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RNZ News
21-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final: what we learned and what it means for the All Blacks
Rob Penney with the Super Rugby trophy. Photo: John Davidson / All Black squad naming Midday, Monday 23 June Coastal Rugby Club, Taranaki Live blog updates on RNZ Analysis: Turns out last year was just a blip for the Crusaders. Quite a significant blip, to be fair, one that deviated from common events but very much snapped back to normal when the side lifted the Super Rugby Pacific trophy after their tense 16-12 win over the Chiefs on Saturday night. The only difference was that it was the first Crusaders trophy lift in quite a while that didn't involve breakdancing, but it's unlikely anyone's holding that against Rob Penney. Last year he was almost out of a job , now he's one of only three current head coaches in the competition who can claim they've won it. Penney's story of the last 18 months is a fascinating one, but it's his to tell when he chooses. Right now there's plenty to digest from the final and competition as a whole: Noah Hotham of the Crusaders kicks during the Super Rugby Pacific Final. Photo: John Davidson / No one was surprised when the first instinct of the Crusaders and Chiefs was to boot the ball high, long and often in the final. That's because as soon as the play-offs started everyone started to shut down all the expansive play that had been such a big part of the competition's regeneration at the start of the season. Obviously, the dipping temperatures played their part but it was the ultimately heightened risk that saw the offloads reduced, while real estate on the field became as valuable as it is in real life. The upshot of this is that it's been the perfect workout before the test season starts. The All Blacks will likely be reverting to a stripped down style once things get close, so the fresh experience of having everything come down to a couple of key second half moments is vitally useful. The Crusaders kept both the Blues and Chiefs scoreless in the second halves of the semi and final. You'd be hard pressed to find any team that does that in any game and loses. Fletcher Newell of the Crusaders celebrates after winning a penalty during the Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final. Photo:All the attention was on Tamaiti Williams and how his knee would hold up and while the big man certainly played his part, the real Crusaders hero was on the other side of the front row. For the second weekend in a row, Fletcher Newell started and finished the game - a phenomenal effort for a tighthead prop. The entire Crusaders pack can take a bow though, as their effort in the 72nd minute to win the only points of the second half was not only crucial in the context of the game, but a culmination of a fantastic effort overall. The All Black scrum was one of the major success stories last season, so it'll be no surprise at all when Newell's name once again gets read out on Monday's squad announcement. A dejected Quinn Tupaea of the Chiefs after losing the Super Rugby Pacific Final. Photo: John Davidson / Quinn Tupaea's big comeback season included a very good performance in the final, despite having little to work with due to the committed Crusaders defence. Was it enough to get him named in the initial squad? Other honourable mentions should go to Luke Jacobson, who typically threw himself into everything, Shaun Stevenson in his last game for the Chiefs, and Tupou Vaa'i, who has been outstanding all year. Clayton McMillan and Tupou Vaa'i of the Chiefs. Photo: John Davidson / While Penney can now bask from the top of the mountain after being in the darkest valley, where does this leave Clayton McMillan? The Chiefs are now in Buffalo Bills territory in terms of how fans now regard them, especially considering many were ready to engrave their names on the trophy after only a few rounds earlier this year. McMillan now leaves to coach Munster, a role and overseas experience he fully deserves after dragging the corpse of what Warren Gatland had left of the Chiefs into a side that has been able to almost win a title three years in a row. Key word being 'almost' though. Will this count against him when he presumably returns to New Zealand at some stage to try and become the next All Black coach?
RNZ News
21-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
The Empire Strikes Back - Crusaders win Super Rugby Pacific
Codie Taylor of the Crusaders celebrates after scoring a try with Noah Hotham of the Crusaders during the Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final match between Crusaders and Chiefs at Apollo Projects Stadium. Photo:We're finally here - the business end of a fantastic season of Super Rugby Pacific. Will it be redemption for the Crusaders after last season's horror show, or a breakthrough win in their third final in a row for the Chiefs? Kick-off is at 7:05pm NZT. Read how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog: Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Rivez Reihana, 11. Macca Springer, 12. David Havili (c), 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan Bench: 16. George Bell, 17. George Bower, 18. Seb Calder, 19. Jamie Hannah, 20. Cullen Grace, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Jimmy Tupou, 20. Kaylum Boshier, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Etene Nanai-Seturo
The 42
06-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Crusaders thump Reds to book Super Rugby semi-final spot
THE CRUSADERS ARE through to the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals after a 32-12 victory over the Queensland Reds on Friday. In frigid conditions in Christchurch — visiting Reds prop Zane Nonggorr was visibly shivering as the game was about to start — the hosts scored five tries and generally controlled territory to stifle the visitors. 'It's beautiful Christchurch weather,' Crusaders scrum-half Noah Hotham said. 