Chiefs vs Blues takes: Blues need Spider-Man, McKenzie is All Blacks’ form 10

Five rounds into the Super Rugby Pacific season, the Blues’ season hangs in the balance with the defending champions going down to the Chiefs 32-31 in a Grand Final rematch at FMG Stadium Waikato.

Last season’s big dance feels like a long, long time ago now. The Blues dominated that clash, winning by more than 30 points, but the Chiefs were in the driver’s seat for most of Saturday night’s fixture in the Tron.

With this result, the Chiefs bounce back from last weekend’s loss to the Fijian Drua in Lautoka, which reaffirms their credentials as one of the competition’s favourites to charge towards the title.

Here are four takeaways

The Blues might need Spider-Man to save their season

The Blues could’ve used Spider-Man on Saturday night.

A quick Google search will tell you that some of Spidey’s superhuman abilities include strength, speed, quick reflexes and durability.

On paper – oddly enough, what comic books are printed on – Spider-Man boasts world-class potential as a rugby-playing threat.

But, unfortunately, the Wallcrawler wasn’t available.

Spider-Man is fictional.

Vern Cotter’s men did the next best thing, though, as they sported Spider-Man themed jerseys for Kid’s Round, but they still down swinging – pun intended – against a very good Chiefs side.

After taking out the title last season, the Blues’ 2025 campaign now hangs in the balance. The defending champs boast an unwanted 1-4 record after their first five matches and it won’t get any easier for them in Super Rugby Pacific.

With only six teams making the playoffs, and only nine more regular season matches to play for the Blues, it goes without saying, the Auckland-based side aren’t in a good spot right now. They’re at the wrong end of the standings.

With the Crusaders and Hurricanes visiting Auckland on either side of the Blues’ upcoming bye week, these New Zealand derbies are nothing short of must-win matches for Spidey’s favourite rugby team.

Damian McKenzie is the All Blacks’ best option at No.10… for now

Who should start at first five-eighth for the All Blacks later this year? It’s an ever-raging debate within New Zealand rugby circles, with the likes of Beauden Barrett, Josh Jacomb, and even Harry Godfrey among those who have been discussed.

Enter Damian McKenzie.

McKenize is one of the most popular players in Super Rugby Fantasy for a reason.

With Jacomb on the bench, McKenzie was handed the playmaking reigns as the Chiefs’ starting No. 10 for the first time this season and the All Black took that opportunity with both hands during a masterful performance against the Blues.

It started with a negative, with ‘D Mac’ hitting the padding on the right goalpost with a shot at goal from inside the Blues’ half, but the world’s best players are able to move on from forgettable moments fairly quickly.

McKenzie scored a stunning try just before half-time. With the ball dribbling along the ground, the fly-half picked it up, spun around to beat two defenders, and then ran in untouched for a score that even seemed to surprise the man himself a little bit.

After an error in the 63^rd minute, commentator Tony Johnson described that moment as a “rare mistake” from McKenzie, which sums up the performance quite well. It was a brilliant outing from the fly-half, who was of course named in World Rugby’s Dream Team last year.

At the moment, on current form, McKenzie is Scott Robertson’s best option.

But that could very well change.

Former New Zealand U20 star looks at home in Super Rugby

Xavi Taele never would’ve expected to debut for the Blues while wearing a Spider-Man-themed jersey, but here we are.

Coach Vern Cotter named the former New Zealand U20 star in the midfield alongside All Black Rieko Ioane, and there was a lot to like about the two of them as a centre pairing.

But, focusing on the debutant, Taele stepped up against one of the heavyweights in Super Rugby Pacific by landing some decent jabs and some other telling blows.

50 minutes into the match, Taela was equal-second with AJ Lam for the most carries out of any player. The youngster had run for a little over 25 metres, but the effort from the inside centre was especially noticeable and promising.

In defence, Taele’s moment of brilliance came early on, with the 20-year-old stopping All Black Quinn Tupaea dead with the try line practically within reach. Tupaea looked all but certain to score from close range but was denied and even driven backwards by his opposite.

Referee Ben O’Keeffe did show the rising star a yellow card during the second half after a series of infringements from the Blues, but that shouldn’t take away too much from the main point here. Taele looks at home with the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific.

Shaun Stevenson fails to make an All Blacks-worthy statement

Shaun Stevenson was back in rugby’s headlines this week.

Stevenson opened up about “pretty disappointing” feedback from the All Blacks, as the fullback chases a return to the international arena for the first time since 2023, having only represented New Zealand once in a Test against Australia in Dunedin.

For the first time in Super Rugby Pacific this season, Stevenson was named at fullback for the Chiefs after a brief stint in Japan. It’s a familiar role within the Chiefs’ setup for the man nicknamed ‘Shooter’ as this performance showed in brief spurts.

Let’s start with that highlight.

If you watched the game, you know exactly what highlight that is.

Stevenson threw an outrageous, behind-the-back flick pass to Daniel Rona, with the outside centre strolling in untouched for a try in the 14^th minute. “That is amazing,” former All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina exclaimed during the broadcast.

You’re not wrong, Mils.

But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Stevenson, who was largely absent for extended periods of this match. It’s all well and good to brilliant for a moment, but what separates All Blacks from the rest is their consistency over 80 minutes.

Compared to Blues fullback Corey Evans, who crossed for a try in the 50^th minute, Stevenson lost the fullback battle at FMG Stadium Waikato. It wasn’t the outing Stevenson would’ve wanted after those All Blacks comments earlier this week.