Latest news with #SevuReece
Scoop
a day ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Social Media Spat: Blues And Moana Beef Online After Play-Off Spots Are Set
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. Crusaders get the calls 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. Blues and Moana beef online 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. Did Moana climax too early 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. Hurricane warning 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
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific: Late try seals second place finish for Crusaders
The Crusaders' George Bell scores the winner against the Brumbies, on Friday night. Photo: Mark Evans/ActionPress A late try to Crusaders replacement hooker George Bell has secured a 33-31 win over the Brumbies in Canberra. The result means the Crusaders finish second in the overall Super Rugby Pacific standings going into next weekend's play-offs, while the Brumbies finish third. The home side struck almost straight away, with Feao Fotuaika rumbling over after the Brumbies had pinched the opening kick-off. The lead didn't last long though, only five minutes later Christian Lio-Willie hit back with a barge over of his own. A Rivez Reihana penalty and Ethan Blackadder try pushed the lead out, but the Brumbies stayed in touch with a lovely try to Len Ikitau. Rivez Reihana then hit back for the Crusaders, before Sevu Reece knocked over a rare drop goal before the break. In hindsight, while Reece's decision to take three points was the ultimate difference at the end, it was a bit rash as the Crusaders were 30 metres out and the chances of winning a penalty and subsequent attacking lineout were high. Reihana added another penalty after the break, before Rhys van Nek and Andy Muirhead scored tries for the Brumbies within six minutes of each other, to make the score 28-all. It set up a pulsating last quarter, with the Brumbies dominating possession only to be denied time and again by some staunch Crusaders defence. After successfully defending an attacking lineout, the visitors found themselves offside and Noah Lolesio sent the penalty goal over to give the Brumbies the lead for the first time in the game. However, it didn't last long. The Brumbies were penalised a few minutes after the restart and the Crusaders opted to go for the win with a lineout only five metres out. When the drive stalled, Bell peeled off the back to a defenceless blindside, crashing over for the winning try. Reihana's kick drifted wide, which meant that the Crusaders had to withstand a furious late charge by the Brumbies. Wing Corey Toole almost slipped through the defence to score the winner, but was hauled down short of the line and lost the ball forward. Both sides will now keep an eye on tomorrow's games as all three have permutations for next week. They will play either the Hurricanes or Reds, however just who faces who won't be known until Saturday night. If the Hurricanes can beat Moana Pasifika, they will head to Canberra. However if the Hurricanes lose and the Reds can beat the Drua, the Reds will face the Brumbies and the Hurricanes head to Christchurch to play the Crusaders. Read how the game unfolded here :
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific live updates: Brumbies v Crusaders
Sevu Reece palms off Andy Muirhead during the Super Rugby Pacific match between ACT Brumbies v Crusaders, GIO Stadium Canberra. Photo: Ben Appleton/ActionPress It's a shootout for either top spot or second place in Canberra, as both these sides look to give themselves the best advantage before the play-offs begin next weekend. Kick-off is at 9:35pm NZT.
Reuters
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Chiefs move top of the table, Waratahs keep season alive
May 24 (Reuters) - Waikato Chiefs handed Moana Pasifika a crushing 85-7 defeat on Saturday as Clayton McMillan's well-rested outfit roared back from a bye week to move clear at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings with a dominant bonus-point victory. Leroy Carter and Ratima Cortez both scored hat-tricks in a display that takes the Chiefs one point ahead of the Canterbury Crusaders, who saw Sevu Reece set a Super Rugby try-scoring record in his side's 15-12 win over the Otago Highlanders. "We really showed a ruthless edge there," said Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson after a statement win in Hamilton. "I was really pleased with the boys, being able to stick at their roles and sticking the small little things and building those up. That added up to a few good tries." Fullback Shaun Stevenson put his side in front in the eighth minute and the relentless Chiefs showed no mercy as lock Tupou Vaa'i, winger Ratima, centre Quinn Tupaea and fullback Damien McKenzie all scored before halftime. Carter claimed his first, and the Chiefs' sixth, four minutes into the second half and the winger crossed twice more after hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho scored in the 50th minute with Ratima also completing his hat-trick in the second half. The Crusaders squeezed past the Highlanders in Christchurch on Friday to move above the ACT Brumbies, who are on a bye week, with Reece notching up his 66th Super Rugby try. Flyhalf Rivez Reihana's penalty gave the Crusaders an early lead before Reece broke TJ Perenara's record with a close-range score, the All Blacks winger picking up possession inches from the line to touch down. "I would've loved to have scored a nice dive-in-the-corner try or something nicer than that," Reece said. "That was more a forward's try. "But a try's a try and I'll take it any time of the day." Tries from winger Jonah Lowe and flyhalf Taine Robinson gave the Highlanders a 12-10 lead but prop Tamaiti Williams crossed for the Crusaders with nine minutes remaining to put Rob Penney's side three points ahead. The Highlanders were awarded a penalty after regulation time had elapsed but replacement flyhalf Miller pushed his game-tying kick wide of the posts. Wellington Hurricanes survived a second-half fightback by the Queensland Reds to notch up a 31-27 win in Brisbane to move up to fourth with one round of the regular season remaining. Flying winger Fehi Fineanganofo touched down for his second try of the game in the 65th minute as he twisted midair to seal a win that guarantees the Hurricanes a place in the playoffs. "We'll take it," said Hurricanes lock Du'Plessis Kirifi. "Not pretty, we just found a way. But right now coming over here to Brisbane, almost a fortress for these Reds boys, to come away with a win is a pleasure." Wing Darby Lancaster scored a try in the corner with an acrobatic finish in the final play of the Super Point period as New South Wales Waratahs kept alive their season with a 22-17 win over Western Force in Perth. Flanker Carlo Tizzano scored his 13th try of the season for the Force, breaking the record for most tries by a forward in a Super Rugby campaign. With the scores locked at 17-17, Kurtley Beale missed a 55-metre penalty for the Force after the hooter as the ball drifted wide and Alex Harford saw his 45-metre effort fall short in the Super Point period. But Lancaster's heroics at the death took the Waratahs to 26 points on the table, two behind Moana Pasifica in the final play-off position. "They were very physical on a wet night here in Perth. It was a tough game, I am just so stoked to get the win," Lancaster said.
eNCA
24-05-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
Winger Reece relishes Super Rugby try-scoring record
CHRISTCHURCH - Canterbury Crusaders winger Sevu Reece said he was delighted to break a "curse" and become Super Rugby's highest try-scorer, lifting his team atop the standings in the process. The livewire Reece burrowed over from close range early in a tense 15-12 win over the Highlanders in Christchurch on Saturday. It was his 66th try, all for the Crusaders and the most by any player in the 30-year history of the competition -- one more than former Hurricanes scrum-half TJ Perenara. Reece, who has played 32 Tests for the All Blacks, said he had feared the record wouldn't come this year after enduring his longest career drought of six straight games without scoring. He finally drew level with Perenara in last week's win over the New South Wales Waratahs before breaking the mark in front of his home supporters, giving him a tally of 66 tries from just 84 games. "At the start of the season when no one was talking about it, I was scoring tries," Reece told Sky TV. "But when everyone started to hype me, I couldn't score. The media would tell me: 'You've got one more to go'. Well that one more took me about seven weeks. "It was like a curse there or something." Reece said he expected his Fiji-based parents will have celebrated the record by drinking a bowl of kava -- a drink consumed socially in the Pacific Islands for its relaxing effects. The 28-year-old conceded the crowd may not have been enthused by the nature of his try, which needed the video referee to confirm after he plunged over beneath a pile of bodies. "I'd have loved to have scored a nice dive in the corner try, or something a bit nicer than that," he said. "But a try's a try and what a place to do it -- here in front of my fans and family. "Honestly. I can't thank my teammates enough and the boys that I've played with in the past." Of the top-10 all-time try-scorers, only Moana Pasifika back Julian Savea is still active, on 63 tries. Victory over the last-placed Highlanders has lifted the Crusaders to 45 points, two clear of the second-placed ACT Brumbies, who they play in next week's final round of the regular season.
