Latest news with #TupouVaa'i
1News
01-06-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Vaa'i hat trick clinches top spot for Chiefs
A hat trick to Tupou Vaa'i has seen the Chiefs score a 41-24 win over the Highlanders and clinch top spot in the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs. Needing a bonus point to make sure of home ground advantage through to the final, Vaa'i's third try as time expired sealed the deal after a hard-fought end to the Highlanders' season. A serious-looking injury to All Black hopeful Quinn Tupaea was a major turning point in the first half. The midfielder was stretchered off the field after 20 minutes, which, along with a yellow card to prop Reuben O'Neill 12 minutes later, shifted the momentum of the game completely to the home side before halftime. Before then, the Chiefs had simply picked up where they left off last weekend in their massive win over Moana Pasifika. Samipeni Finau and Vaa'i (two) scored off some slick work by their backs and a massive hit on Cam Millar that jolted the ball free for Vaa'i to gallop half the length of the field to score. However, after Tupaea's injury, the Highlanders knuckled down and were able to control territory. It eventually led to a try from a quick tap to Ethan de Groot, who had a very strong game across the park. ADVERTISEMENT Right on halftime the Highlanders' other co-captain Timoci Tavatanawai muscled his way over after some great lead up work by Taniela Filimone, Tanielu Tele'a and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Even though Xavier Roe scored straight after the break for the Chiefs, the Highlanders didn't wilt like they did when the two sides met in round 10. Manasa Mataele's 59th minute try to give the Chiefs some decent breathing room was totally against the run of play, but even then, the Highlanders kept fighting and were rewarded with a try to Sam Gilbert. Vaa'i completed his hat trick in fortuitous fashion on fulltime by nabbing a short goal line restart - however the bonus point was more of a nice to have as even if they didn't get it, the Crusaders would've needed to have beaten the Brumbies by over 100 points to overtake the Chiefs. The Highlanders finish their season with only three wins and 11 losses, the defeat consigning them to last place no matter what happens in the rest of the weekend. The Chiefs will now watch on tomorrow's games with interest, with the Waratahs, Blues and Moana Pasifika all in a three way battle to face them in the first round of the play-offs next weekend.
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."
RNZ News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific live updates: Hurricanes snatch back lead against Chiefs
Tupou Vaa'i is tackled by Tevita Mafileo, top during the Hurricanes v Chiefs, Super Rugby Pacific match, Sky Stadium, Wellington, Photo: Marty Melville/Actionpress The feature match of the weekend sees the top of the table Chiefs take on a resurgent Hurricanes side in Wellington, with both teams bolstered with the return of some key players from injury. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog: Hurricanes: 1. Tevita Mafileo, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brayden Iose, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Riley Higgins, 13. Billy Proctor (cc), 14. Ngatungane Punivai, 15. Callum Harkin Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Zach Gallagher, 20. Brad Shields (cc), 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Riley Hohepa, 23. Bailyn Sullivan Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. George Dyer, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Kaylum Boshier, 8. Luke Jacobson (c), 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Simon Parker, 21. Wallace Sititi, 22. Xavier Roe, 23. Gideon Wrampling
RNZ News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific live updates: Chiefs with narrow lead over Hurricanes in Wellington
Tupou Vaa'i is tackled by Tevita Mafileo, top during the Hurricanes v Chiefs, Super Rugby Pacific match, Sky Stadium, Wellington, Photo: Marty Melville/Actionpress The feature match of the weekend sees the top of the table Chiefs take on a resurgent Hurricanes side in Wellington, with both teams bolstered with the return of some key players from injury. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog: Hurricanes: 1. Tevita Mafileo, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brayden Iose, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Riley Higgins, 13. Billy Proctor (cc), 14. Ngatungane Punivai, 15. Callum Harkin Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Zach Gallagher, 20. Brad Shields (cc), 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Riley Hohepa, 23. Bailyn Sullivan Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. George Dyer, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Kaylum Boshier, 8. Luke Jacobson (c), 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Simon Parker, 21. Wallace Sititi, 22. Xavier Roe, 23. Gideon Wrampling
