Latest news with #OtagoHighlanders
Reuters
30-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Chiefs down Highlanders to secure Super Rugby top spot
SYDNEY, May 30 (Reuters) - Lock Tupou Vaa'i scored a hat-trick of tries as the Waikato Chiefs locked up top spot in the Super Rugby Pacific standings and home advantage throughout the playoffs with a 41-21 victory over the Otago Highlanders on Friday. Runners-up for the last two years, the Chiefs did not hit the heights they have this year in their final regular season clash but always looked like having enough to get past a young Highlanders side. "Although the game wasn't perfect, we got the win," said Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson. "We got the four points, and we're at the top, and we can change our focus to what's in front of us in the quarter-final next week now. Credit to the Highlanders. They were gutsy as tonight." The Chiefs thrashed Moana Pasifika 85-7 last week and looked like running rampant again when they raced to a 19-0 lead inside the first 13 minutes under the roof at Dunedin Stadium. Flanker Samipeni Finau went over to open the scoring before All Black Vaa'i crossed twice in the space of two minutes but the Highlanders gradually worked their way back into the game. Prop Ethan de Groot got one try back from close range on the half-hour mark and, with Chiefs tighthead Reuben O'Neill in the sin bin, the ever-dangerous Timoci Tavatavanawai added another to cut the deficit to 19-14 at halftime. Scrumhalf Xavier Roe raced away down the blindside to give the Chiefs the perfect start to the second half and replacement back Manasa Mataele gave them a 31-17 lead heading into the final quarter, but the Highlanders would not lie down. Sam Gilbert ran onto a clever Tanielu Tele'a kick to score a try in his final appearance for the Highlanders seven minutes from time and they would have got closer had Cortez Ratima not come up with a brilliant try-saving cover tackle. Vaa'i was not done yet, however, and he pounced on a loose ball from a goal-line drop out in the final minute to condemn the Highlanders to the wooden spoon for the first time since the second season of Super Rugby in 1997. "I think we got it right at times, it's just, again, small moments," said co-captain de Groot. "I'm excited for this group. We can do some special things. I'm excited for next season."
Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
'Grumpy old bugger' Penney focused on Crusaders, not contract
Canterbury Crusaders coach Rob Penney has put aside contract talks with club management to focus on the team's run to the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs, chief executive Colin Mansbridge said. The Crusaders are second on the table ahead of Saturday's away clash against the Otago Highlanders, a stunning revival after finishing ninth in Penney's difficult first season in charge last year. Penney's two-year contract is set to expire at the end of this season but he is in no hurry to talk about extending, Mansbridge said. "Whenever you're dropping hints or trying to talk about it, he's just saying 'let's get through this season'," Mansbridge told the New Zealand Herald. "He is laser-focused on this team, this year. He doesn't want any distractions in his way." Having replaced Scott Robertson, who delivered seven championship trophies in seven years at the Crusaders, Penney struggled with the loss of key players to injuries and overseas contracts in 2024. With fans up in arms and media pundits demanding change as the losses piled up, Crusaders management came under huge pressure to sack Penney. But Mansbridge publicly backed the coach to turn things around, and Penney survived an end-of-season review to put the Crusaders back in championship contention six weeks out from the playoffs. Mansbridge said he was "stoked" for Penney, who had carried a heavy burden to lift the team. "When he's seeing people struggle, that impacts him," Mansbridge said. "He's much more sensitive than the grumpy old bugger you see sometimes." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Wallabies enforcer Valetini returns for Brumbies, Waratahs' Suaalii still out
MELBOURNE, March 19 (Reuters) - Rob Valetini has recovered from a hamstring injury and will slot straight back into the ACT Brumbies' back row for his first Super Rugby Pacific match this season against the New South Wales Waratahs. Valetini's return at number eight is a huge boost for the Brumbies as they look to notch a 14th successive win over the fifth-placed Waratahs at Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will also be pleased with Valetini's recovery as he plans for the British and Irish Lions series starting in July. The Waratahs, who suffered a 35-15 reality check at the Queensland Reds last weekend, will be without big-money signing Joseph Suaalii for another week due to his toe problem. The rugby league convert and fledgling Wallaby has not played since the round one win over the Otago Highlanders on Feb. 14 but coach Dan McKellar hopes he will be on the plane to New Zealand next week for the Wellington Hurricanes match. "Joseph is back training, but he's only had one full session with the team," McKellar said in a media release on Wednesday. "It wouldn't be fair to throw him in at this stage as he still needs more load in his training before being match-ready." Wallabies flanker Fraser McReight has been ruled out of the Queensland Reds' away match against the Otago Highlanders as he recovers from a shoulder injury in a big blow for Les Kiss's team. Kiss has rested Wallabies scrumhalf Tate McDermott for the trip to Dunedin but test lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will make his first appearance this season on the bench after overcoming a leg injury. The Western Force will welcome several Wallabies players back for their home match against Fijian Drua on Sunday including halfbacks Nic White and Ben Donaldson, and flanker Carlo Tizzano.
Reuters
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Joseph hails Hurley's 'massive potential' after Highlanders down Blues
Feb 23 (Reuters) - Otago Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph praised the performance of Finn Hurley after the inexperienced full-back shone in his side's 29-21 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Auckland Blues, scoring two tries for his injury-hit team on Saturday. The 21-year-old led the Highlanders' fightback as they trailed 14-3, scoring a superb solo try in the 30th minute when he chipped into space from inside his own half before racing through to collect possession and sprint to the line. Hurley added a second in the 55th minute when he finished off a blistering team move, diving over to score having been given a clear path through the Blues' defence by Folau Fakatava's rapid release as the home side battled back to win. "He's got massive potential, you saw it tonight," Joseph said. "He's like all rugby players, he gets ahead of himself sometimes but I'll let him go I reckon. Let him be himself, give him confidence and coach him to understand balance. "I think he got it right tonight." Hurley's showing was a stand-out for a side that has been dealing with a rash of injuries and held on to win despite a red card for prop Daniel Lienert-Brown leaving them with 13 men for 20 minutes in the second half. Joseph put his team through a punishing training regime ahead of the new season and he credited his team's physical conditioning for their strong performance against the reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions. "I think you see our players, in terms of their fitness levels, are fine and that's one area where we're ahead of teams," he said. "But fitness alone isn't enough. The boys have confidence around what they can do on the field. "I thought we grew a bit today around our intelligence when we were under pressure. A lot of teams against the Blues would have just thrown the towel in and we got better. That's a nice thing."
