Latest news with #DaveRennie
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Chiefs seem ready to win the Super Rugby title after losing in the final twice
Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Chiefs head into the first round of Super Rugby playoffs as top seeds and favorites, poised to win their first title since 2013 after finishing runners-up in the last two seasons. The Hamilton-based Chiefs will face the Auckland-based Blues on Saturday in a repeat of last year's final, which was won by the Blues 40-10. This year, the Blues are seeded sixth in the qualifying playoffs and the advantage — not just home advantage — seems to be with the Chiefs, who won 11 of 14 matches in the regular season. 'It's only our time if we make it our time,' Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson said. 'We have to earn everything. We've learned a bit over the last few years in coming close. I'd like to think we're in a better spot than we were last year.' The second-seeded Crusaders will host the fifth-seeded Queensland Reds in the first playoff match in Christchurch on Friday and the third-seeded Brumbies will host the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday. In a quirk of the new playoffs system, the Brumbies and Hurricanes will both progress to the semifinals if the top two seeds win their matches. The winner in Canberra would go through automatically, the other as the highest-ranked loser. Chiefs in charge The Chiefs seem fated to win their third Super Rugby title after losing in last year's final to the Blues in losing the 2023 final to the Crusaders, 25-20. The Chiefs have won the title twice before, in 2012 and 2013 under Dave Rennie, who went on to become Wallabies coach. This year under Clayton McMillan, who will leave New Zealand after the final to coach Munster in Ireland, the Chiefs have been at the top of the standings throughout the season. They have twice beaten the Blues, 25-14 in Round 1 and 32-31 in Round 5; have beaten the Crusaders 49-24 and 35-19; the Brumbies 49-34; the Reds 27-15, though they lost to the Hurricanes 35-17. The Chiefs' style, playing at high tempo and using the width of the field, is hard to counter. The Hurricanes showed the best way is to deprive the Chiefs of possession. When they have the ball, flyhalf Damian McKenzie orchestrates the Chiefs attack superbly. The Blues play much more conservatively and in the middle of the field and have been at sixes and sevens when stretched. The Crusaders have bounced back from a 2024 season in which they won only four matches to again reach the playoffs. They also have won 11 games this season but have scored fewer and conceded more points than the Chiefs. Australian prospects The Reds and Brumbies carry Australia's hopes into the finals, with the knowledge no Australian team has won a playoff match in New Zealand in 19 attempts. The Brumbies are 0-8 and the Reds 0-4 in the post-season in New Zealand. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will keep a close on the playoffs and the selection spotlight for the Australian squad will be on the Reds' backrow and flyhalf Tom Lynagh. 'We won't let the occasion really dictate but we know you've just got to play smart footy in finals. That's balance really, so you are playing in the right areas of the field," Lynagh said. "When things don't go our way, it's making sure you get little wins and stack them to get back momentum.' The Brumbies again are the top-ranked Australian team in the playoffs. They won twice against New Zealand opponents during the regular season but lost to the Hurricanes 35-29 in Canberra. 'We are the last game this weekend but we've been pretty firm on making sure that we get a good performance out there on the field,' coach Stephen Larkham said. 'Irrespective of the other results, we need to know that we're playing well. We can't get distracted by these other games and the other results.' ___ AP rugby: recommended
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Chiefs seem ready to win the Super Rugby title after losing in the final twice
