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The 42
24-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Full Barbarians squad confirmed to face Springboks
SAM CANE, THE New Zealand captain sent off in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final loss to South Africa, is in the Barbarians squad to face the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday. The 33-year-old flanker has since quit Test rugby after 104 appearances for the All Blacks and moved to Japan, where he plays for Tokyo Sungoliath. A couple of Ireland Test centurions, prop Cian Healy and flanker Peter O'Mahony, who ended their international careers this year, are also in a 23-man squad for the exhibition match. Advertisement New Zealander Robbie Deans will coach the Barbarians, who will play in South Africa for the first time and are seeking a fifth victory in nine matches against the record four-time world champions. Squad Forwards: Josh Beehre, John Ricky Riccitelli, Hoskins Sotutu (all Auckland Blues), Cian Healy (Leinster), Will Collier (Castres), Hassane Kolingar (Racing 92), Paul Alo-Emile (Stade Francais), Camille Chat (Lyon), David Ribbans (Toulon), Ruben van Herdeen (Stormers), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Sam Cane (Tokyo Sungoliath), Shannon Frizell (Toshiba), Lachlan Boshier (Wild Knights) Backs: Melvyn Jaminet, Leicester Faingaʻanuku (both Toulon), Tawera Kerr Barlow (La Rochelle), Santiago Arata Perrone (Castres), Josh Jacomb (Waikato Chiefs), Peter Umaga-Jensen (Hurricanes), Mark Telea (Auckland Blues), Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Highlanders), Joe Marchant (Stade Francais) Coach: Robbie Deans (NZL) – © AFP 2025
Associated Press
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Crusaders' 13th Super Rugby title: A tale of redemption and resilience
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — In Super Rugby, the more things change the more they remain the same. A different competition this year with only 11 teams yielded a familiar result. The Christchurch-based Crusaders are champions for the 13th time and the eighth time in the last nine years. The Hamilton-based Chiefs are runners-up for the third time in the last three finals. This year familiarity didn't equal inevitability. The Chiefs went into the final as marginal favorites after sitting in first place for most of the season and finishing in that spot, as top-seeds for the playoffs. Though they stumbled in the first playoff round, losing at home to the Auckland-based Blues, they advanced to the semifinals as the top-ranked losers and convincingly beat the ACT Brumbies in the semifinals. But if ever there was a case of one team wanting it more, it was the Crusaders who were desperate to atone for their 2024 season in which, in their first year under head coach Rob Penney, they won only four matches and finished well outside their playoffs. Penney was seen as lucky to keep his job. Other teams might have been more ruthless. But the Crusaders gave him a second chance and he atoned on Saturday with his first Super Rugby title. The Crusaders' were determined to win for Penney, for their fans and in their last match at the 'temporary' stadium they have called home since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake destroyed their former headquarters at Lancaster Park. The Chiefs were on the back foot from the start and though they trailed by only one point at halftime and then for 31 minutes in the second half, they were only hanging on. The accuracy of the Crusaders' kicking game and the eagerness with which they chased kicks kept the Chiefs pinned mostly in their own half. They escaped twice and scored tries but spent the crucial final minutes of the match trapped within their own territory. 'It was a classic final, two great teams going at it and a small margin,' Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson said. 'The Crusaders did really well to win the halfway and play at the right end of the field. 'I felt we had some good attack when we got into their half, we put some good pressure on them but we just didn't play enough footy down there.' The Chiefs did their best to send off head coach Clayton McMillan with his first Super Rugby title. In his five years in charge, McMillan has taken the Chiefs to the final three times and the semifinals twice. That followed a barren season under former British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland. It wasn't to be. McMillan will leave New Zealand to coach Munster in Ireland without the trophy he deserves. Close contests, uncertain future Now, questions will be asked about what it all means for the competition. Already, there is contention about the lucky loser rule, introduced this season which allowed the Chiefs to reach the final after a playoff loss. The tournament will continue next year with 11 teams but what of the future? This season began with a number of high-scoring games in summer conditions and margins were typically close, indicating a tight competition. Moana Pasifika had its best-ever season under new captain Ardie Savea and only narrowly missed the playoffs. 'We've seen a whole lot of upsets, we've seen lots of hoodoos broken and then on the pitch I think the new rules and the work of the match officials have set it up to play some really entertaining and combative rugby,' Super Rugby boss Jack Mesley told Radio New Zealand. 'The stat was something like, I think we had 43 percent of games that were decided by only seven points or less. 'We saw the teams that were on the bottom of the ladder last year really change their fortunes. It was the closest competition in points since 2004 so I think a lot of those teams just got better.' Still, while television audiences crept up by around six percent while actual match attendance remained static. 'We probably haven't delivered off the field and given fans all the tools that should go in and around a great product that we have on the field so we're working on that,' Mesley said. 'We took some pretty good steps I think this year.' ___ AP rugby:
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Crusaders' 13th Super Rugby title: A tale of redemption and resilience
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — In Super Rugby, the more things change the more they remain the same. A different competition this year with only 11 teams yielded a familiar result. The Christchurch-based Crusaders are champions for the 13th time and the eighth time in the last nine years. Advertisement The Hamilton-based Chiefs are runners-up for the third time in the last three finals. This year familiarity didn't equal inevitability. The Chiefs went into the final as marginal favorites after sitting in first place for most of the season and finishing in that spot, as top-seeds for the playoffs. Though they stumbled in the first playoff round, losing at home to the Auckland-based Blues, they advanced to the semifinals as the top-ranked losers and convincingly beat the ACT Brumbies in the semifinals. But if ever there was a case of one team wanting it more, it was the Crusaders who were desperate to atone for their 2024 season in which, in their first year under head coach Rob Penney, they won only four matches and finished well outside their playoffs. Advertisement Penney was seen as lucky to keep his job. Other teams might have been more ruthless. But the Crusaders gave him a second chance and he atoned on Saturday with his first Super Rugby title. The Crusaders' were determined to win for Penney, for their fans and in their last match at the 'temporary' stadium they have called home since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake destroyed their former headquarters at Lancaster Park. The Chiefs were on the back foot from the start and though they trailed by only one point at halftime and then for 31 minutes in the second half, they were only hanging on. The accuracy of the Crusaders' kicking game and the eagerness with which they chased kicks kept the Chiefs pinned mostly in their own half. They escaped twice and scored tries but spent the crucial final minutes of the match trapped within their own territory. Advertisement 'It was a classic final, two great teams going at it and a small margin,' Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson said. 