Recap: Super Round day three blog
After starting their season with an emphatic 40-point win over the Highlanders, the Blues’ championship credentials will be put to the test against the Brumbies in round two.
The Blues, who lost last year’s final to the Crusaders, dominated their New Zealand rivals at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
Winger Mark Telea ran rampant, while All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett led his team around the park with both skill and poise. They were simply unstoppable.
But it’s just one match. That result will forever hold its place in the history books, but it can’t define their campaign.
Coming up against traditional Australian powerhouse the Brumbies in Super Round, the Blues will be without star flanker Akira Ioane.
Ioane will miss the semi-final rematch after injuring his knee during the win over the Highlanders. While it’s a tough blow for the Blues, they’ve named a more than handy replacement in Tom Robinson.
The Blues have named a star-studded backline for the clash, including international stars Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane.
Captain Dalton Papali’i said earlier this week that the team is ready to “meet the challenge” at AAMI Park.
“You can’t stand still int his competition, otherwise teams will run straight past you,” Papali’i said in a statement.
“We know the Brumbies will bring a physical, confronting game and we have been preparing all week to meet that challenge.”
Once the full-time siren has sounded, the attention will turn to the final game in Super Round between the Western Force and Queensland Reds.
Both teams will be eager to bounce back from their opening round losses.
SUPER ROUND RESULTS
Crusaders defeated the Highlanders 52-15
Rebels were beaten by the Hurricanes 33-39
Moana Pasifika were beaten by the Chiefs 29-52
Fijian Drua lost to the NSW Waratahs 17-46
Brumbies beat the Blues 25-20
Western Force lost to the Queensland Reds 20-71
NIGHT ONE AND TWO WRAP
Defending Super Rugby champions the Crusaders returned to winning ways with a vintage display against the Highlanders on Friday.
In the opening match of Super Round, the Crusaders were relentless in their pursuit of victory against their South Island rivals.
Star playmaker Richie Mo’unga was back to his best, as he led the champion team to a convincing win.
“It was awesome to get the win and more importantly play some footy as the Chiefs played all the footy last weekend,” Mo’unga told Stan Sport.
“We wanted to come out and impose ourselves against the Highlanders and I think we did a good job.
“I was pretty disappointed in myself as the driver last week, not putting us in the right areas of the field so today is very satisfying.”
Following that match, the Hurricanes beat the Melbourne Rebels in an absolute thriller.
Utility back Jordie Barrett scored the winner in the dying stages, as he replicated his heroics in last year’s Bledisloe Cup clash at Marvel Stadium.
But the match was somewhat marred by an incident involving Canes captain Ardie Savea, who made an ugly gesture towards a Rebels player.
“I understand that can be taken the wrong way and like in the post (match interview) I apologised, I apologised to the player I did it too as well after the game,” Savea told reporters.
“It’s just the heat of the moment mate, it’s a warrior game but I’ve got to lead by example being the skip so I got that wrong.
“Something that I can keep learning and growing from.”
Moving on to night two, the Chiefs recorded another big win, this time over Moana Pasifika – but it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the New Zealanders.
After scoring six tries in the first half, the Chiefs were outplayed by Moana in the second half.
But the Chiefs can still take plenty out of the bonus point win, which was orchestrated by playmaker Damian McKenzie.
“It’s nice to be back playing in New Zealand,” McKenzie told RugbyPass.
“I’ve kind of come back feeling really rejuvenated to get back into a Super campaign.
“We were pushed tonight, particularly int that second half. Moana came out and probably were a bit hungrier in that second-half than what we were.”
Finally, the Waratahs recorded a big 46-17 win over Fijian Drua. The scoreline doesn’t reflect how close this match was for about 50 minutes.
RugbyPass will be keeping you updated on all the latest action throughout the day, which you can follow below.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments