Matatu shade Blues, Hurricanes Poua stun Chiefs Manawa

Super Rugby Aupiki’s All-in weekend at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe has treated fans to two close encounters, where Matatu and the Hurricanes Poua have come out on top.

Round three of the 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki competition saw the top two teams face off against each other, the Blues, and Matatu, after the two winless sides, Hurricanes Poua, and Chiefs Manawa battled it out.

Both games were high-scoring affairs, with the Poua clinching their first Aupiki victory in over 120 weeks, holding on for a narrow victory over Chiefs Manawa, 34-29.

Manawa dominated the opening stages of the contest on Saturday night, storming out to a 14-3 lead.

Replacement Poua prop Angel Mulu crossed on the stroke of halftime, after Hinemaringi Scott closed the gap just prior to Pulu’s five-pointer.

Tegan Willocks was the next to power over the line for the Wellington-based Super Rugby Aupiki franchise, before Black Ferns fullback and veteran, Renee Holmes, slotted a penalty from close.

Maia Nuku, Tynealle Fitzgerald, and Chyna Hohepa all hit back for Chiefs Manawa during the second half in Pukekohe, but a 66th minute Holmes try sealed the deal for the Hurricanes Poua.

“We’ve been building. We’ve known we have the potential and we have it there, just playing a full 80,” Poua co-captain Te Rauoriwa Gapper told Sky Sport.

“Today we actually brought, maybe not a full 80, but we’re improving each week and that’s all that matters.”

For stand-in Chiefs Manawa captain Mia Anderson, she said it was clear her side weren’t up to speed on the night.

“100% our errors, our discipline, that’s pretty much it. We spoke about it heaps but we just didn’t nail it.”

In the second game of the all-in double-header in Pukekohe, Matatu overcame a valiant Blues side to extend their lead at the top-of-the-table.

The defending champions started the game with a yellow card in the eighth minute to Black Ferns lock Maiakawanakaulani Roos, just before Matatu scored the first try of the evening.

Kaipo Olsen-Baker was the first, before Winnie Palamo extended their lead.

The Auckland-based franchise responded with two tries of their own either side of halftime, with Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and Jaymie Kolose dotting down.

With 20 minutes to go, Matatu first five Hannah King made no mistake with a penalty, taking her sides lead to six.

Atlanta Lolohea crossed for the Blues to give them the lead, before King’s 71st minute try sealed the deal on Saturday night, 27-21.

Matatu captain Grace Brooker explained that her side bounced-back well from their performance last week.

“We weren’t proud of the product we put out there last week and we had a short week, short turnaround, but I’m so proud of our ladies. Everyone owned their role,” Matatu captain Grace Brooker told Sky Sport.

“That was what we were aiming to do when we came in here. Everyone got up. When we got scored on we talked about ‘you need to get where your team needs you to be’ and I can’t underestimate how well they did that.

“Girls were getting smoked, getting up, making double tackles. It was amazing.”

Roos said that her side made too many mistakes, allowing Matatu to punish them.

“They got down the field based off our mistakes and our ball retention so I think we’ll have a really big focus on that in the week coming up and be a bit more clinical.”