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Chiefs head into the first round of Super Rugby playoffs as top seeds and favorites, poised to win their first title since 2013 after finishing runners-up in the last two seasons. The Hamilton-based Chiefs will face the Auckland-based Blues on Saturday in a repeat of last year's final, which was won by the Blues 40-10. This year, the Blues are seeded sixth in the qualifying playoffs and the advantage — not just home advantage — seems to be with the Chiefs, who won 11 of 14 matches in the regular season. 'It's only our time if we make it our time,' Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson said. 'We have to earn everything. We've learned a bit over the last few years in coming close. I'd like to think we're in a better spot than we were last year.' The second-seeded Crusaders will host the fifth-seeded Queensland Reds in the first playoff match in Christchurch on Friday and the third-seeded Brumbies will host the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday. In a quirk of the new playoffs system, the Brumbies and Hurricanes will both progress to the semifinals if the top two seeds win their matches. The winner in Canberra would go through automatically, the other as the highest-ranked loser. Chiefs in charge The Chiefs seem fated to win their third Super Rugby title after losing in last year's final to the Blues in losing the 2023 final to the Crusaders, 25-20. The Chiefs have won the title twice before, in 2012 and 2013 under Dave Rennie, who went on to become Wallabies coach. This year under Clayton McMillan, who will leave New Zealand after the final to coach Munster in Ireland, the Chiefs have been at the top of the standings throughout the season. They have twice beaten the Blues, 25-14 in Round 1 and 32-31 in Round 5; have beaten the Crusaders 49-24 and 35-19; the Brumbies 49-34; the Reds 27-15, though they lost to the Hurricanes 35-17. The Chiefs' style, playing at high tempo and using the width of the field, is hard to counter. The Hurricanes showed the best way is to deprive the Chiefs of possession. When they have the ball, flyhalf Damian McKenzie orchestrates the Chiefs attack superbly. The Blues play much more conservatively and in the middle of the field and have been at sixes and sevens when stretched. The Crusaders have bounced back from a 2024 season in which they won only four matches to again reach the playoffs. They also have won 11 games this season but have scored fewer and conceded more points than the Chiefs. Australian prospects The Reds and Brumbies carry Australia's hopes into the finals, with the knowledge no Australian team has won a playoff match in New Zealand in 19 attempts. The Brumbies are 0-8 and the Reds 0-4 in the post-season in New Zealand. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will keep a close on the playoffs and the selection spotlight for the Australian squad will be on the Reds' backrow and flyhalf Tom Lynagh. 'We won't let the occasion really dictate but we know you've just got to play smart footy in finals. That's balance really, so you are playing in the right areas of the field,' Lynagh said. 'When things don't go our way, it's making sure you get little wins and stack them to get back momentum.' The Brumbies again are the top-ranked Australian team in the playoffs. They won twice against New Zealand opponents during the regular season but lost to the Hurricanes 35-29 in Canberra. 'We are the last game this weekend but we've been pretty firm on making sure that we get a good performance out there on the field,' coach Stephen Larkham said. 'Irrespective of the other results, we need to know that we're playing well. We can't get distracted by these other games and the other results.' ___ AP rugby:
The Advertiser
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Steelers storm their way into Japan Rugby semi-finals
The Kobe Steelers, coached by former Wallabies mentor Dave Rennie, are through to the semi-finals in Japan Rugby League One after upsetting Aussie Sam Greene's in-form Shizuoka Blue Revs. On a damp Saturday afternoon in Osaka, former Chiefs flyhalf Bryn Gatland starred for Kobe, creating two of his side's four tries in the 35-20 quarter-final victory. This included the game's defining score in the 73rd minute when a perfectly placed cross-kick found winger Inoke Burua, who steamrolled over luckless Shizuoka fullback Futo Yamaguchi, who is 26kg lighter than the Kobe man, to push the Steelers ahead 29-20. Two late penalty goals from the Kobe flyhalf completed the victory, allowing the New Zealander to finish the afternoon with 13 points. Former Dolphins centre Valynce Te Whare had earlier scored the opening try for the Blue Revs off a cleverly worked midfield move, but the ex-NRL cult figure's eighth try of the season was followed nine minutes later by his concession of a penalty try. The 24-year-old also received a yellow card from the high-tackle incident after mistiming an attempt to prevent Kobe winger Kazuma Ueda from scoring in the corner. Kobe face defending champions Brave Lupus Tokyo in Saturday's opening semi-final. Rennie is