Chiefs on a mission to down Crusaders
2032185640
Super Rugby Pacific round-up
Super Rugby Pacific started with a bang as a repeat of last year's final saw the Chiefs overcome new-look five-time reigning champions, the Crusaders.
Clayton McMillan's side nailed a psychological blow in the first game of the Crusaders' new era under head coach Rob Penney but the Chiefs will be sweating on the fitness of star fly-half Damian McKenzie after the All Black was substituted early in the second half with a leg injury.
Pre-season changes have sparked hope for everyone baying to dethrone the standard-bearing Crusaders.
Scott Robertson's elevation to the All Blacks, and that of his trusted assistant Scott Hansen, along with the influential exits of Richie Mo'unga, needs to be a happy medium somewhere within it.”
Vern Cotter began his tenure with the Blues by halting Fiji rugby's wave of momentum as the Auckland side saw off the Drua 34-10, scoring five first-half tries.
Winger Caleb Clarke scored under the posts as first receiver from one scrum and full-back Zarn Sullivan scored in the left corner from another.
The Blues were always dangerous in the outside channels and captain Dalton Papali'i scored in the right corner when the Drua cover defense was fully stretched.
Drua muffed the clearance of an Angus Ta'avao charge down and back row Hoskins Sotutu scored his second try of the half.
The visitors tapped a penalty close to the Blues Sam Whitelock, Leicester turo's tries. However, the Fainga'anuku and Jack Crusaders hit back as Goodhue, undoubtedly Sevu Reece's first half marked a shifting of the try was followed by Chay Super Rugby landscape. Fihaki's second period
Player of the match brace and Scott Barrett's Etene Nanai-Seturo was touchdown setup a grandstand finish. delighted with the win over their Kiwi rivals. He Tyro fly-half Rivez said: “It feels good. It's Reihana follows in the good to start the season footsteps of arguably the with a win especially as Crusaders greatest ever it's always hard to win player Mo'unga and endured a shaky opening against the Crusaders boys from down south.” before finding his mojo in
The Chiefs got off to the second half, guiding an outstanding start, up his side into the lead with 27-10 at half-time courtesy of Kaylum Boshier, But Josh Ioane came five minutes remaining.
Xavier Roe and Nanai-Se- off the bench to deliver match winning back-toback penalties for the Chiefs, who had to defend the final stages without Anton Lienert-Brown after their 70-cap All Black was bemused to have been withdrawn due to his smart mouthguard detecting a possible concussion.
Despite being on the opposing side, Crusaders captain Barrett was disappointed in the new technology.
He said: “I think it's a step too far when you're getting dragged off and you're looking around thinking ‘what actually happened?'. We want player welfare and that's paramount but I think if you're influencing the game when key players are going off and they don't know what for, I think that can be frustrating for a player. There
line and scored on the next phase through lock Leone Rotuisolia but Sullivan scored his second to round off a bonus point win.
“We had some moments when we were in form but there were some moments which were a bit scratchy,” Papali'i said. “At the end of the day, we know the Drua are going to bring it all. They play such a good style of rugby that you've got to be on all the time.
“They had moments when they put us under so much stress.”
The Highlanders came from behind to claim a 35-21 bonus-point win over Moana Pasifika.
Six points from the boot of William Havili combined with tries by Jacob Norris and Nigel Ah Wong put the visitors 21-14 ahead after half time but unanswered touchdowns from Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Sam Gilbert overturned the deficit.
The Hurricanes continued New Zealand's Trans-Tasman dominance by beating Western Force 44-14 in Perth. Tries by Josh Moorby, Joggie Viljoen, Caleb Delany, Asafo Aumua, Peter Lakai and Salesi Rayasi secured the Canes all five points.
The ACT Brumbies and Queensland Reds came out on top in the Australian derbies.
Brumbies, who have been tipped as Australia's best chance of ending New Zealand's stranglehold on Super Rugby, blew the Melbourne Rebels away in a 30-3 victory with speedster Corey Toole, below, scoring a quickfire brace before flanker Charlie Cale added two scores of his own in the second period.
In the final match of the opening round, the Reds began their campaign with a 40-22 victory at Suncorp Stadium over the Waratahs thanks to tries from Hunter Paisami, Matt Faessler (2), Tate McDermott, Fraser McReight and a penalty try.
Waratahs scored through Jake Gordon and Dylan Pietsch's two scores but will need to improve drastically if they are to topple the Crusaders next weekend.
