Latest news with #EmoniNarawa
RNZ News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Chiefs coach McMillan does not fear Crusaders ahead of Super Rugby Pacific final
Emoni Narawa of the Chiefs dives to score a try. Photo: Jeremy Ward / Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan is refusing to be overawed by the prospect of facing the Crusaders in their Christchurch stronghold when the teams face off in the Super Rugby Pacific final later this week. The Crusaders have won 31 consecutive playoff matches on home soil in the competition over the last three decades and will take on the Chiefs on Saturday after handing the Blues a 21-14 defeat on Friday. The Chiefs, who finished on top of the regular season standings, beat the ACT Brumbies 37-17 in the semi-finals on Saturday to advance to a third consecutive decider, prompting McMillan to dismiss concerns over the Crusaders' home record. "We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," he said. "We're one team that's had our fair share of success down there. "We know it's not going to be easy. They've got a formidable record and they're a quality team and they demonstrated that [against the Blues]. "You've got to be at your best, you've got to take every opportunity that presents itself and the best team on the day will win. "It's a hostile reception down there no matter when you go, first round of the year or the final. We're pretty accustomed to that and we can generate some energy off that." Will Jordan of the Crusaders scores a try during the Super Rugby Pacific Semi Final against the Blues, 2025. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 The Chiefs' confidence will be boosted by the 35-19 win they secured over the Crusaders in May, although a defeat to the Blues in the first round of playoffs saw McMillan's side surrender their home field advantage in the final. McMillan will send his players into the decider determined that they work as a team rather than as individuals to claim the title for the first time since 2013. "We've got to embrace the opportunity that's directly in front of us and we've got to get down to get it done," he said. "There won't be any one (person) that will do that, it will be the collective. "Our Achilles heel in the past has been that we've wanted something so bad that it becomes detrimental sometimes. You try a little bit too hard. "All we have to do is back ourselves and do what we've done all year; play Chiefs rugby, work hard for each other, nail the small moments, apply enough pressure on the Crusaders that they feel that pressure. "If you win enough of those, you give yourself enough of a chance of walking away with the title." - Reuters
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
The Chiefs beat ACT Brumbies and will face the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final
HAMILTON, New Zealand — The Hamilton-based Chiefs will travel to Christchurch to play the Crusaders in next weekend's Super Rugby final after beating the ACT Brumbies 37-17 on Saturday to reach the title match for the third-straight year. Winger Emoni Narawa scored two tries for the Chiefs and Corey Toole scored a double for the Brumbies as each side scored three tries.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Chiefs beat ACT Brumbies and will face the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final
HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Hamilton-based Chiefs will travel to Christchurch to play the Crusaders in next weekend's Super Rugby final after beating the ACT Brumbies 37-17 on Saturday to reach the title match for the third-straight year. Winger Emoni Narawa scored two tries for the Chiefs and Corey Toole scored a double for the Brumbies as each side scored three tries. Advertisement Chiefs flyhalf Damian McKenzie separated the teams, kicking six penalties and two conversions for 22 points to surpass 200 points for the season. Fullback Josh Jacomb scored the Chiefs' third try in the 64th minute to establish a 20-point margin and McKenzie's try-saving tackle on Tom Wright two minutes later snuffed out a potential Brumbies rally. 'The Brumbies came out of the blocks fast as we knew they would and I just love the way we were really composed and stuck to our game,' McKenzie said. 'We put the ball in front of our forwards and our set piece was great tonight.' The Brumbies were Australia's last hope in the playoffs as they attempted to win the Super Rugby title for the first time since 2004. Their defeat means Australian teams are now 0-21 in Super Rugby matches in New Zealand. Advertisement The Brumbies suffered a major blow when Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio failed a head injury assessment in the 11th minute. The kicking game was integral to the Brumbies' plan and while they used it to keep pressure on the Chiefs and to gain field position, Lolesio's early departure was a turning point. The Brumbies had the Chiefs under defensive pressure for long periods in both halves but while hooker Billy Pollard opened the scoring with a try from a lineout drive in the 15th minute the Chiefs were later able to neutralize that threat. Pollard's early try followed his double in the Brumbies' quarterfinal win over the Wellington-based Hurricanes. He finishes with 11 tries for the season as does Toole, who scored his tries on either side of halftime. Narawa scored his first try in the 20th minute, picking the ball up from the base of an attacking ruck and scything through the Brumbies' defense. Advertisement Toole scored off a precise cross-kick from replacement flyhalf Jack Debreczeni, who previously played for the Chiefs. But penalties to McKenzie gave the Chiefs a 19-12 lead at halftime. Toole scored three minutes after the restart after a lone dash down the left-wing touch. The Brumbies were right in the match at that point, trailing 19-17. But Narawa scored his second four minutes later to begin a run of 18 unanswered points by the Chiefs. The Chiefs will now attempt to go one step further after losing in the final to the Crusaders and the Blues in each of the last two years. They will attempt in Christchurch next Saturday to win their third Super Rugby title and first since 2013 which the Crusaders are seeking their 13th championship. ___ AP rugby:
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
The Chiefs beat ACT Brumbies and will face the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final
HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Hamilton-based Chiefs will travel to Christchurch to play the Crusaders in next weekend's Super Rugby final after beating the ACT Brumbies 37-17 on Saturday to reach the title match for the third-straight year. Winger Emoni Narawa scored two tries for the Chiefs and Corey Toole scored a double for the Brumbies as each side scored three tries. Chiefs flyhalf Damian McKenzie separated the teams, kicking six penalties and two conversions for 22 points to surpass 200 points for the season. Fullback Josh Jacomb scored the Chiefs' third try in the 64th minute to establish a 20-point margin and McKenzie's try-saving tackle on Tom Wright two minutes later snuffed out a potential Brumbies rally. 'The Brumbies came out of the blocks fast as we knew they would and I just love the way we were really composed and stuck to our game,' McKenzie said. 'We put the ball in front of our forwards and our set piece was great tonight.' The Brumbies were Australia's last hope in the playoffs as they attempted to win the Super Rugby title for the first time since 2004. Their defeat means Australian teams are now 0-21 in Super Rugby matches in New Zealand. The Brumbies suffered a major blow when Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio failed a head injury assessment in the 11th minute. The kicking game was integral to the Brumbies' plan and while they used it to keep pressure on the Chiefs and to gain field position, Lolesio's early departure was a turning point. The Brumbies had the Chiefs under defensive pressure for long periods in both halves but while hooker Billy Pollard opened the scoring with a try from a lineout drive in the 15th minute the Chiefs were later able to neutralize that threat. Pollard's early try followed his double in the Brumbies' quarterfinal win over the Wellington-based Hurricanes. He finishes with 11 tries for the season as does Toole, who scored his tries on either side of halftime. Narawa scored his first try in the 20th minute, picking the ball up from the base of an attacking ruck and scything through the Brumbies' defense. Toole scored off a precise cross-kick from replacement flyhalf Jack Debreczeni, who previously played for the Chiefs. But penalties to McKenzie gave the Chiefs a 19-12 lead at halftime. Toole scored three minutes after the restart after a lone dash down the left-wing touch. The Brumbies were right in the match at that point, trailing 19-17. But Narawa scored his second four minutes later to begin a run of 18 unanswered points by the Chiefs. The Chiefs will now attempt to go one step further after losing in the final to the Crusaders and the Blues in each of the last two years. They will attempt in Christchurch next Saturday to win their third Super Rugby title and first since 2013 which the Crusaders are seeking their 13th championship. ___ AP rugby:
Mint
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Chiefs topple the Crusaders in Super Rugby; injuries hit Wallabies Lolesio and Suaalii
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Chiefs' 35-19 win over the Crusaders in the 13th round of Super Rugby on Saturday broke the deadlock atop the table and clearly established the Hamilton, New Zealand-based Chiefs as the best team in the tournament this season. The match at the Crusaders' headquarters in Christchurch was one of only four in the round but all four changed the order of the playoff race. The Chiefs moved two points clear atop the table while the ACT Brumbies beat the Western Force 33-14 to leapfrog the Crusaders into second place. The Auckland-based Blues beat the Fijian Drua 34-5 in a rare night match in Fiji, moving up to fifth place and leaving the Drua last and now out of playoff contention. The Queensland Reds consolidated fourth place when they beat perpetual rivals the New South Wales Waratahs 28-21 to leave the Waratahs with only a tenuous hope of making the playoffs from their current eighth place. The Chiefs began energetically against the Crusaders, winning quick ball and moving it at pace, looking dangerous. But the Crusaders dominated at the tackle, producing handling errors and turnovers from which they achieved field position. The Crusaders were clinical from close range, scoring three tries to lead 19-3. The tide turned when the Chiefs scored through winger Emoni Narawa in first-half stoppage time, putting themselves back in the match at 19-10. Flyhalf Damian McKenzie capped an exceptional match with a try in the third minute of the second half, then left winger Leroy Carter went almost 80 meters to score the try that gave the Chiefs their first lead. Backrower Wallace Sititi clinched the win and his comeback from a serious injury with a try in the 73rd minute. McKenzie kicked three penalties and three conversions which, along with his try, gave him 20 points overall. He now must be the leading candidate for the All Blacks No. 10 jersey against France in July. The Chiefs came into the match level on points with the Crusaders but in first place on points differential. That followed their loss to the Wellington-based Hurricanes in round 12. 'The reality we just kind of got beaten up last week and that didn't sit well with anybody," coach Clayton McMillan said. "We knew we had to stand up physically, both sides of the ball. That's something that the Chiefs pride themselves on.' Japan-bound Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio caused concern when he was take from the field on a stretcher in Saturday's match between the Brumbies and Western Force with a suspected spinal injury. The 25-year-old Lolesio was caught in an awkward position attempting a cleanout at a breakdown. Play was suspended for some time while he received medical care before being carried from the field. Before the match had finished news came from the Brumbies' dressing room that Lolesio had movement in his arms and legs. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham later provide a positive update. 'He's gone to hospital,' Larkham said. 'I think he's getting some scans but he's got full function and full feeling.' On Friday, Wallabies fullback Joseph-Aukuso Sua'alii also was taken from the field on a medical vehicle and in a neck brace after a heavy collision in the match between the Waratahs and Reds. He suffered a serious concussion. Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said Sua'alii had been groggy but later left the stadium with his parents. The Drua's preparation for Friday's crucial match against the Blues was disrupted when players learned hours before kickoff of the death in France of former Fiji sevens international Josaia Raisuqe. The 30-year-old Raisuqe played for the French Top 14 club Castres. He died in a traffic accident on the way to training and was a friend and former teammate of many of the Drua players. In a social media post, the Drua said 'our hearts are heavy. We lost more than a player. We lost a brother, a teammate and a true son of Fijian rugby.'
