal fluency and precision

[Kiwias]

Tahs ahead 14-7 at HT.

And that is with two tries disallowed.

[Gumboot]

Tahs ahead 14-7 at HT.

And that is with two tries disallowed.

Suaalii looks threatening every time he touches the ball. What a talent.

[Kiwias]

Tahs score a 100m try from a Chiefs knock-on

[Gumboot]

Tahs score a stunning end-to-end 14-point try.

[Gumboot]

Tahs win 21-14.

Very sloppy performance by the Chiefs, but that was largely down to some excellent Tahs hustle.

DMac had a game to forget.

[Kiwias]

Tahs win 21-14.

Very sloppy performance by the Chiefs, but that was largely down to some excellent Tahs hustle.

DMac had a game to forget.

Kelleway talked of how they targeted DMac and he coughed up the ball in heavy tackles several times

[Gumboot]

Battle of the Bridge kicking off shortly at Eden Park, with the Blues hosting Moana Pasifika.

Blues:
Corey Evans, Mark Tele’a, Rieko Ioane, AJ Lam, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie; Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Josh Beehre, Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), Angus Ta’avao, Ricky Riccitelli, Joshua Fusitu’a.
Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Mason Tupaea, PJ Sheck, Cam Christie, Adrian Choat, Taufa Funaki, Harry Plummer, Stephen Perofeta.

Moana Pasifika:
William Havili, Kyren Taumoefolau, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Danny Toala, Pepesana Patafilo, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Melani Matavao; Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Ardie Savea (capt), Miracle Faiilagi, Allan Craig, Samuel Slade, Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, Millennium Sanerivi, Abraham Pole. Reserves: Sama Malolo, James Lay, Chris Apoua, Tom Savage, Sione Havili Talitui, Aisea Halo, Patrick Pellegrini, Fine Inisi.

[Hugo]

Good start by the Blues. Keeping it nice and tight.

[Gumboot]

Blues ahead 24-5 at HT, after a dominant first half of Vernball.

[Kiwias]

Not fancy at all but Blues now leading 31 - 5

[Gumboot]

Blues win the Auckland derby 36-17.

[Gumboot]

Highlanders vs Drua coming up in Dunedin.

Highlanders:
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Taniela Filimone, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), Jona Nareki, Cameron Millar, Folau Fakatava; Hugh Renton (co-captain), Veveni Lasaqa, Oliver Haig, Fabian Holland, Will Stodart, Sosefo Kautai, Henry Bell, Ethan de Groot.
Reserves: Jack Taylor, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma'u, Tai Cribb, Nikora Broughton, Adam Lennox, Sam Gilbert, Tanielu Tele'a.

Fijian Drua:
Caleb Muntz, Selestino Ravutaumada, Iosefo Masi, Inia Tabuavou, Ponipate Longanimasi, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Simione Kuruvoli, Elia Canakaivata, Isoa Tuwai, Joseva Tamani, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Mesake Doge, Mesulame Dolokoto, Haereiti Hetet.
Reserves: Zuriel Togiatama, Peni Ravai, Samuela Tawake, Leone Rotuisolia, Vilive Miramira, Philip Baselala, Isikeli Rabitu, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.

Finally, the return of Fakatava. Woot!

[Kiwias]

Bottom of the table battle for booby about to kick-off.

Clan vs Drua

[Gumboot]

Clan ahead 17-3 at HT.

[Gumboot]

Highlanders lead all the way and win 43-20, but the Drua brought plenty to a high tempo second half.

[Kiwias]

I switched over and watched the womens SR final, Matatu vs Blues. Absolutely cracker match but the evil empire won.

[Kiwias]

Brumbies starting to stretch their lead over the Reds.

31 - 19 with 24 mins to go

[Hugo]

Not fancy at all but Blues now leading 31 - 5

Watching the Blues batter MP with forward play made me think there really needs to be a world championship game between the winners of Super rugby & the European competition. Like the rugby league world championship.

If not every year then every 2 or 4 years. It's a no brainer to me.

[Guy Smiley]

Teams are up... ooooh boy

Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia 2. Asafo Aumua (cc) 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Caleb Delany 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere 6. Brad Shields (cc) 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc) 8. Peter Lakai 9. Cam Roigard 10. Ruben Love 11. Fatafehi Fineanganofo 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen 13. Bailyn Sullivan 14. Ngatungane Punivai 15. Callum Harkin.

Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu 17. Tevita Mafileo 18. Pasilio Tosi 19. Zach Gallagher 20. Brayden Iose 21. Ereatara Enari 22. Riley Higgins 23. Billy Proctor.

[Guy Smiley]

Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams 2. Codie Taylor 3. Fletcher Newell 4. Scott Barrett 5. Antonio Shalfoon 6. Cullen Grace 7. Ethan Blackadder 8. Christian Lio-Willie 9. Noah Hotham 10. Taha Kemara 11. Sevu Reece 12. David Havili (c) 13. Levi Aumua 14. Chay Fihaki 15. Will Jordan.

Bench: 16. Ioane Moananu 17. George Bower 18. Kershawl Sykes-Martin 19. Jamie Hannah 20. Corey Kellow 21. Kyle Preston 22. James O’Connor 23. Macca Springer


Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu’a 2. Ricky Riccitelli 3. Angus Ta’avao 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c) 5. Josh Beehre 6. Anton Segner 7. Dalton Papali’i 8. Hoskins Sotutu 9. Finlay Christie 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Mark Tele’a 12. A.J. Lam 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Cole Forbes 15. Zarn Sullivan

Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund 17. Mason Tupaea 18. Hamdahn Tuipulotu 19. Laghlan McWhannell 20. Cameron Suafoa 21. Adrian Choat 22. Taufa Funaki 23. Harry Plummer.

Moana Pasifika: 1. Abraham Pole 2. Samiuela Moli 3. Sione Mafile’o 4. Tom Savage 5. Michael Curry 6. Miracle Faiilagi 7. Sione Havili Talitui (c) 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa 9. Jonathan Taumateine 10. Patrick Pellegrini 11. Kyren Taumoefolau 12. Julian Savea 13. Pepesana Patafilo 14. Fine Inisi 15 Tevita Ofa.

Bench: 16. Sama Malolo 17. Monu Moli 18. Chris Apoua 19. Samuel Slade 20. Ola Tauelangi 21. Melani Matavao 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop 23. Danny Toala.

Chiefs: 1. Aidan Ross 2. Brodie McAlister 3. George Dyer 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi 5. Tupou Vaa’i 6. Samipeni Finau 7. Jahrome Brown 8. Luke Jacobson (c) 9. Xavier Roe 10. Damian McKenzie 11. Leroy Carter 12. Quinn Tupaea 13. Daniel Rona 14. Emoni Narawa 15. Shaun Stevenson.

Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho 17. Jared Proffit 18. Reuben O’Neill 19. Jimmy Tupou 20. Kaylum Boshier 21. Cortez Ratima 22. Josh Jacomb 23. Anton Lienert-Brown.

Highlanders: Ethan de Groot, Henry Bell, Sosefo Kautai, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Oliver Haig, Veveni Lasaqa, Hugh Renton (cc), Folau Fakatava, Cameron Millar, Jona Nareki, Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Taniela Filimone, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

Bench: Soane Vikena, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Te Kamaka Howden, Will Stodart, Adam Lennox, Sam Gilbert, Jonah Lowe.

[Kiwias]

Looking forward to seeing Love at 10!!

Damn, the Crusaders have a decent bench and Taylor back in the starting XV. Yessssss

[Gumboot]

Looking forward to seeing Love at 10!!

Damn, the Crusaders have a decent bench and Taylor back in the starting XV. Yessssss

Yep, the Saders are gonna boss the Blues pack. Vern knows it too, that's why he's got 6 forwards on the bench.

Good to see Love get a go at 10. Hohepa's been underwhelming. And great to see Higgins and Proctor on the bench. They'll be gagging for a run.

[Gumboot]

Great to see Zarn Sullivan back, after enduring such a horrendous run of injuries.

Edit: didn't realise how many quality players are coming back from injury this round.

[Enzedder]

Great to see Zarn Sullivan back, after enduring such a horrendous run of injuries.

Edit: didn't realise how many quality players are coming back from injury this round.

Agreed. We have Anton Leinert-Brown back on the bench and Sititi is about a further week away from playing.

[Guy Smiley]

This is a bit of irony... the Crusaders made a bit of a special effort to welcome Moana Pasifika into their home ground a few weeks ago and got soundly thrashed for their efforts

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360657500 ... a-backfire

It’s safe to say Angus Young’s iconic Thunderstruck guitar riff won’t fill the Addington air and welcome the Blues on to Apollo Projects Stadium on Friday night.

No AC/DC hype. And no Blues halftime themed show.

Makes sense. Although, given the Crusaders rolled out the welcome mat for Moana Pasifika before their shock defeat last month, the question had to be asked.

“We won’t be, no,” Crusaders boss Colin Mansbridge said, laughing.

It wasn’t a laughing matter after the Crusaders dished up some special treatment to Moana Pasifika at their Christchurch fortress, where opposing teams usually get anything but a warm welcome.

In fact, it’s understood some Crusaders were not enthused by the friendly reception and approached management in the aftermath of the team’s 45-29 defeat.

After the Crusaders received their usual rapturous welcome, they huddled on the field at a time the volume on the PA system is usually turned down.
The Crusaders celebrate a try against the Blues in Christchurch last year.John Davidson/photosport

However, AC/DC was soon blasting as a hyped Moana Pasifika sprinted on to the park, before going on to rip into the hosts en route to a famous boil over.

A Pasifika-themed halftime show was also dished up, before Moana Pasifika kept the Crusaders waiting for what felt like an age ahead of the second half.

Hidden away in the second half of the article is a surprising bit of financial trivia...

A sold out match at the 17,400 capacity Apollo Projects Stadium generates about $350,000 for the Crusaders, significantly less than the approximate $1 million the Blues make from a packed Eden Park fixture.

Despite ratepayer-owned Venues Ōtautahi giving them a “fairer” rental price recently, it’s left the Crusaders scratching to break even since 2012

That's impressive when you consider the on field performance over the same period.

[Flockwitt]

I'll be helping tonight, and effing miserable it's likely going to be too

[Guy Smiley]

Good man. It's finally stopped raining up here in the Bay after a full day and night of it. Once the rain clears we'll be dipping into some 'brisk morning weather' across the country, Chch is predicting 3C later in the week.

[OomStruisbaai]

Surprise to see the Aussie teams doing well.

[Gumboot]

Crusaders vs Blues kicking off shortly in Christchurch.

Expecting the Saders to be too strong at home.

[Guy Smiley]

Wet weather rugby but it's not too cold.

Interesting to see who deals with the greasy ball best.

[Kiwias]

Hotham looking better and better