NPR

14-12 MP leading. Canes will need to set up otherwises a third upset

Great to see Ruben Love looking so sharp.

Two superb touchline conversions.

Pelegrini having a greta start to the 2nd half

28-12

Canes will be lucky to come second at this rate.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 6:50 am Players chucking those miss passes should be forced to listen to Trump speeches for a week.

That would be reportable to the Geneva Convention as "cruel and unreasonable punishment".

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 7:32 am Canes will be lucky to come second at this rate.

MP are really stomping all over them

Great stuff!

Horrorcanes did lose to the Blosers after all...

...

Please hold on.

YES!

Missed conversion!

Well done MP, thoroughly deserved that!

As you guys said Pellegrini was superb.

More nervous watching that game than any Blues game this season! Elated for Ardie and the team.

Really fun comp so far.

Has there ever been a Supe round in which every Kiwi side lost?

Unthinkable.

So now it's up to the plucky Saders to at least partially restore our national pride and honour, and save us from utter humiliation.

While cheering for Crusaders as a kiwi, I honestly am very relaxed if we have all kiwi teams lose this weekend. We got the comp I have always wanted. Seems the idea of dropping one Aussie team (much as I disliked them being thrown out) is showing to be what comp needed.

Dan54 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 1:35 am While cheering for Crusaders as a kiwi, I honestly am very relaxed if we have all kiwi teams lose this weekend. We got the comp I have always wanted. Seems the idea of dropping one Aussie team (much as I disliked them being thrown out) is showing to be what comp needed.

Sacrilege! Burn the heathen!!

But yeah, not too bothered either. After all, it's only Supe. Not like it's test footy.

The next best thing though, Saders - don't forget that! The weight of an entire nation's expectations sits on your manly shoulders!

Crusaders vs Reds about to kick off in balmy Christchurch...

Dan54 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 1:35 am While cheering for Crusaders as a kiwi, I honestly am very relaxed if we have all kiwi teams lose this weekend. We got the comp I have always wanted. Seems the idea of dropping one Aussie team (much as I disliked them being thrown out) is showing to be what comp needed.

It's been a great comp thus far. Hard to predict winners and losers and some great rugby.
Frankly after years of becoming ever increasingly apathetic to rugby it has rekindled my interest in the game.

First break in play was after 3 minutes from kick-off.

Game on.

Day time rugby is awesome. So is this game, huge hits coming in. Bit of mishandling but both teams up to it and playing enterprising rugby.

Crusaders really starting to look like the team of old. Reece and Jordan both look dangerous all the time

Saders ahead 29-14 after an entertaining first half. Good to see the Reds bringing plenty of enterprise.

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 3:04 am Day time rugby is awesome.

Amen to that. And it seems NZ has been experiencing some lovely weather of late.

Hugo wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 2:32 amIt's been a great comp thus far. Hard to predict winners and losers and some great rugby.
Frankly after years of becoming ever increasingly apathetic to rugby it has rekindled my interest in the game.

Getting a bit angry with how easily we are letting the Reds big boys charge up the middle and make lots of ground

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 3:19 am

Hugo wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 2:32 amIt's been a great comp thus far. Hard to predict winners and losers and some great rugby.
Frankly after years of becoming ever increasingly apathetic to rugby it has rekindled my interest in the game.

Yup

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 3:21 am

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 3:19 am

Hugo wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 2:32 amIt's been a great comp thus far. Hard to predict winners and losers and some great rugby.
Frankly after years of becoming ever increasingly apathetic to rugby it has rekindled my interest in the game.

Yup

Anyone know why Grace was replaced at HT?

Saders prevail 43-19 after a clunky old second half.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 4:20 am Saders prevail 43-19 after a clunky old second half.

Second half was a bit messy but that post game interview with Scott Barrett explains it all… the ball in play factor this year is really putting these guys under pressure and they’re ‘on’ all the time. He was still knackered 5-10 minutes after the whistle.

This week is a "Supe Hero" round, so expect games to be inundated with all manner of fluffy marketing nonsense...

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/ ... FQLGWKRTU/

Dmac back for Chiefs & Papali'l back, Finlay Christie dropped and Plummer in at 10 for the Blues.

Dan54 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 1:35 am While cheering for Crusaders as a kiwi, I honestly am very relaxed if we have all kiwi teams lose this weekend. We got the comp I have always wanted. Seems the idea of dropping one Aussie team (much as I disliked them being thrown out) is showing to be what comp needed.

Aust needed to drop to three teams if NZ stayed at 5 . But 6/4 might be ok

It's also good to see the Highlanders showing improved form. Unsure who to pick in the first game

MP will be worth watching esp now that they seem to have found a class 1st 5. Made a huge difference

Incredible Hulk Highlanders vs Captain America Hurricanes kicking off shortly in Dunedin.

Highlanders:
Sam Gilbert, Caleb Tangitau, Tanielu Tele’a, Timoci Tavatavanawai (capt), Jona Nareki, Taine Robinson, Nathan Hastie; Nikora Broughton, Sean Withy, Te Kamaka (TK) Howden, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Saula Ma'u, Jack Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Soane Vikena, Josh Bartlett, Sefo Kautai, Will Stodart, Veveni Lasaqa, James Arscott, Ajay Faleafaga, Jake Te Hiwi.

Hurricanes:
Ruben Love, Ngatungane Punivai, Bailyn Sullivan, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Kini Naholo, Harry Godfrey, Cam Roigard; Peter Lakai, DuPlessis Kirifi (co-capt), Brad Shields (co-capt), Zach Gallagher, Caleb Delany, Tevita Mafileo, Jacob Devery, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brayden Iose, Jordi Viljoen, Riley Hohepa, Fatafehi Fineanganofo.

Hulks ahead 11-8 at HT.

Gilbert missed two kicks in the last 5 mins, either of which would have won it for the Clan

Canes take it 20-18.