Super Rugby Pacific: McKenzie the MVP, Chiefs still title favourites
The RugbyPass Round Table writers review the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season at the half-way point in the competition after seven rounds. Ben Smith (BS), Finn Morton (FM) and Ned Lester (NL) weigh in and review their initial predictions against what has unfolded so far.
Have you changed your mind about which team will win Super Rugby Pacific from your pre-season roundtable pick?
Finn Morton (FM): The Collingwood Magpies, Brisbane Lions, Brisbane Broncos and Crusaders all share something in common with the Chiefs. Whether you’re a rugby fanatic or a supporter of multiple code, it doesn’t matter right now. Chances are you’ve heard the phrase ‘Grand Final hangover.’
Last year’s AFL runners up, the Lions, sit 13th on their ladder with just one win from four starts. Reigning premiers Collingwood aren’t much better off in 11th with a 2-3 record, and the Brisbane Broncos have that same 40 per cent win percentage so far in the NRL.
Now, it would be ridiculous to simply group the Chiefs in with those temporarily fallen giants. Last season’s runners up have won five of their seven matches this season, but their status as competition favourites has been taken away and given to a Kiwi rival.
Before the season started, this writer predicted the Chiefs to “separate” themselves “from the rest of the pack” in 2024. But after seven rounds, the Chiefs aren’t even one of the top two sides in New Zealand, let alone the favourites to win it all.
The Hurricanes have been sensational this season – there’s just no other way to look at it. Their forward pack has developed into a strength, and their backs have continued to showcasing attacking flair that has left fans from all over the Pacific gobsmacked.
Yes, they’ve lost Cam Roigard for the season, and that’s a big blow. But 80-Test All Black TJ Perenara is the next man up in the No. 9 jersey. The Canes are going to be just fine.
With six wins from as many games, which includes some statement wins over the Reds, Blues, Crusaders and Highlanders, the Hurricanes are clearly the odds-on favourite to deliver what would be the second Super Rugby title-ever to the nation’s capital.
At the time of writing, the Blues are first on the ladder – having played one more game than the Canes. The Blues are building something really special and will go far this season, but again, the Canes look like the real deal at the moment.
Ben Smith (BS): My pre-season pick was the Chiefs who are sitting fourth with a 5-2 record. Off the back of a 68-12 smashing of Moana Pasifika, they still look strong enough to challenge for the title this year.
The key is clearly the health of Damian McKenzie. When he is fit, the Chiefs fire and it doesn’t seem to matter who is in the backline. When he is off the pitch they are a different side and struggle to control the gain line.
Down the stretch I’d like to see a Cortez Ratima-Damian McKenzie halves combination which will surely ignite the most dangerous outside backs in the competition. With Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson and Etene Nanai-Seturo, the Chiefs will destroy teams on counter-attack.
Despite losses to the Crusaders and Queensland Reds, the Chiefs clash with the undefeated Hurricanes will be indicative of their title chances.
Ned Lester (NL): Initial pick: Chiefs. As well as the Hurricanes have been playing, there’s one thing the Chiefs have that the Wellingtonians don’t, and that’s last year’s final loss.
The initial prediction of the Chiefs winning it all was made due to their poignant combination of confidence from a nearly unbeaten 2023 campaign and hurt from falling short of the ultimate prize. The power of those factors remains and will be especially present come knockout time.
The Hurricanes have proven to be the Chiefs’ closest competition but the Waikato club should still be considered favourites because they’re familiar with the big dance and have again proven despite their losses in personnel – namely Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick and Alex Nankerville – they still have plenty of depth, producing a killer bench unit that can be deployed at any time and close games out strongly.
Who will end the season as Super Rugby Pacific MVP? Has this changed from your pre-season prediction?
FM: With the halfway point of the season approaching, three men had shot out ahead of the rest in the race for MVP honours. Cam Roigard was leading the way but a devastating injury has ruled the Hurricanes halfback out of individual glory.
Chiefs flyhalf Damian McKenzie and Reds flanker Fraser McReight are the two left standing. While some quality players are not too far behind them, there’s still a clear divide between the world-class pair and the rest of the pack.
This writer predicted that Damian McKenzie would be the competition’s best player before the season started, and there’s been no reason to change that so far. Wearing the No. 10 jersey, McKenzie almost certainly secured his place in the All Blacks’ First XV under Scott Robertson.
McKenzie is X-Factor. The New Zealander can do thing in broken play that others could only dream of doing. There have been a number of instances this season where the All Black has laid the foundations for a stunning try after returning a clearance kick.
The Chiefs playmaker has also been solid off the boot. McKenzie had the chance to break Stephen Donald’s goal-kicking record last weekend against Moana Pasifika, and even though he missed, it’s still an unbelievable achievement to equal the feat.
When McKenzie was surprisingly handed a rest for the Chiefs’ clash with the Crusaders in Christchurch, it seemed like an interesting call – and it didn’t end well. The Crusaders claimed a famous win which saw the Chiefs fall to 5-2 for the season.
The Chiefs aren’t the same side without Damian McKenzie and that speaks volumes about how important, talented and replacement he is. That’s what it means to be the MVP.
Wallaby Fraser McReight deserves an honourable mentioned after a stunning start to the season, which included a series of try assists against the Rebels in Melbourne. Not bad for an openside flanker.
BS: At the halfway stage the favourite MVP candidates look like Fraser McReight of the Reds, Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs, Ruben Love of the Hurricanes and Hoskins Sotutu of the Blues. Those four players have been sensational.
McReight at the Reds has been in career-form with multiple turnovers every single week, most importantly in clutch situations as well. He has shown brilliant support play for an openside, bagging tries and setting them up. Against the Rebels in round three he had four try assists. Despite the Reds sitting 6th on the ladder, McReight has been a machine.
The surprise star of the competition has to be Hurricanes fullback Ruben Love. The talented ball-playing No 15 has propelled himself into the All Blacks conversation with his play at the back. It’s not just the finishing touches, it’s the rock solid last-man defence. Love is the best backfield defender in the comp, closing down on the final man with pinpoint precession.
Hoskins Sotutu has propelled the Blues pack and their power game of forward-heavy play, and McKenzie is the captain of the Chiefs’ ship as explained above.
My original pick was Shaun Stevenson who has been quieter this season, but still performing at a high level. He has produced the odd flash of greatness but due to positional changes and rest weeks, Stevenson hasn’t been able to build a valid MVP case.
McKenzie is the favourite to be crowned the unofficial MVP of Super Rugby Pacific.
NL: Initial pick: Cam Roigard. The Hurricanes halfback’s case for MVP selection was already compelling before his devastating, season-ending patella injury.
The 22-year-old was arguably the best player on the winningest team in the competition, a traditional recipe for MVP honours. Sadly, now his chances have ended along with his season.
Damian McKenzie’s influence on the Chiefs’ results was exposed in the team’s loss against the Crusaders in round six, proving his value to the team is immense.
McKenzie leads the competition in points and features near the top in a number of other statistical categories.
Another winning run by the Reds though might put Fraser McReight in the conversation.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
4 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
4 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
4 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
96 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
96 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
96 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
96 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
96 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
96 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
96 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
96 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
96 Go to comments