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Everything you need to know about Super Rugby Pacific round seven

By Finn Morton
(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Heading into the final two games of Super Rugby Pacific round seven, here is everything you need to know so far about the games on Friday night.

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Results

Crusaders 38-21 Moana Pasifika

Reds 24-52 Brumbies

Highlanders 14-29 Hurricanes

Rebels 17-54 Blues

Round Recap

Richie Mo’unga brings up Crusaders milestone in style

  • Playmaker Richie Mo’unga played his 100th match in Crusaders colours on Friday night
  • The Crusaders beat Moana Pasifika by 17 points at Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium
  • A first half double from centre Levi Aumua spurred Moana Pasifika onto a hard-earned 17-21 lead at the break

Defending Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders won their fifth match of the season on Friday night, as they defeated a valiant Moana Pasifika outfit 38-21 in Christchurch.

Playmaker Richie Mo’unga led the home team out onto Orangetheory Stadium ahead of his 100th match in Crusaders colours – including an exhibition against the British and Irish Lions in 2017.

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The All Blacks first-five shot out of the blocks inside the opening 15 minutes, having kicked an early penalty goal and set up hooker Codie Taylor for the opening try of the contest.

After racing out to an early 10-nil lead, the Crusaders were brought down to earth after Moana Pasifika hit back through a try to rampaging centre Levi Aumua.

Then, disaster struck. Flanker Corey Kellow was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul midway through the half, and Aumua crossed for his second about a minute later.

Suddenly, the title holders were behind – their underdog opponents had come to play.

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There were another three lead changes in the match before the Crusaders ran away with it inside the final 20 minutes.

Tries to Dallas McLeod and Willi Heinz sealed the victory for the Crusaders, who have well and truly recovered from their slow start this season.

After starting their season with one win from three starts, the champion Crusaders have won their last four matches in a row.

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Brumbies break Brisbane hoodoo in style

  • The ACT Brumbies defeated the Queensland Reds in Brisbane for the first time since 2015
  • Reds lock Angus Blyth was sent to the sin bin inside the opening 10 minutes for a high shot on Brumbies winger Corey Toole, but the in-game review saw the verdict upgraded to a red
  • The Brumbies scored four second half tries to the Reds’ one, which saw the visitors make a statement against their fierce Australian rivals

The ACT Brumbies made history in Brisbane on Friday night, and they did it in style.

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The Brumbies hadn’t won in the Queensland capital since 2015, but brought an end to their Brisbane hoodoo with an emphatic 28-point win over the Reds.

After racing out to an early 7-nil lead after a try to hooker Matt Faessler, the Reds were dealt a significant blow as lock Angus Blyth was sent to the sin bin.

But under the new laws in Super Rugby Pacific, the in-game review saw the card upgraded to a red.

Playing with plenty of belief and confidence, the Brumbies struck back shortly after to level the game after a try to Wallabies outside back Tom Wright.

It was tense thriller throughout the remainder of the half, with the scores locked at 14-all before a penalty goal from Reds No. 12 Isaac Henry in the 39th minute.

But the Brumbies didn’t throw in the towel, or waste any time watching clock as the half-time siren began to warm up.

Hooker Lachlan Lonergan scored two minutes into added time, with the Brumbies’ rolling maul working wonders once again.

While the match was in the balance at the break, the Brumbies put the game to bed early in the second term.

Second half tries to Len Ikitau, Tamati Tua, Rob Valetini and Nick Frost saw the team from the capital record a dominant 52-24 win at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

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Hurricanes surge up SRP ladder

  • Hurricanes surge up to first on Super Rugby Pacific ladder after beating the Highlanders 29-14 in Dunedin
  • Winger Salesi Rayasi stole the show with a brace, as his purple patch continued in round seven
  • Halfback Cam Roigard sent a message to All Blacks selectors with what was arguably a player of the match performance

The Hurricanes have moved up to first on the Super Rugby Pacific standings with a hard-fought win over the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Teams always bring physicality and passion to New Zealand derbies, and this classic was no different. Throughout a tough first half, there was plenty of niggle off the ball – clearly, this match meant more.

Winger Salesi Rayasi scored his first try of the night, and his fifth of the season, in the 14th minute. While the Landers hit back through in-form backrower Hugh Renton shortly after, the scores didn’t change for another 13 minutes.

After going into the sheds up 8-7, tries to James Blackwell and Cam Roigard saw the Hurricanes race out to a commanding lead.

Another try to Salesi Rayasi seemed to seal the deal late in the contest, but a winning bonus point alluded the team from the capital – a late try to Highlanders captain Billy Harmon proved to be the difference.

But the Hurricanes are joint-first on the ladder – for now at least. The Hurricanes travel to Hamilton next weekend to take on the high-flying Chiefs at FMG Stadium.

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Blues put on a show in Melbourne

  • Blues overcome a first half scare to win big at Melbourne’s AAMI Park
  • After going into the sheds down by four points, the Blues unleashed a barrage of tries in the second half
  • The Blues bounced back and returning to winning ways after losing to the Chiefs last weekend

The Blues have returned to winning ways after beating the Melbourne Rebels 54-17 at AAMI Park on Saturday evening.

Utility back Reece Hodge scored the first points of the night with a penalty goal, before the Blues hit back through a Sam Darry try.

Both teams scored two tries in the first half, but Beauden Barrett’s inaccuracy off the tee proved to be the difference.

Trailing by four points at the break, the next 40 minutes could somewhat define the Blues’ season – for a team with title ambitions, a loss in Melbourne could have been disastrous.

But the visitors shot out of the blocks in the second term, and ended up sealing an emphatic 54-17 win. Beauden Barrett was brilliant in the second finish, as the All Black finished with a few try assists to his name.

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J
Jon 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

21 Go to comments
T
Trevor 10 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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