'They are your champions': Former All Black declares his Super Rugby contenders

With the Super Rugby Pacific 2025 season over halfway through, the teams at the top of the table are extending their lead, and the bottom teams are slowly falling away from the pack.

Round ten saw the competition’s first Super Point of the season in the game between the Hurricanes and Force, as well as a tight clash of two old rivals on Friday night.

After ten rounds, the Chiefs are the leaders, ahead of the Crusaders on points differential and four points ahead of the Brumbies in third place.

Former All Black Stephen Donald believes the competition is going to be won by either the Crusaders, Chiefs or Blues, counting out the rest of the competition.

“It’s official, this is a two-and-a-half horse race. Yes, we’ve got half a horse, I’m going to spell it out for you now, for anyone that’s confused by my two-and-a-half horse race for the Super Rugby title,” Donald said on The Breakdown.

“You’ve got the Crusaders. You’ve got the Chiefs and it’s half a horse because I’m not sure if they will make the six-team playoffs, but it’s the Blues.

“They are your champions in waiting.”

When asked about why the 23-Test former All Black is counting out the third-placed Brumbies, he explains that they normally bow out in the semi-finals of the competition.

“Experience tells me they are a wonderful team, they’ll be the best Australian team, but they will bow out at semi-final time.

“They do not have what it takes to beat the Crusaders, Chiefs or Blues at semi-final time.”

Former All Black Jeff Wilson is confident that the Brumbies are in the conversation for a title this season.

“Are you telling me that the Brumbies, the side that came to Eden Park and beat your half a horse? They came and did a clinic on the weekend against Moana Pasifika, they’ve been very difficult to beat,” Wilson explained on The Breakdown.

“There’s only about three teams, that have got international first fives. The Brumbies are one of them, Lolesio has played 20-odd tests for Australia.

“You cannot rule this team out for all of their experience, their playoff experiences, and the way that they are playing.

“I’m sorry they have to be in the conversation, they can win this title.”

Wilson agrees with Donald regarding the Blues, especially if they win this weekend against the Reds in Brisbane.

“The argument around the Blues makes sense if you look at their run home because if they get a result this weekend against the Reds, all of a sudden their season looks significantly different.

“The best thing that could have happened in the weekend was a draw. So they got a bonus point for losing, then the two teams ahead of them got two points each.

“So ultimately, they lost one point on two teams that are above them, that are fighting for spots. All of a sudden, one result goes their way, and they’re jumping in the ladder, and they’re dangerous if they make the six.”

Donald’s case for the eighth-placed Blues is based on their performance Friday night against the Crusaders, which he believes showed how tough a matchup the Blues could be in the playoffs, if they make the top six.

“Friday night shows me that if they make the six? For me, you don’t want to be playing them.”