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Five NZ talking points going into Super Rugby Pacific pre-season

Luke Jacobson of the Chiefs and Beauden Barrett of the Blues. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images and Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Super Rugby Pacific pre-season kicks off for the New Zealand teams this weekend as the Crusaders take on the Blues this Friday at a sold out Kirwee Rugby Club.

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Moana Pasifika take on the Highlanders in Albany, Jamie Joseph’s first test as new head coach of the Highlanders.

Then to round off weekend number one of pre-season action for the New Zealand franchises, Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth will host the Chiefs and the Hurricanes.

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Which Chiefs loose forward is going to step up?

Clayton McMillan is lucky enough to have a mountain of loose forwards to work with in 2025, making the decision to fill the void of World Rugby Breakthrough Men’s 15’s player of the year Wallace Sititi, a bit more complicated than it looks. 

Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson are more than likely to begin the season in the starting lineup, but the position of Jacobson could change over the course of pre-season.

Let’s start with the young option. Malachi Wrampling Alec, the brother of midfielder Gideon, has showcased his talents across the New Zealand U20 and Waikato NPC systems in 2023. The barnstorming loose forward has what it takes to make the jump towards the Super Rugby level, but will have stiff competition if he wants to claim that vacant No.8 jersey. 

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The 29-cap experienced loose forward Kaylum Boshier is also an option for McMillan if experience is the road he intends to go down. Jahrome Brown, who was signed by the Chiefs from the Brumbies for the 2025-2026 Super Rugby Pacific seasons is also another option, someone who has Super Rugby experience in over 50 caps. If Brown was to play at his preferred openside flanker role, a reshuffle of Jacobson’s position could be in the works.

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Who starts at 10 for the Crusaders?

The move to bring former Wallabies first-five James O’Connor over to Christchurch may have raised some eyebrows here in New Zealand, but it could become very real come February 14th against the Hurricanes.

The 64-Test Wallaby last played for Australia in 2022, and the playmaker has played at the Queensland Reds in the past couple of seasons.

If it’s not O’Connor in the 10 jersey, head coach Rob Penney will have to look towards young playmakers in Rivez Reihana and Taha Kemara. 

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Reihana impressed for Northland in the 2024 NPC competition, but his 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season was plagued with injuries. The talent is there, and hopefully, with a stronger base set for Reihana, he can showcase the talent we know he has.

Taha Kemara has struggled to find game time since he came on the professional scene for Waikato, after captaining the Hamilton Boys 1st XV, playing with All Black halfback Noah Hotham.

Kemara is an option for Penney, but pre-season will likely tell us all we need to know about where O’Connor and Reihana fit in the Crusaders 2025 puzzle.

Can the Highlanders gain some momentum under Jamie Joseph?

It feels like a lifetime ago since the Highlanders won Super Rugby back in 2015 when Jamie Joseph was in charge. The people down in the deep south will be hoping for the same type of success in 2025, as Joseph returns as head coach after a year as theHead of rugbybefore agreeing to become the head coach this year. 

2024 head coach Clarke Dermody returns to an assistant coaching role, with Tony Brown’s brother Cory, becoming an assistant coach for the Dunedin-based franchise.

The Highlanders have named co-captains for the 2025 season, Hugh Renton and Timoci Tavatavanawai will lead the team in this new campaign.

They have added some talent from across New Zealand, with two Blues players making the trip down south. Hooker Soane Vikena will be looking to improve on his 27 Super Rugby caps and Joseph has also added exciting former NZ Sevens player Caleb Tangitau to their backs’ stocks this year, hopefully adding some X-factor to Joseph’s backline. 

With high hopes for Fabian Holland’s future, Timoci Tavatavanawais’s growing quality and Ethan de Groot’s leading-from-the-front attitude, the Highlanders will be hopeful for an improved 2025 season.

Can the Hurricanes fill the void of TJ – Ardie – Jordie Barrett?

With the Hurricanes missing TJ Perenara (Black Rams Tokyo), Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika) and Jordie Barrett (Leinster) for the whole 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, the Hurricanes must fill the void with more than just players.  

Clark Laidlaw and the Hurricanes will miss more than just the on-field attributes of those three players, the leadership and mana lost will be more important to replace. Riley Higgins will likely slot straight into the No.12 jersey, Cameron Roigard into the No.9 jersey, and Peter Lakai in the No.7 jersey, but the challenging part of the small, but important, exodus from past campaigns will be turning these players into leaders and game drivers for the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes have a young and exciting squad, which Laidlaw had firing on all cylinders during the 2024 campaign, an innovative running-the-ball style that was a breath of fresh air for a New Zealand side. 

This year will be important in discovering the next set of long-term, Wellington stalwarts in yellow.

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Where do Beauden Barrett, Harry Plummer, Stephen Perofeta and Zarn Sullivan fit in?

I’m not sure how the Blues have managed to keep four high-quality playmakers in their squad for 2025, considering the lack of quality options for other New Zealand Super Rugby franchises. There were links to a move south for both Stephen Perofeta and Zarn Sullivan, while Harry Plummer will play his last season in Blues’ colours before a well-earned move to France.

Nothing came from the rumours, meaning the Blues and Vern Cotter have the headache of trying to fit four playmakers into three spots.

Harry Plummer could play at second five (something he’s done before), but is unlikely to considering the season he had last year at No.10 for Vern Cotter’s side. The configuration of first-five, full-back and the bench utility back will be interesting, as it’s likely one of the four playmakers will have to miss out every week.

Does the flow-on effect from Richie Mo’unga not coming back to New Zealand this year impact what Scott Robertson wants Beauden Barrett to do this year?

