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Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Chiefs favourites as new look Super Rugby playoffs kick off
SYDNEY, June 5 (Reuters) - The Waikato Chiefs remain title favourites as Super Rugby Pacific enters the business end of the season this weekend in a slimmed down six-team playoff series which includes a "lucky loser" for the first time. Closer games and more try-scoring have attracted bigger crowds as well as higher TV audiences this season and organisers will be hoping that three blockbuster knockout ties, including two trans-Tasman Sea clashes, will maintain that momentum. They could end up with egg on their faces, however, if the second-seeded Canterbury Crusaders beat the Queensland Reds on Friday night and the top-ranked Chiefs down the Auckland Blues on Saturday. That would leave the final playoff between the third-ranked ACT Brumbies and fourth-seeded Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday night devoid of any jeopardy with both teams guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals, one as the "lucky loser". The Chiefs, runners-up for the last two years, have hit peak form with big wins in their last three matches and will be confident of getting past a Blues side that scraped into the playoffs in sixth place. Clayton McMillan will field a patched-up midfield with All Blacks centres Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown absent through injury but there is still plenty of attacking flair in a backline steered by Damian McKenzie. The Blues made a miserable start to the season but have also rediscovered something close to the formidable form that saw them win 15 of 17 matches on their way to the title last year. Vern Cotter has been able to name a near unchanged line-up from the side that crushed the New South Wales Waratahs 45-6 at Eden Park last week for the trip to Hamilton. "We expect they will come in with a bit of momentum and no shortage of confidence," said McMillan. "We'll be treating this like every other game with respect for the opposition, what they bring, and the assumption they'll put up a tough game." The Queensland Reds travel to Christchurch to play the 12-times champion Crusaders knowing that no Australian team has ever beaten a New Zealand side in a Super Rugby playoff. The Reds beat the Crusaders on the road in the regular season last year, however, and welcome back captain Harry Wilson from injury as they look to hand their hosts a first playoff loss since 2016. A trio of All Blacks in fullback Will Jordan, skipper David Havili and his centre partner Braydon Ennor all return for the Crusaders, who have never lost a home playoff. "The boys are really excited about finals footy," said Reds coach Les Kiss. "Winning in Christchurch last year was an important game for the club. It gives us clues and confidence to put our best foot forward on Friday." The Hurricanes head to what will be a chilly Canberra with a spring in their collective step, having beaten the Brumbies 35-29 in the Australian capital in late April to kick off a five-match winning streak. Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa is back to reinforce the Brumbies pack and coach Stephen Larkham said he was encouraging his players to ignore the possibility that they could go through to the last four as the highest-ranked loser. "We are the last game this weekend but we've been pretty firm on making sure that we get a good result," he said. "Irrespective of the other results, we need to know that we're playing well. Either way, we're going out there to try and win the game."
France 24
6 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Brumbies lament costly loss in pursuit of first Super Rugby title since 2004
Crusaders reserve hooker George Bell crashed over late on for a decisive try in a 33-31 win in Canberra on Friday, keeping the decorated New Zealand side second in the final standings, with Australia's Brumbies third. The Waikato Chiefs sealed top spot with a 41-24 win over the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin, aided by a hat-trick of tries to lock Tupou Vaa'i. The top three finishers are finalised and all will stage home games in next week's first round of play-off fixtures under a new top-six format. Home advantage has proved an important factor throughout the history of Super Rugby knockout matches. If results go to seedings, the Brumbies will have to travel to New Zealand for their semi-final the following week. It is a familiar scenario for a team who have qualified for the play-offs in eight of the last nine full editions of the championship, but never in the top two. They haven't reached the grand final in that time. Larkham noted their most recent top-two qualification was 2004, when they last won the title. "It's been 21 years and every year we start the season and talk about top two as a goal," Larkham told journalists on Friday. "So yeah, we've missed an opportunity there again. It makes it a little bit harder for us. We're going to need a little bit of luck to get a home semi-final but that's out of our control now." Larkham said regular captain Allan Alaalatoa should return from injury at prop for the Brumbies next week, when they host the fourth-placed finishers. That will be either the Wellington Hurricanes or Queensland Reds. He was unsure about the fitness of fellow Wallaby Len Ikitau after the key midfielder limped out of the Crusaders match with a leg problem.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Chiefs down Highlanders to secure Super Rugby top spot
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 finals with a 41-21 victory over the Otago Highlanders. 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 on Friday night. "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 drawn 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. 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 finals with a 41-21 victory over the Otago Highlanders. 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 on Friday night. "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 drawn 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. 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 finals with a 41-21 victory over the Otago Highlanders. 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 on Friday night. "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 drawn 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.
Reuters
7 days ago
- 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
7 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Chiefs down Highlanders to secure Super Rugby top spot
SYDNEY - 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." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
