Latest news with #RiekoIoane
RNZ News
a day ago
- General
- RNZ News
All Blacks watch: Who pressed their case in the last round
Rieko Ioane, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele'a. Photo: PHOTOSPORT The final weekend of Super Rugby Pacific had fireworks on and off the field, but it also certainly threw up a few interesting All Black talking points. Scott Robertson's initial 36-man squad is named on 23 June, a very high number of players so there is plenty of room for some outside the box selection thinking. Also, it's worth noting that last year, Robertson just went ahead and included a whole bunch of players that weren't named regardless, having them join as essentially an extended training squad. So there's certainly a lifeline given how high the attrition rate will be across 14 upcoming tests. Here's a look at who pressed their cases over the weekend: The Blues celebrate with Rieko Ioane during the Blues v Waratahs, Super Rugby Pacific match, Eden Park, Auckland. Photo: Blake Armstrong /ActionPress This one would've felt pretty sweet for Ioane, who has been under an awful lot of scrutiny ever since he moved in from the wing to centre. Yes, the Waratahs were horrible, but the main thing here was his connection with Beauden Barrett in all of his three tries in the 46-6 win . Two were off well weighted kicks and good chases, with the other being a move that Ioane instigated and finished himself. Just to remind us of what else he brings, Ioane got involved in the funniest rugby Instagram blow up since his Johnny Sexton troll job-masterpiece last year. Ethan de Groot in action during the Rugby World Cup 2023 final between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ The Highlanders went down fighting in their last game of the season and a lot of that was due to their co-captain. De Groot had his best game of the season, and it couldn't have come at a better time as his place in the All Blacks started to come under threat all the way back on last year's northern tour. He has a big job on his hands to get ahead of Tamaiti Williams, but there is room in the extended prop rotation if Robertson favours experience over youth. Peter Umaga-Jensen of the Hurricanes celebrates his try. Photo: Elias Rodriguez / The one-test All Black reminded everyone just why he got that call up with a stunning display against Moana Pasifika on Saturday night, It's fair to say Umaga-Jensen's never done anything wrong in his career, it's more been a case of having so many strong midfielders in the mix. In fact, he wasn't even expected to start much this Super Rugby Pacific season season due to the emergence of Riley Higgins. But now, with Anton Lienert-Brown out injured, he offers the most like-for-like replacement value when Robertson weighs up what he wants. Umaga-Jensen's case is also boosted by the fact that he's in a Hurricanes team that is timing their run to perfection. Crusaders Sevu Reece kicks a drop goal against the Brumbies. Photo: Mark Evans/ActionPress First half drop goals probably aren't going to be in the plan for the test season. However, while Reece's sweetly hit strike might have seemed a bit rash considering the Crusaders were 30 metres out and the probability of winning a penalty and attacking lineout were high, it was eventually the difference between winning and losing. But this isn't just about that or the fact that he benefitted from a blown call later in the game, Reece's workrate proved to be very effective against a tough Brumbies side that plays the most test-match style rugby of any opponent in the competition. Tupou Vaa'i scores. Photo: Michael Thomas/ActionPress OK, so Vaa'i is in no danger of missing selection after being one of the All Blacks' best last year. This is more about what his three-try performance against the Highlanders might do to shape his role in the test side - specifically his open field work that reminded everyone that he was originally seen as a blindside that can play lock and what that versatility will do to shape the overall loose forward makeup. Vaa'i's pace may well see him as a genuine part of a wider gameplan rather than an emergency replacement, which in turn means Robertson might not need as many loosies in the squad. Dalton Papali'i against the Drua. Photo: Kirk Corrie/ActionPress Someone needs to fill the third loose forward spot alongside Ardie Savea and Wallace Sititi and Papali'i put in a very good display for consideration against the Waratahs. Just what numbers the trio wear on their backs might not matter, but while Du'Plessis Kirifi had another monster game that ended with him literally soaked in his own blood, Papali'i also sent a reminder out that he's far from ready to give up his test spot. Mark Tele'a. Photo: photosport Yes, Tele'a has signed overseas next year and the Blues' form has meant it's been easy to presume he'll be looking forward to the NPC rather than test duty. But this would be a massive disservice to Tele'a, who was outstanding against England at Twickenham in November and was one of the All Blacks' best on that tour. His two tries against the Waratahs showcased again just how dangerous he is; besides, he wouldn't be the only player heading to the departure lounge that Robertson has capped anyway.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
McKellar seeing progress at Waratahs despite Super Rugby exit
June 1 (Reuters) - New South Wales Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar is confident his team is moving in the right direction despite missing out on the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs following their 46-6 loss to the Auckland Blues at Eden Park on Saturday. McKellar's side needed to win against the defending champions to sneak into the top six places in the standings and earn a berth in next week's championship rounds, but the Blues prevailed with wing Rieko Ioane scoring a hat trick of tries. The result leaves the Waratahs in eighth place in the 11-team competition and seven points adrift of the playoff spots as the squad missed out on the post-season action for the second year in a row. "There's always pressure and there's been progress," said McKellar, who took over from Darren Coleman ahead of the current campaign. "We've won six games this year, but we wanted to win more. The progress is in the daily detail. "We understand we represent a very big organisation, and a very proud one, and we want to get us back to the top group within the competition. "But it's going to take time and changing daily habits and how things have been done for a long time and we're getting there." The road back to the Super Rugby summit remains a long one for a Waratahs side that finished with little more than half the total points of table-toppers the Waikato Chiefs and having conceded 134 more points than they scored. McKellar, however, plans to give his players a week to recover from the season before starting preparations for his team's next fixture, against the touring British and Irish Lions at Sydney Football Stadium on July 5. "That's obviously a massive game and something for us to look forward to and get excited about, the boys will be dead keen for that," he said. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity as a rugby player and as a coach. We're really grateful to be involved in such an event and we'll get up for that."
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Social media spat: Blues and Moana beef online after play-off spots are set
Rieko Ioane and the Blues social media team were busy post match. Photo: Blake Armstrong /ActionPress Analysis - It's fair to say that the while the final regular season round was primed to throw a cat amongst the pigeons, it ended up being more a showcase of ruthlessness. Friday night saw the Chiefs have no mercy, the Blues gave their most complete performance of the year to set up their play-off chance, which was confirmed by a now scarily impressive Hurricanes side. All of this came at the expense of the Highlanders' pride, the Waratahs' hopes and both of those plus some social media credibility for Moana Pasifika. Referee James Doleman. Photo: Mark Evans/ActionPress It's worth pointing out up front the Crusaders were fortunate in their they certainly put in enough tough defence to deserve their 33-31 win over the Brumbies . But plenty of scrutiny has come in following the officiating crew missing a pretty clear knock on from Sevu Reece in the lead up to George Bell's match winning try. It says a lot about rugby's issues that since the ref got it wrong, the TMO was right in the end for not referring back to it after Bell's try since the ball had been in touch since. It also isn't a great look that the entire refereeing crew were New Zealanders, despite the game taking place in Canberra. The Blues' social media posts elicited a strong response from Ardie Savea. Photo: Instagram While the Blues' performance in their 46-6 win over the Waratahs was about as close as they've come to last year's campaign, the reward they get is a trip down the road to face the Chiefs. It's pretty easy to think the Blues have simply put off their holidays for a week, given that no team outside the regular season-ending top four has ever won any iteration of Super Rugby. But it's also worth remembering the last time they played in Hamilton, because that was the closest by far anyone's come to beating the Chiefs at home this season. However, the fact that Rieko Ioane scored a hat trick meant that we didn't have to wait long for him to jump on Instagram , where he shared a post noting that he's now equal first on the Blues all time try scoring list. On it was the not so subtle message that he's 'Heard the noise…Whatcha sayin?'. Just to make it even more spicy, the Blues closed out their online beef with Moana Pasifika (for now) by getting a last and no doubt very satisfying laugh. However, that didn't stop Moana captain Ardie Savea throwing a bit of passive-aggressive shade back at them, which drew a number of responses from Blues players and All Black teammates. Moana Pasifika. Photo: Andy Radka/ActionPress Moana's win over the Blues a fortnight ago was hailed as the performance of the season, given its historic nature and Ardie Savea's superhuman effort on the field from start to finish. But the virtual tickertape parade was jumping the gun a bit - in the two games since, they've conceded 149 points, were bounced from the play-offs by a Hurricanes team hell bent on revenge and suffered the aforementioned social media butthurt. Did Moana dine out a bit much on their success and suffer a bit? It certainly appears so, while neither team wanted to admit it up front, there was some serious feeling in the Blues fixture on and off the field. Perhaps Moana felt like the point they needed to prove this year was achieved that night. If so, then that's a pretty harsh lesson they've just learned because the losses to the Chiefs and Hurricanes rank among the worst in a short history that includes plenty of hidings. Raymond Tuputupu of the Hurricanes celebrates his try. Photo: Elias Rodriguez / Their inclement form in the first half of the season has meant that the Canes have flown under the radar a bit, but now nothing can hide the fact that they've won their last five games in a row. That's more than anyone else and while they have to travel to face the Brumbies in Canberra next weekend, they won there four weeks ago. Don't say it too loud but it's all starting to feel quite similar to 2016, when an unheralded group under a second year coach managed to overcome a rough start to the year to go on and win the whole thing.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific live updates: Blues v Waratahs
Beauden Barrett in action for the Blues against the Waratahs. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Both these teams face sudden death, as they fight it out for the last playoff spot in Super Rugby Pacific. The winners here face a nervous wait to see how Moana Pasifika go in their match against the Hurricanes in Wellington. Kickoff is at 4.35pm NZT. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog: Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Corey Evans Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Jordan Lay, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Cole Forbes Waratahs: 1. Angus Bell, 2. David Porecki, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Fergus Lee-Warner, 5. Miles Amatosero, 6. Hugh Sinclair, 7. Jamie Adamson, 8. Langi Gleeson, 9. Teddy Wilson, 10. Jack Bowen, 11. Triston Reilly, 12. Joey Walton, 13. Henry O'Donnell, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Lawson Creighton Bench: 16. Mahe Vailanu, 17. Tom Lambert, 18. Daniel Botha, 19. Ben Grant, 20. Leafi Talataina, 21. Jack Grant, 22. Tane Edmed, 23. Darby Lancaster