'The Crusaders did really well to win the halfway and play at the right end of the field. 'I felt we had some good attack when we got into their half, we put some good pressure on them but we just didn't play enough footy down there.' The Chiefs did their best to send off head coach Clayton McMillan with his first Super Rugby title. In his five years in charge, McMillan has taken the Chiefs to the final three times and the semifinals twice. That followed a barren season under former British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland. It wasn't to be. McMillan will leave New Zealand to coach Munster in Ireland without the trophy he deserves. Advertisement Close contests, uncertain future Now, questions will be asked about what it all means for the competition. Already, there is contention about the lucky loser rule, introduced this season which allowed the Chiefs to reach the final after a playoff loss. The tournament will continue next year with 11 teams but what of the future? This season began with a number of high-scoring games in summer conditions and margins were typically close, indicating a tight competition. Moana Pasifika had its best-ever season under new captain Ardie Savea and only narrowly missed the playoffs. 'We've seen a whole lot of upsets, we've seen lots of hoodoos broken and then on the pitch I think the new rules and the work of the match officials have set it up to play some really entertaining and combative rugby,' Super Rugby boss Jack Mesley told Radio New Zealand. 'The stat was something like, I think we had 43 percent of games that were decided by only seven points or less. Advertisement 'We saw the teams that were on the bottom of the ladder last year really change their fortunes. It was the closest competition in points since 2004 so I think a lot of those teams just got better.' Still, while television audiences crept up by around six percent while actual match attendance remained static. 'We probably haven't delivered off the field and given fans all the tools that should go in and around a great product that we have on the field so we're working on that,' Mesley said. 'We took some pretty good steps I think this year.' ___ AP rugby:
Reuters
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Chiefs' McMillan does not fear Crusaders ahead of Super Rugby Pacific final
June 15 (Reuters) - Waikato Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan is refusing to be overawed by the prospect of facing the Canterbury Crusaders in their Christchurch stronghold when the teams face off in the Super Rugby Pacific final later this week. The Crusaders have won 31 consecutive playoff matches on home soil in the competition over the last three decades and will take on the Chiefs on June 21 after handing the Auckland Blues a 21-14 defeat on Friday. The Chiefs, who finished on top of the regular season standings, defeated the ACT Brumbies 37-17 in the semi-finals on Saturday to advance to a third consecutive decider, prompting McMillan to dismiss concerns over the Crusaders' home record. "We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," he said. "We're one team that's had our fair share of success down there. "We know it's not going to be easy. They've got a formidable record and they're a quality team and they demonstrated that (against the Blues). "You've got to be at your best, you've got to take every opportunity that presents itself and the best team on the day will win. "It's a hostile reception down there no matter when you go, first round of the year or the final. We're pretty accustomed to that and we can generate some energy off that." The Chiefs' confidence will be boosted by the 35-19 win they secured over the Crusaders in May, although a defeat to the Blues in the first round of playoffs saw McMillan's side surrender their home field advantage in the final. McMillan will send his players into the decider determined that they work as a team rather than as individuals to claim the title for the first time since 2013. "We've got to embrace the opportunity that's directly in front of us and we've got to get down to get it done," he said. "There won't be any one (person) that will do that, it will be the collective. "Our Achilles heel in the past has been that we've wanted something so bad that it becomes detrimental sometimes. You try a little bit too hard. "All we have to do is back ourselves and do what we've done all year; play Chiefs rugby, work hard for each other, nail the small moments, apply enough pressure on the Crusaders that they feel that pressure. "If you win enough of those, you give yourself enough of a chance of walking away with the title."
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Super Rugby final: Waikato Chiefs eye historic upset in Canterbury Crusaders' den
The Waikato Chiefs insist they won't be daunted by the prospect of facing the Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch for next week's Super Rugby final , despite their rivals' near-impeccable home record. The Chiefs stormed into their third straight grand final with a stunning 37-17 semi-final victory over the ACT Brumbies on Saturday. Having lost the past two finals - against the Crusaders in 2023 and the Auckland Blues the year before - Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan believes his side is now primed to take the final step and claim their first Super Rugby title since 2013. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Readers says this maybe the best Cable TV Communications Search Now Undo Standing in their path is the competition's most decorated team. The Crusaders are chasing a record-extending 13th full-season title and boast a perfect 31-0 record in home playoff matches, a streak that dates back to 1996. Yet McMillan remains confident. He said his squad will head into the final with belief and without fear, as they prepare to launch a bold challenge on the Crusaders' fortress. Live Events "We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," McMillan told reporters after the semis win. Under McMillan's leadership, the Chiefs have enjoyed notable success in Christchurch, winning three of their last five regular-season encounters there - including a 35-19 comeback victory last month after trailing by 16 points. However, the Crusaders have hit peak form since that loss, stringing together six consecutive wins, including a gritty 21-14 semi-final triumph over reigning champions Auckland Blues on Friday. The upcoming final will mark the end of McMillan's five-year tenure with the Chiefs before he departs to take over as head coach at Irish club Munster.
