Mass scheduling changes as Covid wreaks havoc in Super Rugby Pacific
New Zealand Rugby [NZR] have released a revised Super Rugby Pacific draw for this weekend in the wake of Covid outbreaks throughout three Kiwi franchises.
The Blues, Highlanders and Crusaders are the latest sides to have fallen victims to the virus, with all three teams dealing with numerous positive cases within their playing groups.
As such, NZR have altered this weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific schedule, which will see Moana Pasifika host the Chiefs at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday in what will be the only New Zealand-based match to take place in round five.
The match will be Moana Pasifika’s first home game since joining Super Rugby Pacific this season as the new expansion franchise have remained at their temporary Queenstown base that they relocated to at the beginning of the campaign.
Moana Pasifika were supposed to face the Chiefs in round two of Super Rugby Pacific, but that fixture, as well as their season-opener against the Blues, were both postponed due to a Covid outbreak within their squad.
Both of those games were rescheduled to played as mid-week matches in round seven and round nine, but Moana Pasifika’s revised April 12 clash against the Chiefs will no longer need to be played due to their match on Saturday.
Moana Pasifika were initially set to face the Highlanders in Dunedin this weekend, but that fixture has now been postponed, as have the other scheduled matches between the Blues and Crusaders in Christchurch, and Hurricanes and Chiefs in Wellington.
While none of those fixtures have been cancelled, NZR now face a tight deadline to find room for those matches to be played before the cross-border games against the Australian teams get underway from April 22.
NZR must also find room for last weekend’s postponed match between Moana Pasifika and the Hurricanes, which has been delayed indefinitely after the Hurricanes were unable to field a team due to an outbreak of the virus.
“We are looking at the schedule and believe there are opportunities to play those matches without major disruption to the draw and will announce details in due course,” NZR head of tournaments and competitions Cameron Good said in a statement on Wednesday.
Good added that several factors had been taken into consideration before the decision was made to postpone all Kiwi-based round five matches and replace them by bringing forward Moana Pasifika’s match against the Chiefs.
“Like many businesses around New Zealand we continue to deal with the disruptions of COVID on our people, and the health of the Blues, Highlanders and Crusaders players and staff was the key consideration in withdrawing those teams from this weekend’s matches,” he said.
“With three teams remaining we had to look at what was the best outcome for the competition and a key consideration was to ensure Moana Pasifika got back on the field again after having three matches postponed through the opening month of the season, which is exciting for the club and their fans.
“This change also allows Moana Pasifika to catch up on their previously postponed round two match against the Chiefs.
“This has been a tough call on the Hurricanes who had initially been scheduled to play the Chiefs and I would like to acknowledge the Hurricanes for their understanding and cooperation in putting the competition first.”
The Australian-based Super Rugby Pacific round five fixtures remain unaffected, and Good said changes to New Zealand’s border restrictions was a welcome boost to the competition.
“The easing of border restrictions allows New Zealand Rugby to plan with more certainty toward teams traveling into New Zealand later in the season, both for Super Rugby Pacific and for our international schedules,” he said.
“We are looking forward to our Super Rugby Pacific teams heading across the Tasman in April to play the Australian teams, notably for the Super Round in Melbourne over Anzac weekend, and also welcoming the Australian teams to New Zealand in May.”
Super Rugby Pacific round five schedule
Friday, March 18: Brumbies vs Reds at GIO Stadium in Canberra, 7:45pm kick-off (local time)
Saturday, March 19: Fijian Drua vs Western Force at Leichardt Oval in Sydney, 2:35pm kick-off (local time)
Saturday, March 19: Moana Pasifika vs Chiefs at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, 7:05pm kick-off (local time)
Saturday, March 19: Waratahs vs Melbourne Rebels at Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, 7:45pm kick-off (local time)
Indefinitely postponed Super Rugby Pacific matches
- Hurricanes vs Moana Pasifika (originally scheduled to be played at Sky Stadium in Wellington in round four)
- Highlanders vs Moana Pasifika (originally scheduled to be played at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin in round five)
- Crusaders vs Blues (originally scheduled to be played at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch in round five)
- Hurricanes vs Chiefs (originally scheduled to be played at Sky Stadium in Wellington in round five)
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments