2026 Super Rugby Aupiki Final preview: 'It’s going to be a special day'

Te Kaha/One New Zealand Stadium, New Zealand’s newest enclosed $683 million, 25,000-seat stadium, has electrified Christchurch.

The All Blacks recently beat Six Nations champions France 34-32 in their first appearance at the venue on Saturday 4 July.

The Crusaders have turned the venue into a fortress, winning all five of their 2026 fixtures there. They only won three of 11 elsewhere.

Even the Warriors National Rugby League team caught fire outside their usual fervent Auckland base, as they beat the North Queensland Cowboys 38-20 on June 20 with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scoring four tries.

A week earlier, Matatu thrashed Chiefs Manawa 52-26 in front of a Super Rugby Aupiki record crowd of 11,793. It was Matatu’s biggest win against the visitors, highlighted by a hat-trick from Black Ferns XV openside Elinor-Plum King.

On Saturday, an even bigger crowd is expected for the Super Rugby Aupiki final between Matatu and twice defending champions the Blues.

Lock Laura Bayfield also scored a try in the Manawa mauling. The nine-Test Black Fern has been in imperious form in 2026, playing all six Aupiki matches.

She ranks second for most lineout catches with 22 and third for most tackles with 83. She will oppose Blues captain Maia Ross, who has played 41 of the last 44 Black Ferns Tests in a crucial tight-five tussle in a match glittering with stars.

The Blues have 16 current or former capped Black Ferns in their match-day squad, the same number who return from the 2025 final, in which they beat Matatu 26-19 at Eden Park in Auckland. Matatu has 14 Black Ferns and 10 returnees from the 2025 decider. Holly Greenway from Matatu played for the Blues last year; Hollyrae Mete-Renata from the Blues was with Matatu.

“We’ve put ourselves in this position by having a good season, growing together, expressing ourselves, and staying fit and excited,” Bayfield told RugbyPass.

“With the Blues, you can’t afford to lose focus even for a second. Better discipline and concentration have been our focus this week. Our game drivers must step up and take responsibility.

“I much prefer playing alongside Maia Ross than I do marking her. It will be a great challenge. She’s a very clever, physical and relentless player.”

Matatu won their first four matches for the first time ever but have dropped two winnable home games against Hurricanes Poua and the Blues in the past fortnight. Against Poua, Matatu blew a 19-0 lead after 23 minutes and were outplayed in the last hour to lose 33-31. Matatu dominated possession and territory for long periods in their 38-29 loss to the Blues but again lacked the killer instinct.

Matatu hasn’t pressed the panic button. Tasman blindside Sarah Jones is promoted to the starting line-up, replacing 2023 top tackler Lucy Jenkins. The rest of the front row and starting backline remain unchanged. Southland’s Emma Dermody at lock is the only non-Black Fern in the tight five but has enjoyed an industrious campaign.

Black Ferns centre Amy du Plessis becomes the first Matatu player to reach the Glacier Five-Season Milestone. On the bench, impact will come from electric winger Binky Muamua and Black Ferns front rowers Georgia Ponsonby, Maddi Robinson and Pip Love.

“My job is to create a platform from which our backs can attack. They like to play what’s in front of them and we’ve got some outstanding finishers,” Bayfield said.

“Even our eight, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, has scored a try in every game. She’s phenomenal. Having her on the field gives you such confidence. She’s powerful and intuitive.

“Paris Lokotui at lock. She’s a phenomenal athlete. Her dad, Tukului, was a Tongan international, and Paris comes from a netball background. She’s such a natural, a quick learner. She’s got a huge future.”

“I’ve enjoyed having more of a leadership role, calling lineouts, mentoring younger players, and expanding my rugby IQ.”

Bayfield earned that role after starting all three wins for the Black Ferns in the Pacific Four Series in April. She said having regular opportunities at the highest level was awesome, and beating Canada, who eliminated the Black Ferns from Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in the semi-finals, was a career highlight.

Matatu hosts the final for the first time, with their only title success their 2023 win in Hamilton, 33-31 against Chiefs Manawa, with 23 points from Renee Holmes.

The Blues boast the best attack, scoring 200 points and 32 tries in six games. Matatu have the best defence, conceding only 157 points in six games, three fewer than the Blues. Matatu have scored 198 points and 30 tries. The Blues have won six of the previous ten meetings.

“Discipline and playing in the right areas of the field is a big one,” Bayfield said.

“We’ve got to be more accurate when chances arise or better at our next job when mistakes happen. It’s going to be a special day for Christchurch.”

Matatu and newly appointed Black Ferns XV coach Blair Baxter, who’s won 22 out of 23 matches with Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup, added:

“Both teams will want to play an exciting brand of rugby. We’re under the roof; it’s going to be dry, high-paced, and an incredible skill set from both sides.

“You learn more from a loss than you do from a win. What we’ve seen this week is a group of girls that are extremely hungry. They’re diligent anyway, but they’ve gone to another degree of getting things right. It’s created an awesome opportunity for us to perform on Saturday.”