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

The 13th round of Super Rugby Pacific saw the Hurricanes and Chiefs strengthen their positions as the top two teams. The Hurricanes breezed past Moana Pasifika 50-17 at a wet North Harbour Stadium to take first place. The Chiefs battled to a 31-21 win against the ferocious Reds in Brisbane on Friday night and are second, five points behind the leaders. The Crusaders are fourth after a resounding 36-20 win over the third-placed Blues in Christchurch.

The Brumbies avoided four consecutive losses for the first time since 2011 by stopping the Western Force’s momentum with a 32-15 win in Canberra. The Highlanders kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 31-26 win over the struggling Waratahs in Dunedin.

Who were the performers of the week in Round 13 of Super Rugby Pacific?

Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders)

Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history, once said, “Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” Those words could apply to the often risk-averse and conformist New Zealand rugby community. Once innovators and risk-takers, New Zealand has lately been outfoxed by international opponents, especially the Springboks.

The switch of Leicester Fainga’anuku from wing to openside flanker has awakened a kraken. Sometimes risk is necessary for reward. Three matches into his New Zealand career as a seven (the French first applied the idea), Fainga’anuku is turning heads with dynamic, intuitive, influential displays that are winning games. From a playing perspective, it’s the most interesting thing to happen so far in 2026. So, Who’s Next?

Against the Blues, Fainga’anuku was directly involved in creating three tries, two with kicks, even Sir Michael Jones might envy. A delicate grubber after 23 minutes kept a rapid breakout moving, allowing Jamie Hannah to score. After an hour, Fainga’anuku spotted winger Sevue Reece unmarked with a 25-meter right-foot nudge. Defensively, Fainga’anuku was the Crusaders’ busiest player with 16 tackles and three turnovers.

Lineout superiority was a massive part of the Crusaders’ success, winning all 20 throws and stealing four of the Blues’ 14. With 11 lineout catches, a try, and 15 tackles, Hannah’s contribution shouldn’t be understated.

The most memorable moment from the lineout came in the 13th minute. Hannah secured a throw from Codie Taylor five meters out. Fainga’anuku peeled to the front in an unexpected switch, creating a hole that cheerful prop George Bower sailed through to score his first try in his 100th Crusaders game.

Later, reserve hooker George Bell was zestful, and his 77th-minute try from a maul against 13 players was a triumph of will and courage.

Down 29-20 and against 13 players with 11 minutes to go, the Blues had to play for space and move away from their rigid, close-quarter structure. They couldn’t. Tragically, Beauden Barrett has kicked 44% of his total receptions at first receiver this season, the highest of any player. That contrasts with the free-running World Rugby Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017.

The Blues’ miserable record in Christchurch continues. They lost 15 of 16 matches against the Crusaders at Apollo Projects Stadium and have won only twice in the Garden City since 2004. The Blues beat the Crusaders earlier this season but have not beaten them twice in one season since their 2003 championship success. Captain Patrick Tuipulotu was blunt after the performance, complaining, “We don’t deserve to be a finalist the way we played.”

Back to Beauty Bower. Owen Franks scored only three tries in 178 Super Rugby matches, going 152 games between 2010 and 2024 without a try. He also played 108 All Black Tests without crossing the chalk. Doctor and 2007 Springboks Rugby World Cup winner Jannie Du Plessis played 151 Super Rugby games without a try. He scored one try in his 70 Tests for South Africa against Italy in a 55-11 win in Buffalo, East London in 2010.

Welcome back to the Crusaders’ horses, too. What bonehead made the call to briefly put them out to pasture?

Fiti Sa (Chiefs)

Replaced All Black Josh Lord in the 35th minute. The 2.03m, 125kg Taranaki lock ploughed through the most minutes in his brief Super Rugby career and showed his potential with an abrasive, busy display against a side featuring eight Wallabies forwards.

The Reds’ lineout was wobbly all night. Sa helped spoil it and claimed five of the Chiefs’ 20 lineouts. All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho came off the bench and scored two rolling maul tries. Sa made 13 tackles and a crucial late charge down that kept the Reds pinned in their territory at 24-21.

Born in Christchurch, Sa began his rugby journey in league before moving to Wellington, where he took up union. After returning to Christchurch, he attended Shirley Boys’ High School and Christ’s College, and was selected for the New Zealand Schools wider training squad in 2020. In 2022, he was part of the New Zealand Under-19s team, which won all four matches on a tour of South Africa. Since 2023, he has played 18 NPC games for Taranaki.

Wallace Sititi, World Rugby’s Most Promising Player of the Year in 2024, has quickly returned to top form after his long injury layoff. He led tackles (22) and carries (14) and scored two tries.

The Chiefs have won four straight games outside New Zealand for the first time since 2024.

Josh Moorby (Hurricanes)

The Hurricanes’ 50-19 victory over Moana Pasifika means they became the first team to score 50 or more points in a single game five times in a season, surpassing the 2005 Crusaders, 2010 Bulls, 2016 Chiefs, 2017 Hurricanes and 2018 Waratahs, who each did it four times.

With tries in the 11th, 22nd, 52nd and 69th minutes Josh Moorby joined Fehi Fineanganofo (Brumbies, 45-12, 2026), Bailyn Sullivan (Chiefs, 35-17, 2025), Ben Lam (Melbourne Rebels, 50-19, 2018) and Ngani Laumape (Blues, 42-24, 2018), as a Hurricane to score four tries in a single Super Rugby match.

While Fineanganofo has rightly won most acclaim for his 14-try haul in 2026, Moorby has been an understated and efficient achiever. Versatile, reliable, and quick, he scored a hat-trick in the Hurricanes’ first-round victory against Moana Pasifika and has crossed the stripe in the last four Hurricanes games. Overall, he has 33 tries in 49 matches for the franchise.

Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders)

There’s no reason now for the Highlanders to move Timoci Tavatavanawai from the backs to the forwards. But if any other player in New Zealand could do a Leicester Fainga’anuku, it’s the Highlanders captain. Would the All Blacks take the gamble on a Tavatavanawai hybrid? Though role-based players remain essential, are dynamic double acts becoming a new trend to break stalemates? A dozen carries and tackles with two turnovers, including the last jackal that secured victory, are the stellar stats against the New South Wales Waratahs. But the ability to draw defenders, slow opposition possession, and sheer presence aren’t recorded. Tavatavanawai is a frightening talent, as is his Highlanders winger Caleb Tangitau, who cut an early swathe.

Fellow winger Jonah Lowe doesn’t incite similar fear, but with tries in his last three matches and 746 minutes played across 10 starts this season, he is a valuable asset.

The Waratahs will struggle to reach the playoffs now, but at least in Sid Harvey, they’ve unearthed a talent for the future. Wallabies star Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i had his best outing since returning from injury.  

Ryan Lonergan (Brumbies)

The 105-game halfback has played eight times for Australia A but has yet to crack the glass ceiling at Test level. With Tate McDermott injured and Jake Gordon not in vintage form, will Lonergan earn his Wallabies debut in 2026?

With the Brumbies in desperate need of a win against the Force, Lonergan delivered a clutch performance. In addition to helping the Brumbies narrowly with the tussle for territory, he created the first try with a long and accurate skip pass to Ollie Sapford. Later, he linked up with his brother Lachlan Lonergan (17 tackles) to score a try of his own. Lonergan passed 300 Super Rugby Pacific points by adding a dozen points by the boot.

The Brumbies have a bye next weekend and finish the regular season with matches against the New South Wales Waratahs and Moana Pasifika. They should continue their run of making the playoffs every year since 2012.