The five performers of the week from Super Rugby Pacific round ten

The long-awaited, sold-out “Super Round” at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch next weekend follows a round where the table tightened dramatically and the playoff picture became more complicated. Three of the five games were won by teams below their opponents in the standings at the start of Round 10.

Defending champions the Crusaders have lost their last two matches and sit tenuously in sixth place, the final playoff spot. The Waratahs are two points behind in seventh, aiming for an upset victory in the new stadium opening on Friday.

The Crusaders blew a 19-0 lead to lose 31-26 in Perth to the Western Force. While the Waratahs were far from convincing against Moana Pasifika, they did enough to prevail 29-14 in Sydney.

Despite leading for 65 minutes, the Hurricanes were knocked off their perch by the Chiefs 22-17 in a wild extra-time finish in Hamilton. Meanwhile, the Fijian Drua stunned the Brumbies in the biggest upset of the season, 33-28 in Canberra.

The Blues consigned the Highlanders to a fourth defeat in five games at Eden Park but nearly blew a 47-26 lead, eventually hanging on by seven.

With six rounds remaining, it seems only Moana Pasifika have almost no chance of making the playoffs.

Who were the Performers of the Week in Round 10 of Super Rugby Pacific?

Anton Segner (Blues) 

After his brave rearguard effort against the Hurricanes, Segner performed like a kaiser against the Highlanders. Along with two ruck turnovers and six lineout catches – more than any forward despite being the shortest Blues lineout jumper – he scored two tries. The second was a slashing 25-meter burst as the Blues built a 40-21 lead before he left the field in the 62nd minute.

Segner is a model of consistency, ranking among the Blues’ top five for tackles and lineout catches in 2026. He covers all three loose-forward positions and is eligible for All Blacks selection. The 24-year-old from Frankfurt, Germany, won a Miles Toyota Premiership with Nelson College in 2019, an NPC Premiership with Tasman in 2020, and a Super Rugby title with the Blues in 2024.

Highlanders halfback Adam Lennox kept the Highlanders in the hunt with two cracking tries before shifting to the wing. It was a performance to rival his influence for the 2023 Taranaki NPC Premiership-winning team. His father, Guy Lennox, played 110 matches for Whanganui between 1990 and 1998. Adam attended Whanganui Collegiate, alma mater of two fine All Blacks halfbacks, Andy Donald and David Kirk.

The Blues have won 29 of their 47 matches against the Highlanders, with this result the highest-scoring game between the two teams.

Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa (Moana Pasifika)

The Waratahs snapped a three-game losing streak with an unconvincing win delayed by a second-half storm against Moana Pasifika. Rookie Sid Harvey had another productive outing, scoring two tries and kicking two conversions. Host reserves Folau Fainga’a, Isaac Kailea, and Triston Reilly scored tries off the bench, eventually subduing the impassioned visitors. Facing possible extinction this week, Moana Pasifika produced their best display since Round One.

A constant bright spot in an otherwise dismal campaign for Moana Pasifika has been Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa. The hulking Southland No.8 was outstanding against the Waratahs, topping carries (21) and metres gained (103) while adding 24 tackles, one behind Tom Savage. Across the season, Tupou Ta’eiloa is Moana’s most effective ball carrier and has replaced lock Allan Craig as their top tackler. Even if Moana ceases to exist, it’s unlikely Tupou Ta’eiloa wouldn’t be snapped up.

Chiefs Ambition 

“Fluke,” “Black Magic,” “Rolling a Seven” – only a player as mercurial as Damian McKenzie could help the Chiefs win a game from a deflected charge down. Wallace Sititi made a headlong charge to collect the Warner Dearns block that befitted the Scottish warrior William Wallace, after whom he’s named. On the opposite side, Hurricanes’ Scottish-born coach Clark Laidlaw had a foul-mouthed outburst to rival Malcolm Tucker. Should McKenzie have been pinged in the 79th minute for holding on in a Jona Rova tackle in front of his sticks 25 meters out?

Fourtuane favours the brave.

Where did the Hurricanes team that had averaged 44 points per game in seven previous outings this season disappear in the last ten minutes? Limp kicks and tentative tactics led to two-thirds of possession being surrendered. Why would talisman Cam Roigard be replaced in extra time?

McKenzie and Chiefs wingers Leroy Carter and Kyren Taumoefolau were far from perfect, but the trio ranked in the top three for meters carried, defenders beaten, and line-breaks, capitalising on fatigue when it counted. Carter’s breakout and offload to set up the Hurricanes’ discard Daniel Sinkinson for the match-levelling try had Chiefs assistant coach and former Hurricanes and All Blacks winger Roger Randle almost punching a hole in the coaches’ box window.

Headliners Peter Lakai, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho, and Luke Jacobson, in his 100th Super Rugby game, all delivered customary strong performances. But this win was as much about the unsung heroes as it was about the superstars for the Chiefs.

Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi won nearly double the number of lineouts as the next best player. All Blacks blindside Simon Parker overshadowed emerging contender Devan Flanders with a try, 10 tackles, 2 turnovers, and 2 lineout catches. Reon Paul, cousin of the Hurricanes’ most capped player TJ Perenara, was watertight on defence with 14 tackles.

A fourth consecutive win would have equalled the Hurricanes’ longest winning streak in this fixture, achieved between 2005 and 2008. The Hurricanes’ loss is their first in a “New Zealand derby” in seven matches.

Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (Fijian Drua)

For just the second time in 36 matches, the Fijian Drua won away from home. They also beat the Brumbies, who have won more home games at a single venue, 166 from 228 at GIO Stadium in Canberra, than any team in Super Rugby history.

With 13 points from the boot and a direct hand in two tries, first five-eighth Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula was a massive contributor in the boilover. His skip pass to two-try hero Manasa Mataele created the first opening while a cross-kick to Simione Kuruvoli made it 30-14 with 24 minutes remaining.

The Drua are at their best when they create chaos, and though there was an intercept and a charge-down try, there was a greater degree of composure in how Armstrong-Ravula directed his team.

Indefatigable blindside Etonia Waqa has featured in 17 of the 22 all-time victories by the Drua.

Meanwhile, the Brumbies lost consecutive games at GIO Stadium for the first time since 2022. The Fijian Druahad lost their last 14 games in Australia.

Jeremy Williams (Western Force)

The Crusaders have lost six of their last eight matches in Australia, with the Force celebrating just their second win in their last nine games against the defending champions.

Down 19-0 after 23 minutes, things looked ominous for the hosts, but the Force have newfound steel. Except for a Brumbies blowout in the first round, five of their defeats have been by ten points or less.

With height, flexibility, accuracy, and power, the Force lineout has been a weapon in 2026. It reduced the Crusaders’ lineout to rubble, with the tourists winning only 63 per cent of their own possession while the Force collected 17 out of 18 throws.

Wallaby and Force Captain Jeremy Williams was a towering figure with eight lineout catches. He also made a game-high 22 tackles and forced a turnover.

Highly-touted rugby league recruit Zax Lomax scored a try for the Force in his first start and didn’t put a foot wrong.

Halfback Henry Robertson scored two tries. He played just seven games in three seasons with the Waratahs and had only scored once in 21 previous appearances for the Force. It should be noted that the 26-year-old was in the 2019 Australian Under-20s alongside Wallabies like Angus Bell, Lachlan Lonergan, Josh Nasser, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight (C), Mark Nawanqanitwaswe, and Noah Lolesio.