one of two ex-Australian coaches who will feature in the second round of the playoffs, with the Robbie Deans-coached Saitama Wild Knights to meet Bernard Foley's Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay on Sunday, after the latter beat Tokyo Sungoliath 20-15 in a nervous finish. Former All Black skipper Sam Cane and Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe both scored tries for Sungoliath on Sunday, but they were unable to overcome a high error rate alongside the concession of a 14-9 penalty count. The accuracy of Foley off the goalkicking tee also proved pivotal, with the Wallaby successful with all three of his attempts, while Kolbe missed three out of five for Sungoliath. The Kobe Steelers, coached by former Wallabies mentor Dave Rennie, are through to the semi-finals in Japan Rugby League One after upsetting Aussie Sam Greene's in-form Shizuoka Blue Revs. On a damp Saturday afternoon in Osaka, former Chiefs flyhalf Bryn Gatland starred for Kobe, creating two of his side's four tries in the 35-20 quarter-final victory. This included the game's defining score in the 73rd minute when a perfectly placed cross-kick found winger Inoke Burua, who steamrolled over luckless Shizuoka fullback Futo Yamaguchi, who is 26kg lighter than the Kobe man, to push the Steelers ahead 29-20. Two late penalty goals from the Kobe flyhalf completed the victory, allowing the New Zealander to finish the afternoon with 13 points. Former Dolphins centre Valynce Te Whare had earlier scored the opening try for the Blue Revs off a cleverly worked midfield move, but the ex-NRL cult figure's eighth try of the season was followed nine minutes later by his concession of a penalty try. The 24-year-old also received a yellow card from the high-tackle incident after mistiming an attempt to prevent Kobe winger Kazuma Ueda from scoring in the corner. Kobe face defending champions Brave Lupus Tokyo in Saturday's opening semi-final. Rennie is one of two ex-Australian coaches who will feature in the second round of the playoffs, with the Robbie Deans-coached Saitama Wild Knights to meet Bernard Foley's Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay on Sunday, after the latter beat Tokyo Sungoliath 20-15 in a nervous finish. Former All Black skipper Sam Cane and Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe both scored tries for Sungoliath on Sunday, but they were unable to overcome a high error rate alongside the concession of a 14-9 penalty count. The accuracy of Foley off the goalkicking tee also proved pivotal, with the Wallaby successful with all three of his attempts, while Kolbe missed three out of five for Sungoliath. The Kobe Steelers, coached by former Wallabies mentor Dave Rennie, are through to the semi-finals in Japan Rugby League One after upsetting Aussie Sam Greene's in-form Shizuoka Blue Revs. On a damp Saturday afternoon in Osaka, former Chiefs flyhalf Bryn Gatland starred for Kobe, creating two of his side's four tries in the 35-20 quarter-final victory. This included the game's defining score in the 73rd minute when a perfectly placed cross-kick found winger Inoke Burua, who steamrolled over luckless Shizuoka fullback Futo Yamaguchi, who is 26kg lighter than the Kobe man, to push the Steelers ahead 29-20. Two late penalty goals from the Kobe flyhalf completed the victory, allowing the New Zealander to finish the afternoon with 13 points. Former Dolphins centre Valynce Te Whare had earlier scored the opening try for the Blue Revs off a cleverly worked midfield move, but the ex-NRL cult figure's eighth try of the season was followed nine minutes later by his concession of a penalty try. The 24-year-old also received a yellow card from the high-tackle incident after mistiming an attempt to prevent Kobe winger Kazuma Ueda from scoring in the corner. Kobe face defending champions Brave Lupus Tokyo in Saturday's opening semi-final. Rennie is one of two ex-Australian coaches who will feature in the second round of the playoffs, with the Robbie Deans-coached Saitama Wild Knights to meet Bernard Foley's Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay on Sunday, after the latter beat Tokyo Sungoliath 20-15 in a nervous finish. Former All Black skipper Sam Cane and Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe both scored tries for Sungoliath on Sunday, but they were unable to overcome a high error rate alongside the concession of a 14-9 penalty count. The accuracy of Foley off the goalkicking tee also proved pivotal, with the Wallaby successful with all three of his attempts, while Kolbe missed three out of five for Sungoliath.
