Blues surge into Super Rugby semi-final grudge match with Crusaders
The Auckland Blues threw a huge spanner into the works of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs last week and on Friday will be out to do what no team has done in three decades of the competition as they battle for a spot in the final.
The defending champion Blues scraped into the playoffs with only six wins from 14 regular season games but hit their powerful stride last week to pip the top-seeded Waikato Chiefs by a point in Hamilton.
That earned them a trip to Christchurch to face the 12-times champion Crusaders, who last week extended their perfect home playoff record to 30 games with a convincing victory over the Queensland Reds.
The Crusaders are now the top seeds and will host the final if they can get past Vern Cotter's side in the latest edition of New Zealand's biggest grudge match, a fierce provincial rivalry that long precedes Super Rugby.
"There's been a Crusaders-Blues rivalry since Super began, but I think what's really etched into that, and runs right through that, is the Canterbury-Auckland rivalry," Crusaders assistant Brad Mooar said on Thursday.
"The icons of the game have had moments in those games and now it's this group's opportunity to be in the sun. The eyes are shining, lump in the throat."
Crusaders coach Rob Penney has made one enforced change for the clash with injured loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams replaced by fellow All Black George Bower. The Blues also made one change, Zarn Sullivan replacing Corey Evans at fullback.
"We're putting things together at the right time of the year," said Cotter. "The guys know how to win big games and that's our goal again on Friday night."
The Chiefs, runners-up for the last two years, are still alive in the competition as "lucky losers" and they host the ACT Brumbies at Waikato Stadium in Saturday's second semi-final.
The Brumbies, as with all Australian teams, have never won a playoff match in New Zealand but feel their win over the Wellington Hurricanes last week shows they have the stuff to break their run of three consecutive semi-final losses.
"There's full belief that if we come out on Saturday and deliver our game, we're able to put in a good performance," Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa said on Thursday.
"(It'll be) a physical game, for sure. It's going to be one on small margins, the physicality around the breakdown, and your carry intent. It's going to be a good battle."
The Brumbies have named an unchanged team studded with Wallabies as they look for their first win over the Chiefs in three years.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has captain Luke Jacobson back at flanker after injury and was able to name Quinn Tupaea in his side after the All Blacks centre recovered from a nasty gash to his eye and concussion.
"They're hardened, well-drilled and know how to close out a tight contest," McMillan said of the Brumbies. "Their performance against the Hurricanes shows they can be clinical and composed under pressure." REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Third round of US Open underway at soggy Oakmont
OAKMONT, Pennsylvania - The third round of the U.S. Open got underway at a soggy Oakmont Country Club on Saturday with the early starters trying to close in on halfway leader Sam Burns on a treacherous course that was saturated by overnight rain. Burns, a five-times winner on the PGA Tour seeking his first major title, is three under for the week and will head out in the day's final pairing at 3:35 p.m. ET (1935 GMT) with a one-shot lead over playing partner J.J. Spaun. Viktor Hovland, who is two shots off the pace and the only other player under par, will be in the penultimate pairing with Australian Adam Scott, who is a further shot adrift in a share of fourth place with Ben Griffin. Thriston Lawrence, who was looking at a three-foot par putt on his final hole Friday when lightning forced a stoppage in play with 13 players on the course, completed his second round early on Saturday and is four shots back with Victor Perez. Lurking five shots off the pace in a four-way share of eighth place is LIV Golf's Brooks Koepka, who counts two U.S. Open titles among his five majors. Koepka will head out at 2:51 p.m. ET with Kim Si-woo. All players inside the cut line, which landed at seven over on the week, entered the weekend within 10 strokes of Burns. Pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler, who was visibly frustrated while working on the range after a second-round 71 that left him seven shots off the lead, will set off at 1:02 p.m. ET alongside Cameron Young. "Around this golf course I don't think by any means I'm out of the tournament," Scheffler said on Friday. Former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, who made the cut on the number, went out early and bogeyed the opening hole. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Club World Cup a test of Chelsea's elite credentials
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and his players celebrate scoring against Real Betis in the Uefa Conference League final. PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON – After securing their return to the Champions League on the final day of the season, Chelsea have an early chance to show that they belong back among the elite this summer at the Club World Cup. Enzo Maresca's side beat Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League match to clinch fourth place after an inconsistent campaign, ending a two-season absence from Europe's top competition. The Blues, who reached Fifa's revamped and expanded Club World Cup by landing a second Champions League triumph in 2021, have been handed a favourable opening raft of fixtures in the United States. They begin their campaign in Group D on June 16 against Los Angeles FC, who battled through a play-off round against Club America to replace the disqualified Club Leon. After that opening fixture in Atlanta, Chelsea head north to face Brazilian team Flamengo (June 20) and Tunisia's Esperance (June 24), both in Philadelphia. 