RNZ News
4 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Blues v Waratahs: what you need to know
Blues v Waratahs Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday 31 May Eden Park, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ Sport It's all on the line at Eden Park, as the Blues and Tahs play what is effectively an elimination match one week before the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs begin properly. Whoever wins this one will be glued to tonight's game between the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika in Wellington, which will decide their fate. Whoever loses sees their season end. The Blues are coming off a bye and a loss to Moana Pasifika a fortnight ago, while the Tahs had a miraculous extra time win over the Force last weekend. READ: what every teams needs to do in the final round of Super Rugby Pacific Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Corey Evans Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Jordan Lay, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Cole Forbes Waratahs: 1. Angus Bell, 2. David Porecki, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Fergus Lee-Warner, 5. Miles Amatosero, 6. Hugh Sinclair, 7. Jamie Adamson, 8. Langi Gleeson, 9. Teddy Wilson, 10. Jack Bowen, 11. Triston Reilly, 12. Joey Walton, 13. Henry O'Donnell, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Lawson Creighton Bench: 16. Mahe Vailanu, 17. Tom Lambert, 18. Daniel Botha, 19. Ben Grant, 20. Leafi Talataina, 21. Jack Grant, 22. Tane Edmed, 23. Darby Lancaster Blues halfback Finlay Christie gets a pass off to AJ Lam in the Super Rugby Pacific Final at Eden Park on 18 June 2022. Photo: Photosport Only one major change for the Blues, with Finlay Christie starting at halfback in place of Taufa Funaki, Sam Nock comes onto the bench. Otherwise the only other thing of note is that if the Blues lose, it'll be the last time ever on the field for Ricky Riccitelli, Mark Tele'a, Adrian Choat and Harry Plummer, all are leaving in the off season. Taniela Tupou joining the Waratahs camp for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season. Photo: WARATAHS Photo: Waratahs The Tahs have stuck with the young inside back pairing of Teddy Wilson and Jack Bowen, who will be looking to free up exciting wingers Triston Reilly and Andrew Kellaway. Lawson Creighton stays at fullback, up front Tanielu Tupou returns back to the city where he made his name as a schoolboy sensation for Sacred Heart College. Beauden Barrett. Photo: Brett Phibbs / The Blues have won their last 10 Super Rugby Pacific matches against the NSW Waratahs by an average margin of 13.4 points per game. An 11th straight win against them would make it their outright most wins against any single opponent in competition history. The Waratahs won their most recent Super Rugby Pacific match outside New South Wales (def. Western Force 22-17) and are aiming for consecutive wins outside their home state for the first time since May 2022. Beauden Barrett has made 117 kicks in play in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any player in the competition. "We've looked at the way the play with the ball, how they put you under pressure. They're a good team, we're certainly not underestimating them…they know that they've got an opportunity, both teams will be up for it." - Blues coach Vern Cotter. "Most teams are difficult to beat at home. But Eden Park, it's not like it is a tough place to play. It's a nice stadium and we play in plenty of those. And the Brumbies showed early in the year that it [winning] is possible." - Waratahs coach Dan McKellar. Blues 12 - 10 Waratahs These teams haven't actually played each other for ages, the last time being way back in round four last year. But on the evidence of this dirge-fest, that's probably a good thing - tries to Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Zarn Sullivan, along with a lot of kicking a scrums, were enough to get past a Waratahs team that was on their way to a well-deserved last placed finish. The Waratahs are coming in with a bit of momentum and have been provided with a blueprint from the Brumbies of how to beat the Blues at home. However, you get the feeling that if the Blues simply revert to type and have Beauden Barrett drill the ball downfield, they'll be able to grind out a workmanlike but important win.