You’d have to think that it’ll be a battle between Barrett and Damian McKenzie for the starting All Blacks jersey, meaning that Robertson likely will want Barrett playing No.10 throughout the year. 

Pre-season might not show us much, due to Beauden Barrett only returning to Blues camp this week, but Cotter won’t leave Barrett out for long, likely playing alongside Plummer and Perofeta, with Sullivan waiting in the wings.


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Comments

45 Comments
T
Thomas K 14 days ago

RILEY HIGGINS IS THE NEXT ALL BLACKS 12!!!!!!

J
JW 14 days ago

The Hurricanes have a young and exciting squad, which Laidlaw had firing on all cylinders during the 2024 campaign, an innovative running-the-ball style that was a breath of fresh air for a New Zealand side. 

I don't think you can say that about the Hurricanes. They were sooner without one of the countries best players in Cam Roigard, and were largely trying to make at 10 with Jordie not coping or contributing much 12. Every position should see a big improvement their this year, that's pretty scary.

Does the flow-on effect from Richie Mo’unga not coming back to New Zealand this year impact what Scott Robertson wants Beauden Barrett to do this year?

Interestingly I suppose it could do. Without Mo'unga being available for next year you'd have to think that encourages the prospect Perofeta taking the reigns. Were as if Mo'unga was coming back (at any point really) he might try and persist with Barrett.

You’d have to think that it’ll be a battle between Barrett and Damian McKenzie for the starting All Blacks jersey, meaning that Robertson likely will want Barrett playing No.10 throughout the year. 

Who is going to be his preferred Full Back cover then, Perofeta? So he's essentially shuffling the balance of which he wants backup where?


There's excitement all over the park. Which 10 brings out the Canes game more, Love or Godfrey? How will the Landers, Saders, and Blues loosies share roles? How will Lord and Darry be utiliized and really stick their hand up for AB selection more? What do the Canes do with actual locks in their team, and who's going to be pairing with Lomax this year? Is AJ Lam going to kick on at 12? I really can't balance them all in how influential these case will be!

S
SC 14 days ago

10 Barrett, 15 Perofeta, 22 Plummer (10/12 cover), 23 Sullivan (wing, fullback cover).


Blues problem solved.

J
JW 14 days ago

Could be a wasted spot their. Sullivan supposedly being used as a AJ Lam (12 and wing) backup.

N
Nickers 14 days ago

Hurricanes are not missing much with those three players I don't think.


Roigard is clearly a huge step up from Peranara performance wise. Ardie was obviously not there in 2024 either and between Lakai, Iose, and Kirifi they were able to dominate more often than not in the loose, and Flanders is absolute quality as demonstrated by his call up the AB XV. They have the same pack as last year but with improvements in the second row with Gallagher and Allen. Higgens is a different type of player to JB but it an absolute weapon who will be pushing for a spot in the ABs squad, and with Proctor, Umaga-Jensen, and Sullivan have one of the strongest midfields in the comp even without JB.


Where the Canes will struggle is decision making and playmaking. With no Cameron, JB, Love, or Morgan their entire first and second receiver stocks have been gutted. Cashmore and Godfrey will have huge weight on their shoulders to consistently make the right choices. For that reason, despite their awesome pack, I'm predicting and 5th or 6th place finish for the Hurricanes and a QF exit. But 2026 champions!

J
JW 14 days ago

Oh right Love went under the knife, what was that for a shoulder?


oh btw how to you balance those two (3) positives against the one negative and come out with a worse season?

G
GP 15 days ago

The Crusaders are going to bounce back big times . James O'Connor will have a great season, he is a man on a mission. Guys like Ethan Blackadder, Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams , Will Jordan, captain David Havili etc, all in there from the start, makes a huge difference. Many great young players in the squad and wider training group, such as brilliant Canterbury outside back Isaac Hutchinson , ( who was brilliant in last years NPC). People , writing the Crusaders off, are going to be eating their words.

N
Nickers 14 days ago

No he is way past it, and at best will get injured and sit out most of the season. At worst he will actually play and be clearly behind the pace of the game. Penney has a penchant for these types of players.

A
Andrew Nichols 15 days ago

OConnors recruitment like that of the hapless Halfpenny is a worrying admission of failure to replace Mounga and Burke.

N
NE 15 days ago

Super Rugby is by some considerable margin the best non test competition on the planet and made even better when the weak, squaking SA teams (winless in their last 9 years of participation) fled with their tails between their legs. The Crusaders are too good to repeat last years debacle and the Blues are now a fine team. Add the Chiefs and the Brumbies and that's probably going to be the last 4 imo.

S
SS 15 days ago

Wow, what did the Hurricanes do to deserve to miss out?

J
Jacque 15 days ago

Boring Comp.

J
JW 14 days ago

lol jealous much?

G
GP 15 days ago

Go watch something else .

N
NE 15 days ago

Must be a saffa still crying like a little baby after 9 winless years. Hilarious.

N
NW 16 days ago

Blues all the way for me. Even without sititi chiefs will be tough. 2 more years for landers. Cane's same as better without tj. Crusaders the spoon.

H
Head high tackle 15 days ago

Sorry but there is no way the Saders will get the spoon. I cant see anything but a deliberate stirring comment in that. I cant think of a time when they were ever the wooden spooners. With teams like Moana and the Force around that just wont happen but I see them as top 6 this year, and challanging for a top 4.

G
GP 15 days ago

The Chiefs are going to miss Sititi BIG TIME. The Crusaders will bounce back , the last 31 years of that team shows people like you are constantly proved wrong.

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