West Australian
18-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Steelers storm their way into Japan Rugby semi-finals
The Kobe Steelers, coached by former Wallabies mentor Dave Rennie, are through to the semi-finals in Japan Rugby League One after upsetting Aussie Sam Greene's in-form Shizuoka Blue Revs. On a damp Saturday afternoon in Osaka, former Chiefs flyhalf Bryn Gatland starred for Kobe, creating two of his side's four tries in the 35-20 quarter-final victory. This included the game's defining score in the 73rd minute when a perfectly placed cross-kick found winger Inoke Burua, who steamrolled over luckless Shizuoka fullback Futo Yamaguchi, who is 26kg lighter than the Kobe man, to push the Steelers ahead 29-20. Two late penalty goals from the Kobe flyhalf completed the victory, allowing the New Zealander to finish the afternoon with 13 points. Former Dolphins centre Valynce Te Whare had earlier scored the opening try for the Blue Revs off a cleverly worked midfield move, but the ex-NRL cult figure's eighth try of the season was followed nine minutes later by his concession of a penalty try. The 24-year-old also received a yellow card from the high-tackle incident after mistiming an attempt to prevent Kobe winger Kazuma Ueda from scoring in the corner. Kobe face defending champions Brave Lupus Tokyo in Saturday's opening semi-final. Rennie is one of two ex-Australian coaches who will feature in the second round of the playoffs, with the Robbie Deans-coached Saitama Wild Knights to meet Bernard Foley's Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay on Sunday, after the latter beat Tokyo Sungoliath 20-15 in a nervous finish. Former All Black skipper Sam Cane and Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe both scored tries for Sungoliath on Sunday, but they were unable to overcome a high error rate alongside the concession of a 14-9 penalty count. The accuracy of Foley off the goalkicking tee also proved pivotal, with the Wallaby successful with all three of his attempts, while Kolbe missed three out of five for Sungoliath.
Perth Now
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Steelers storm their way into Japan Rugby semi-finals
The Kobe Steelers, coached by former Wallabies mentor Dave Rennie, are through to the semi-finals in Japan Rugby League One after upsetting Aussie Sam Greene's in-form Shizuoka Blue Revs. On a damp Saturday afternoon in Osaka, former Chiefs flyhalf Bryn Gatland starred for Kobe, creating two of his side's four tries in the 35-20 quarter-final victory. This included the game's defining score in the 73rd minute when a perfectly placed cross-kick found winger Inoke Burua, who steamrolled over luckless Shizuoka fullback Futo Yamaguchi, who is 26kg lighter than the Kobe man, to push the Steelers ahead 29-20. Two late penalty goals from the Kobe flyhalf completed the victory, allowing the New Zealander to finish the afternoon with 13 points. Former Dolphins centre Valynce Te Whare had earlier scored the opening try for the Blue Revs off a cleverly worked midfield move, but the ex-NRL cult figure's eighth try of the season was followed nine minutes later by his concession of a penalty try. The 24-year-old also received a yellow card from the high-tackle incident after mistiming an attempt to prevent Kobe winger Kazuma Ueda from scoring in the corner. Kobe face defending champions Brave Lupus Tokyo in Saturday's opening semi-final. Rennie is one of two ex-Australian coaches who will feature in the second round of the playoffs, with the Robbie Deans-coached Saitama Wild Knights to meet Bernard Foley's Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay on Sunday, after the latter beat Tokyo Sungoliath 20-15 in a nervous finish. Former All Black skipper Sam Cane and Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe both scored tries for Sungoliath on Sunday, but they were unable to overcome a high error rate alongside the concession of a 14-9 penalty count. The accuracy of Foley off the goalkicking tee also proved pivotal, with the Wallaby successful with all three of his attempts, while Kolbe missed three out of five for Sungoliath.
