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Recap: Super Rugby Pacific opening night blog


(Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)
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Rugby fans, it’s time to rejoice. After 251 days, Super Rugby Pacific is back – and it all starts with a New Zealand blockbuster between the Crusaders and Chiefs.

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The champion Crusaders claimed yet another title about 36 weeks ago, when they travelled north to Auckland in June to take on the Blues.

Led by Richie Mo’unga, the Crusaders tasted Super Rugby glory for the sixth time in as many years.

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But their quest for a seventh crown doesn’t get much harder.

Following on from last year’s tense semi-final in Christchurch – which the Crusaders obviously won 20-7 – the Chiefs will be out for revenge.

But the Chiefs have a not-so-secret weapon to call upon this season.


Playmaker Damian McKenzie is back for the Chiefs in 2023 after taking a sabbatical in Japan.

Rugby World Cup winning flyhalf Stephen Donald believes McKenzie holds the key to the Chiefs’ title hopes this season, and it all begins tonight at Orangetheory Stadium.

“I think for the Chiefs to win the title, he needs to be their main man,” Donald told SENZ The Run Home.

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“To me, it’s not in doubt, he’ll be going to the World Cup. He’ll be in the All Blacks’ squad without a shadow of a doubt.

“For me, Damian McKenzie goes to the World Cup and for Chiefs fans… I certainly hope that he’ll be wearing the No. 10 jersey this year for the boys from the Tron.”

But today is a time for rugby supporters on both sides of the Tasman to celebrate.

After the Crusaders and Chiefs battle it out for early season bragging rights, the attention shifts across the ditch for an Australian derby.

The NSW Waratahs are set to host the ACT Brumbies at Allianz Stadium at 7:35pm AEDT.

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RugbyPass will be keeping you updated on all the latest action throughout the opening night of the new Super Rugby Pacific campaign, which you can follow below.

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Phantom 45 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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