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Kiwis dominate the performers of the week for Super Rugby Pacific round five
By Adam Julian
No unbeaten teams remain in Super Rugby Pacific following a round where the Reds ended the Waratahs dream start to 2024, a prestigious try-scoring record was tied, and the defending champions lost a thriller to the Chiefs to slip to a fourth defeat in five matches.
The Hurricanes got a much-needed win over the Highlanders, the Crusaders put the Force to the sword and the Chiefs and Blues produced an all-time thriller in Hamilton.
Here are the top individual performances from round five of Super Rugby Pacific.
DuPlessis Kirifi (Hurricanes)
The Hurricanes 20-18 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin might save their season, the difference between a 1-4 and 2-3 record.
The breakdown was a liberal mess and in that environment, Kirifi thrived with 23 tackles and two turnovers, the last of which was a vital steal when the Highlanders were hot on the attack at 20-18.
The most compelling feature of Kirfi’s display wasn’t the typically fervent approach he brings but the timing of his incisions to impact the game.
Kirifi acknowledged his improving judgment with your humble correspondent in Rugby News in December.
“The biggest thing I’ve improved in my game is accuracy on the ball in both attack and defense. I’m a better judge of whether to go for it or hold back. I used to give away penalties like they were going out of fashion but time in the saddle, greater self-accountability and more honesty with teammates and coaches have helped me become more mature.”
Kirifi has won 49 of his 83 matches as a Hurricane. The Hurricanes have won eight consecutive games against the Highlanders. Kirifi captured the dramatic final moments when the Highlanders almost achieved a victory.
“I don’t know how many phases it was at the end there but it’s got to be 20-plus.
“That’s what we want from our group. We want our boys to keep it simple, keep the ref out of the game and defend like our season depends on it which it does.”
With 78 victories, Brad Shields has the most wins as a Hurricanes player in the current squad. Fourteen of Tyrell Lomax’s 50 victories in Super Rugby were achieved with the Highlanders.
Macca Springer (Crusaders)
With five tries in a 55-33 win over the Force the 21-year-old winger tied Sean Wanui’s record for the most tries by an individual in a Super Rugby match. The late Wanui achieved the feat for the Chiefs against the Warathas in Sydney in 2021.
Springer scored in the 12th, 15th, 52nd, 55th and 60th minutes. His hat-trick was completed with regulation finishes, but his fourth try of regathering a kick and chase from halfway was superlative.
His fifth try involved superior balance and quick feet. Springer also delivered the last pass in one of the three tries scored by fellow winger Sevu Reece.
Springer has been earmarked for a bright future since winning the Philip McDonald Memorial Medal for the best schoolboy player in the Crusaders region in 2020.
Fellow Crusaders All Blacks Leicester Fainga’anuku and Mitchell Drummond are past recipients of an award named after a Crusaders board member who lost his life in the Christchurch earthquake.
By 2021 Springer had already debuted for Tasman in the NPC and helped the Mako win a Premiership. He has played 35 games (20 wins) and scored 15 tries for his province. In 2022, he was a star in New Zealand’s Under 20s success at the Oceania Championships on the Gold Coast.
Springer started six of his nine appearances for the Crusaders last year and scored three tries.
Springer is the 20th player in Super Rugby to score four or more tries in a single match.
The previous Crusaders record was four by Caleb Ralph in a 96-19 win against the Waratahs in 2002. British and Irish Lion Sean Maitland scored four tries in a 52-10 win against the Brumbies in 2011.
Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs)
The most crucial moment in the Chiefs epic 32-31 win over the Blues in Hamilton was a 58th-minute try by the All Blacks lock where he employed the whole of his six-foot-six frame to reach out and score while the Chiefs were undermanned.
The Chiefs never lost the lead thereafter rewarded for a brazen decision to lineout drive from a penalty despite losing another lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi to the sinbin.
Vaa’i contributed 15 tackles in a game where the Chiefs were forced to make 101 more tackles than the opposition. Vaa’i ranks inside the top ten for most lineout catches in Super Rugby and has continued his eye-catching form from 2024.
Vaa’i has only missed ten minutes in the last four matches and that was a spell in the sinbin against the Crusaders.
Heremaia Murray (Reds)
Northland didn’t have a memorable NPC in 2023, winning just two of ten matches. However, winger Heremaia Murray had a breakout season, scoring eight of Northland’s 28 tries earning a Super Rugby contract with the Crusaders.
Murray only played 158 minutes in 2024 signing a two-year deal with the Reds in November after impressing as a “player of interest” on Queensland’s tour to Japan.
In the Reds’ 35-15 win against the Warathas Murray made two clean breaks and scored an outstanding try with a 60m chip and chase.
Murray’s chance to start only emerged when Jock Campbell injured his arm in the Reds 56-36 win over Moana Pasifika on February 21.
Reds captain Tate McDermott told The Australian on February 28.
“What impressed me about Murray (on the tour to the UK) was just how relaxed he was out there.
“Look at that Ulster game (won 38-31 by Queensland) where he ran down the touchline and beat four or five defenders … his speed, his power, his acceleration and his strength for someone with a slimmer build is really impressive.”
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Good choices by the writer. Obviously very pleased for Macca Springer. First outing for the Crusaders this season, 5 tries.Has to hold his slot. James O; Connor with his goalkicking comes in to consideration to start. Kirifi must be an AB.
A real traffic jam of wing talent in NZ at the moment.