'We face formations from distant countries, with which there is no relationship (with us) like the other Premier teams or in Europe,' Maresca said. 'We prepare ourselves by trying to watch as many matches as possible of the opponents, analysing them in the smallest detail. 'We will play in America, in different stadiums and environments – it's all a novelty, not only for us, it's a new competition and anything can happen.' Los Angeles boast former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, although the 38-year-old is not a regular starter. Flamengo, who qualified by lifting the Copa Libertadores in 2022, are coached by well-regarded former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis. Esperance have won eight of the last nine Tunisian league titles but are considered the weakest team in the group. In the knock-out rounds, potential clashes against Bayern Munich and Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain may lie ahead. Chelsea won the competition in its previous format in 2022, beating Brazil's Palmeiras in the final. There will be special interest in how new Chelsea signing Liam Delap fares after his recent move from relegated Ipswich Town. The Blues beat Manchester United among other clubs in the race for the 22-year-old striker, who netted 12 times in 37 top-flight matches and moved for £30 million (S$52 million). Chelsea lacked firepower up front this season with Nicolas Jackson inconsistent and Christopher Nkunku struggling badly for form. Delap, the son of former Stoke midfielder Rory Delap, came through the Manchester City youth academy like Chelsea's star player, Cole Palmer. The England international's revival towards the end of the season is a positive sign, with Palmer dazzling in the Conference League final win over Real Betis. The 23-year-old missed Chelsea's pre-season tour of the US last summer and Maresca said it was a chance for the playmaker to take the country by storm. 'Palmer is up there with the very best top players who can produce something at any moment, create something out of nothing,' said the coach. 'He wasn't with me on the USA tour last summer, so it will also be a chance for him to experience the environment there and to introduce himself to North America.' Beating Betis in Poland earned Maresca his first trophy as Chelsea manager and a deep run in the US would be another sign that the Blues are heading in the right direction. Summer success is also important to the club's co-owners, US businessman Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital, with nearly £100 million on the line for the winners. While not among the set of top favourites, including English rivals City, 15-time European champions Real Madrid and PSG, Chelsea are still expected to reach the last eight. With fans not fully sold on Maresca's brand of possession football, and even Palmer saying he was 'sick' of the ball going from side to side in the Conference League final, another trophy could help soothe any tension in south-west London. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
McKenzie kicks Chiefs into third straight Super Rugby Pacific final
Damian McKenzie kicked 22 points as the Waikato Chiefs played near perfect playoff rugby to reach a third straight Super Rugby Pacific final with a convincing 37-17 win over the ACT Brumbies in Hamilton on Saturday. Emoni Narawa scored tries either side of halftime and Josh Jacomb also crossed but it was McKenzie's all-round game and almost perfect night from the kicking tee to punish Brumbies ill-discipline that proved the difference. The Chiefs, runners-up for the last two years, will travel to Christchurch next week to play for the title against the Canterbury Crusaders, who edged the reigning champion Auckland Blues 21-14 in Friday's first semi. "Outstanding performance from the lads," said All Blacks flyhalf McKenzie, who kicked six penalties and two conversions. "The Brumbies come out of the box fast, like we knew they would, and I just love the way we were really composed to stick to our game. "We put the ball in front of our forwards, and obviously our set piece was great tonight. So when we got into the 22 we managed to come away with points most of the time." The Brumbies had the better of possession and territory and also scored three tries but lost Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio to concussion in the 10th minute and spurned a few opportunities to kick for points when the game was still in the balance. "We had to play close to a perfect game to come out here and get the result," said skipper Allan Alaalatoa. "And we probably saw there in the second half that accuracy let us down. And off the back of that probably our discipline as well." The visitors, hoping to become the first Australian team to win a Super Rugby playoff in New Zealand, scored the opening try through hooker Billy Pollard in the 15th minute off a trademark rolling maul. The Chiefs were already a man down after Tupou Vaa'i had been sent to the sin bin for a high tackle but were back on level terms soon after the lock returned, Nawara picking up from the base of a ruck and going over unopposed. Two McKenzie penalties put the home side ahead before Brumbies winger Corey Toole reined them in with a try from a Jack Debreczeni crosskick. Another couple of McKenzie three-pointers gave the Chiefs a 19-12 halftime lead and they retained it even after Toole beat two tacklers to go over in the corner for his second try. Nawara grabbed his brace in the 47th minute and three more McKenzie kicks extended the lead to 32-17 going into the last quarter. McKenzie got the assist when Jacomb went over in the 65th minute and the flyhalf made amends for missing the conversion - his only kicking blemish - by racing back and putting in a try-saving tackle on Brumbies fullback Tom Wright a minute later. The visitors kept hammering away trying to snap their run of three successive semi-final losses but the Chiefs held firm to earn the trip to Christchurch, where the Crusaders are unbeaten in 31 playoff matches over three decades of Super Rugby. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