'Cold, dark and wet… I love it.' Reds outside centre Josh Flook gave his side early hope slicing through the Crusaders defence, but without anything to show for it. That woke Rob Penney's Crusaders up, and they started to methodically work their way forward, kicking smartly for field position and forcing a number of errors, which gave them possession in dangerous positions. Advertisement All Blacks captain Scott Barrett opened the scoring in the 16th minute, stripping his man after a defensive Reds lineout, before gathering and diving over the line. Prop Tamaiti Williams scored the Crusaders second 12 minutes later. He had just received treatment on his knee and, sporting a heavily strapped leg, got in near the corner after a powerful rolling maul. Williams succumbed to the injury moments later, replaced by George Bower. Les Kiss' Reds suffered their own injury concern when out-half Tom Lynagh failed a head-injury assessment during the half-time break. Hotham scored the third try for Canterbury with a spectacular chip and chase, before out-half Rivez Reihana added a fourth. The Reds did receive a glimmer of hope with 12 minutes remaining. Josh Nasser crossed for a try after Crusaders loose forward Ethan Blackadder was yellow carded for a clothesline tackle on fullback Jock Campbell. Fraser McReight then dotted down after an audacious chip ahead by fellow loose forward Harry Wilson, but it was too little, too late. 'We had to really grind it out there at the end, but I think the way our forwards stepped up was huge, and the set piece went really well,' Crusaders captain David Havili said. Reds scrum-half Tate McDermott admitted the Crusaders were 'all over us'. 'Obviously we're really disappointed with the result. I'm really proud of this group and the season we had, but you've got to give credit to the Crusaders.' Crusaders replacement Kyle Preston added a fifth try for the home team as time expired. Canterbury will now host one of the two semi-final match-ups, which will be settled after Saturday's qualifying matches between the Chiefs and the Blues, and the Brumbies and the Hurricanes. – © AFP 2025
Associated Press
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Crusaders beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 to clinch a home semifinal in Super Rugby
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — The Crusaders produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 Friday and claim home advantage in next week's Super Rugby semifinals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders' forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. 'Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet and dark and we love it,' Hotham said. The result means the Crusaders are now 30-0 in home playoff matches while Australian teams are 0-20 in playoff matches in New Zealand. 'Obviously we're really disappointed with the result but I'm really proud of this group and the season that we had,' Reds captain Tate McDermott said. 'They were all over us at the breakdown and collision area and we just couldn't get into our cycle.' The Reds fought hard and created early chances which often were undone by handling errors close to the goalline. They finally had success in the 70th minute when Josh Nasser scored from a lineout drive. Then, in the 76th minute, Fraser McReight scored from a kick by fellow backrower Harry Wilson. Replacement scrumhalf Kyle Preston finished with an intercept try for the Crusaders in the last minute. The Crusaders had scrum superiority which produced four penalties in the first half alone and dominated the collisions and the breakdown. The Reds suffered a major setback when they lost Wallabies flyhalf Tom Lynagh to a head injury midway through the first half. 'We had to grind it out near the end there but I think the way our forwards set it up was huge and our set piece was huge so we're really happy with that,' Crusaders captain David Havili said. In the 15th minute the Crusaders won a breakdown turnover and Havili put the ball out five meters from the Reds line. Josh Canham won the ball cleanly for the Reds but in transferring it to Fraser McReight, Barrett got a hand in the way. He regained the ball and drove over for the first try of the match. In the 20th minute, the Crusaders won a penalty close to the Reds 22 when McDermott was ruled to be not supporting his weight at a ruck. The Crusaders kicked to the corner, Barrett won the lineout and after several thrusts, Williams forced his way over. He limped from the field a few minutes later with a knee injury. Rivez Reihana landed one of two conversions and the Crusaders led 12-0 at halftime. Reihana left the field temporarily for a head injury assessment before halftime which allowed veteran flyhalf James O'Connor to make an earlier than expected appearance against his former Reds teammates. Hotham pursued his own kick to score a brilliant try in the 57th minute and Reihana scored after the Crusaders had sorely pressed the Reds' defense from lineouts. In other matches in the first playoff round, the Chiefs will play the Auckland-based Blues in Hamilton and the ACT Brumbies will play the Wellington-based Hurricanes on Saturday. ___ AP rugby:
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders scrum the Reds out of the play-offs
Will Jordan of the Crusaders. Photo: John Davidson / It wasn't pretty, but the Crusaders have recorded a dominant 32-12 win over the Reds in Christchurch. The result means the Crusaders can sit back and watch tomorrow's games to find out who they'll play in next weekend's semi-finals, while the Reds will be wondering where it all went wrong after such a promising start to the season. A good start would be to look at their scrum, which was smashed to bits by the Crusaders from start to finish in tough conditions thanks to the horrific weather battering the South Island. The Crusaders racked up a 5-0 penalty count early in the first half, with three coming off scrums which in turn were converted into excellent field position. Scott Barrett got the home side on the board first with a well taken yet slightly questionable try from a turnover near the Reds' line. It certainly appeared that the All Blacks captain came in from an offside position but the referee and TMO seemed more preoccupied with whether Barrett grounded the ball, which he did so the try stood. The only other scoring in the first half, despite a couple of decent Reds linebreaks, was when Tamaiti Williams crashed over in the 27th minute. The Reds really needed to score straight after the break if they were to have any chance, however by that stage the game had regressed into more of a kicking duel. A half break by Christian Lio-Willie out of nowhere set up the try of the match to Noah Hotham, with the halfback regathering his own kick despite the attention of several Reds defenders. From then on, the result was inevitable, and while the Reds were eventually rewarded with a couple of late tries, it was clear that they'd resigned themselves to defeat long before. It wasn't all perfect for the Crusaders, though. Williams' try was his last act before leaving the field with a knee injury, while Ethan Blackadder was yellow carded for a needless high tackle. Still, tonight's job was done, and they now sit one game away from ultimate redemption for last season. Read how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog:
