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Blues and Highlanders finish pre-season undefeated
The Blues and Highlanders both claimed wins on Friday to round out their respective pre-season campaigns unbeaten.
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The Blues’ win over the Chiefs comes after two big victories away in Japan, having beaten Tokyo Sungoliath 43-7 and Yokohama Eagles 57-22.
The final round of pre-season action saw All Blacks who were at the Rugby World Cup return to our screens for the first time on the field since that dramatic World Cup final, making Friday’s action a little more interesting.
Mark Tele’a didn’t miss a beat in his return, scoring twice in a second half that saw both teams bring out close to their top-strength XVs.
The slimmed-down Caleb Clarke continued to make the most of all opportunities with the ball in hand, looking like he’s regained the form that saw him breakout in 2020, backing up his hat-trick against the Eagles a week ago with a run-away try off a chip kick from Stephen Perofeta.
Most of the action came in the opening 40 minutes though, where the Chiefs’ young loose forward trio of Wallace Sititi, Tom Florence and the physical Malachi Wrampling made their mark around the park.
Midfield duo Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown look to be building on their strong partnership after each having injury-plagued seasons of late. Peniasi Malimali continued to prove he is deserving of minutes on the wing when Emoni Narawa and Etene Nanai-Seturo are rested.
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For the Blues, All Blacks Sevens alumni Caleb Tangitau was impressive again while Cameron Suafua looks more comfortable in the back row after filling in at lock in 2023. Zarn Sullivan’s boot at fullback ensured a clean exit whenever the Blues were backed into their half.
Meanwhile, in Methven, the Highlanders weren’t slowing down for anybody, handing the reigning champions a 27-point loss despite the return of 2023 All Blacks Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell, as well as the long-awaited return of Sevu Reece.
The scoring was well-rounded for the Highlanders, with all six tries coming from different players. Sean Withy, Sam Gilbert, Jona Nareki, Folau Fakatava, Oliver Haig and Nathan Hastie were the players to get on the board, as Sam Gilbert continued his marksmanship off the tee.
The Highlanders’ defence kept the Crusaders scoreless in the opening 40, fielding what was close to the club’s top starting XV. Folau Fakatava continued his superb pre-season form, scoring to start the second period.
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Having so much change in personnel over the offseason, selections have been at front of mind for coach Clarke Dermody, and next week’s season opener against Moana Pasifika will reveal whose earned a starting spot through their showings over the past three weeks.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
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