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1News
2 days ago
- Sport
- 1News
Chiefs are top of the class as Blues save their best for last
Analysis: The Chiefs will be joined in the Super Rugby playoffs by fellow Kiwi sides the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Blues and all four hit form at the weekend, writes Patrick McKendry. There was an end-of-term feel to the final round of the Super Rugby Pacific season, with Moana Pasifika, the Waratahs and Fijian Drua failing fast, the Crusaders showing attention to detail in holding off the Brumbies in Canberra, and the Chiefs predictably coming top of the class. Credit should go to the Highlanders - their squad becoming thinner by the week - for showing starch in their final match of the season, but Clayton McMillan's men deserved to retain the top seed for the playoffs and their 41-24 victory, plus the Blues' 46-6 win over the Waratahs at Eden Park, puts the northern rivals into one of the three qualifying finals. The Chiefs will be heavy favourites to win the match at Waikato Stadium on Saturday night and they will be planning something special in the so-called battle of State Highway 1 after the Blues beat them in last year's grand final. The Blues, though, will feel they have at least built some momentum after having too much for an injury-hit Waratahs last night, with Rieko Ioane scoring a hat-trick of tries. ADVERTISEMENT Indeed, one of the aspects of the victory that may please head coach Vern Cotter the most near the end of a season in which his attack has struggled to fire is that the Blues' backs scored six of their team's seven tries. Unfortunately for the Waratahs, their attack never fired and neither – consistently, anyway - did Moana Pasifika's in Wellington last night. That was a win for the defensive capabilities of both the Blues and Hurricanes, the latter appearing almost irresistible in thrashing Moana Pasifika 64-12. Their reward is a qualifying final against the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday night. Moana Pasifika have been one of the feelgood stories of the competition this year, and their season should not be defined by this result or the collapse a week earlier against the Chiefs in Hamilton. Moana skipper Ardie Savea signs autographs for fans at the Cake Tin. (Source: Photosport) They have relied on their close connections to get this far – they won a franchise-record six games this season (the same as the Blues) and beat the Hurricanes, Crusaders (in Christchurch), Highlanders (in Dunedin) and Blues – so it was probably not surprising that their inspirational skipper Ardie Savea, Super Rugby's player of the year, was almost overcome with emotion in a Sky TV interview straight after their defeat at the Cake Tin. ADVERTISEMENT 'Everyone doubted us but God believed in us,' Savea said. 'These boys came together. We brought people together. I've come home – it's a special place for me with the Moana fans and the Hurricanes fans. It means so much to me and it's close to my heart. 'For these boys to come here and do something for New Zealand rugby and the Super Rugby competition is a blessing in itself. 'We're not satisfied. Our goal was to win the thing and make the top six. That wasn't meant to be. Also, you've got to give credit to Doops [Hurricanes' skipper Du'Plessis Kirifi] and his team. They are quality men and a quality team and I hope they go all the way and win the comp.' For his part, Kirifi, the loose forward who again performed impressively at the breakdown and won two penalty turnovers in a row at one point, continued his record of speaking extremely eloquently in post-match television interviews. Bleeding from his right ear, Kirifi said: 'I do want to acknowledge Moana Pasifika and the season that they've had and the inspiration and excitement they've brought to our competition. 'You can see now the amount of fans and people who are behind them and what that means to rugby in New Zealand. ADVERTISEMENT 'Whether people were here tonight to support us or Moana, it doesn't matter. It's good for New Zealand rugby [as is] the brand of rugby they play. The values they represent are things we all have in common.' Du'Plessis Kirifi on the charge for the Hurricanes against Moana Pasifika. (Source: Photosport) As for the Crusaders, a franchise that has come to be recognised as the competition's prime over-achiever that had a year to forget in 2024, a mixture of physicality, good decision-making and a last-ditch tackle by Scott Barrett on wing Corey Toole in the final minutes got them home in Canberra to finish second on the table. Their prize is a home qualifier against the Reds rather than a potentially far tougher match against the Hurricanes. The Reds sewn up fifth place after they thrashed the Fijian Drua 52-7 in Brisbane. Finishing as high up the table as possible has extra benefits this year because of the inaugural 'lucky loser' concept. The highest-ranked loser in the playoffs gets a second life and will progress to the semifinals (while losing a seeding place). Should the first weekend of finals go to form, the Chiefs and Crusaders will beat the Blues and Reds respectively. ADVERTISEMENT Should the Brumbies lose to the Hurricanes, who have already beaten them this year, they will still make a semifinal. In the above scenario, the Chiefs will host the Brumbies and the Crusaders will host the Hurricanes in the semifinals. Alternatively, should the Hurricanes lose, they will face the Chiefs in Hamilton and the Brumbies will play the Crusaders in Christchurch. Super Rugby Pacific playoffs draw Crusaders v Reds, Christchurch, Friday – kick-off 7.05pm. Chiefs v Blues, Hamilton, Saturday – kick-off 7.05pm. Brumbies v Hurricanes, Canberra, Saturday – kick-off 9.40pm.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Sirens, choppers, burnouts reported in Levin, one year on from violent boy racer conflict
Events a year ago this weekend turned violent, with confrontations between a large crowd and police in Levin. Photo: NZ Police / Supplied Levin residents say police and hoons are already out in force on the anniversary of earlier conflict. Last year, a gathering of more than 200 people and cars in Levin turned violent on Saturday 1 June, with a crowd blocking the town's main street, and officers reporting projectiles thrown at them. A year later, on Friday night, "riot police" had closed State Highway 1 through central Levin, the administrator of popular Facebook page Traffic Fox said. Video showed police standing in formation with shields and body armour, across the highway at the central Queen Street and Oxford Street shops, with multiple sirens heard and many thick dark tyre skid marks seen in circles on the intersection in front of them. "At around 10pm, hundreds of car enthusiasts, or "boy racers" converged on Levin and tried to close off the main highway doing burnouts and skids, police were prepared and stopped a lot of it," the Traffic Fox administrator said. "Yet bottles were smashed, rubber was laid, a couple of people were arrested for carrying weapons, riot police were out in force, cars were rammed etc. Even the Police Eagle helicopter was brought down from Auckland!" Much of the group had left the town by about 11pm, and were heading north toward Palmerston North, she said. More than 100 comments on Levin social media groups showed locals were following the progress of the police helicopter across the town, with many reporting the helicopters were tracking boy racers. "Sounds are going hard now, from police sirens to choppers, to burn outs, to police chases ... quite uneasy for Levin locals," one person said on a local forum, shortly before 11pm, Friday. "[We] will see if this current government puts its 2025 boy racer legislation where it's mouth is," another commenter said. Stuff reported a large gathering of boy racers were expected in the town for King's Birthday Weekend, but were not wanted. Horowhenua District Mayor Bernie Wanden told Stuff the town has "had a gutsful", and did not want hoons coming back and causing "mayhem". Police were aware of the event and had plans and resources to respond, he said. Police did not respond to RNZ's request for comment. Earlier this month, the government announced stiffer punishments for those convicted of offences related to boy-racing, and for drivers who fail to stop for police. Those caught doing burnouts or taking part in unauthorised street racing or intimidating convoys faced vehicle destruction as a presumptive sentence, while fines for making excess noise from a vehicle were also raised. At the time of the announcement, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said New Zealanders were sick and tired of seeing "idiot drivers" put the community at risk. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
One in critical condition after Taihape three-vehicle crash
One person was flown to hospital in a critical condition after a three-vehicle crash closed State Highway 1 just south of Taihape. Authorities say three people suffered injuries in the crash. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Lisa Owen. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Four injured after multiple vehicle crash blocks SH1 near Taihape
While light vehicles can use diversions around the crash on SH1, the route isn't suitable for heavy vehicles, which are waiting on the side of the road for the site to clear. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham Four people have been injured after three vehicles crashed on State Highway 1, just south of Taihape on Monday. Emergency services were called to the scene near the intersection of the highway and Raumu Rd just after 1pm. Hato Hone St John told RNZ it responded to the crash with two operation managers, two ambulances, two rapid response vehicles, one prime responder and two helicopters. "One patient, in a critical condition, was airlifted to Whanganui Base Hospital. One patient, in a moderate condition, was transported by road to Whanganui Base Hospital. "Two patients, one in a moderate and one in a minor condition, were also transported to Palmerston North Hospital," St John said. The road is blocked and diversions are in place. Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and expect delays. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Reports of injuries as multiple vehicle crash blocks SH1 near Taihape
Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Three vehicles have crashed on State Highway 1, just south of Taihape on Monday. Emergency services were called to the scene near the intersection of the highway and Raumu Rd just after 1pm. A police spokesperson said there are indications of injuries. Two rescue helicopters have landed near the crash, RNZ understands. The road is blocked and diversions are in place. Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and expect delays. More to come... Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
