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Recap: Super Rugby Pacific round three blog
The ladder-leading Chiefs will play their first game at home this season on Friday night, and it’s an absolutely doozy against New Zealand rivals the Highlanders.
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After shocking the rugby world with a staggering 31-10 win over defending champions the Crusaders in round one, the Chiefs recorded another bonus point win over Moana Pasifika in Super Round.
Playmaker Damian McKenzie has been absolutely phenomenal since returning to New Zealand, and has played a starring role in their early season success alongside Brad Weber and Shaun Stevenson.
But two wins doesn’t win you a championship. Playing in front of their home fans at FMG Stadium, the Chiefs will be eager to keep maintain their unbeaten start to the season against the Highlanders.
As for the Highlanders, they’ll be desperate for a win.
The Highlanders were outclassed by the Blues in the opening round of the season at Forsyth Barr Stadium – but outclassed doesn’t do the dominance of the Auckland-based outfit justice.
It was a 40-point win for the visitors that day, and things went from bad to worse for the Landers in Super Round.
Coming up against South Island rivals the Crusaders, the Highlanders had no answers for Richie Mo’unga’s brilliant display.
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The Crusaders’ vintage display saw them run away with a comfortable victory, while the Highlanders fell to an 0-2 start to the 2023 season.
Highlanders flanker Billy Harmon, who has not been named to face the Chiefs, told reporters that the team wouldn’t get “too disheartened” following their disappointing start to the season.
“It’s only round two, we’re not going to get too disheartened,” Harmon said.
“We just still want to keep growing, keep (getting) better. The funny thing is I felt like we did get better in our attack and our D.
“Obviously with that scoreline we weren’t quite accurate and a team like the Crusaders, they can pounce on any opportunity and turn that into points.”
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The Highlanders will be boosted by the return of All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith, who has been named to start in the halves alongside Mitch Hunt.
In the second game on Friday, the Melbourne Rebels will host the NSW Waratahs at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
The Rebels are coming off a tough loss to the Hurricanes in Super Round, while the Waratahs defeated the Fijian Drua.
Already, this seems like a key game for both teams – and it’s only round three.
RugbyPass will be keeping you updated on all the latest action throughout the night, which you can follow below.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments