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Associated Press
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Scotland holds on to beat the New Zealand Maori 29-26 in a thrilling start to its Pacific tour
WHANGAREI, New Zealand (AP) — Scotland conceded a try after only 40 seconds but rallied to score four tries including a double to scrumhalf George Horne to hold out the New Zealand Maori 29-26 Saturday in the opening match of its South Pacific tour. The tourists led 29-12 early in the second half but gave up two tries and had to survive 29 phases of attack, two penalties and a yellow card before sealing their win in the 87th minute. It was Scotland's first win over the New Zealand Maori in their first match in New Zealand in 25 years. The Maori had Scotland on the back foot when they scored off their first possession which came from a poor Scotland clearance. Flyhalf Rivez Reihana moved the ball quickly wide, center Bailyn Sullivan recovered his own kick and passed infield to scrumhalf Sam Nock who scored before the first minute of the match had elapsed. Scotland recovered well and controlled possession through most of the next 25 minutes, scoring tries through winger Harry Patterson and Horne, both from kicks which turned the Maori defense. Scotland looked dangerous both from phase play and counterattack and kicked well to pressure the New Zealand Maori in the backfield. The Maori had only fragments of possession through the middle of the first half and struggled to produce a coherent attack until the 32nd minute when Scotland conceded a series of penalties close to their own goalline. With the touring team under a general warning, replacement Alex Masibaka found himself heading to the sin-bin only moments after taking the field. The Maori took advantage and Nock moved the ball wide to backrower Te Kamaka Howden who dropped a pass into the hands of lock Isaia Walker-Leawere who scored. Scotland responded superbly to score just before halftime and while still one man down through winger Arron Reed. The tourists continued to find space behind the defense and wide out for kicks. On this occasion center Rory Hutchinson kicked to Reed's wing. The Maori were reduced to 13 men with two yellow cards in the opening minutes of the second half. Scotland took advantage and Horne scored the best try of the match, combining on the left flank with Hutchinson and Reed. Restored to 15 men, the Maori struck back through hooker Kurt Eklund from a lineout drive, then scored again through Gideon Wrampling to reduce Scotland's lead to three points a 29-26. Scotland next plays Fiji in Suva next Saturday and then Samoa. ___ AP rugby:
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scotland holds on to beat the New Zealand Maori 29-26 in a thrilling start to its Pacific tour
WHANGAREI, New Zealand (AP) — Scotland conceded a try after only 40 seconds but rallied to score four tries including a double to scrumhalf George Horne to hold out the New Zealand Maori 29-26 Saturday in the opening match of its South Pacific tour. The tourists led 29-12 early in the second half but gave up two tries and had to survive 29 phases of attack, two penalties and a yellow card before sealing their win in the 87th minute. Advertisement It was Scotland's first win over the New Zealand Maori in their first match in New Zealand in 25 years. The Maori had Scotland on the back foot when they scored off their first possession which came from a poor Scotland clearance. Flyhalf Rivez Reihana moved the ball quickly wide, center Bailyn Sullivan recovered his own kick and passed infield to scrumhalf Sam Nock who scored before the first minute of the match had elapsed. Scotland recovered well and controlled possession through most of the next 25 minutes, scoring tries through winger Harry Patterson and Horne, both from kicks which turned the Maori defense. Advertisement Scotland looked dangerous both from phase play and counterattack and kicked well to pressure the New Zealand Maori in the backfield. The Maori had only fragments of possession through the middle of the first half and struggled to produce a coherent attack until the 32nd minute when Scotland conceded a series of penalties close to their own goalline. With the touring team under a general warning, replacement Alex Masibaka found himself heading to the sin-bin only moments after taking the field. The Maori took advantage and Nock moved the ball wide to backrower Te Kamaka Howden who dropped a pass into the hands of lock Isaia Walker-Leawere who scored. Advertisement Scotland responded superbly to score just before halftime and while still one man down through winger Arron Reed. The tourists continued to find space behind the defense and wide out for kicks. On this occasion center Rory Hutchinson kicked to Reed's wing. The Maori were reduced to 13 men with two yellow cards in the opening minutes of the second half. Scotland took advantage and Horne scored the best try of the match, combining on the left flank with Hutchinson and Reed. Restored to 15 men, the Maori struck back through hooker Kurt Eklund from a lineout drive, then scored again through Gideon Wrampling to reduce Scotland's lead to three points a 29-26. Scotland next plays Fiji in Suva next Saturday and then Samoa. ___ AP rugby:
Reuters
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Chiefs can win Super Rugby Pacific title in future, says departing coach McMillan
June 22 (Reuters) - Departing Waikato Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said the team could claim a future Super Rugby Pacific title despite losing in the final for the third season in a row with Saturday's 16-12 defeat by the Canterbury Crusaders. McMillan, who has been in charge for all three final losses, is leaving to take over as head coach of Irish side Munster but retains confidence in the players to one day deliver success. "The consistency of our performances have been something to really relish," McMillan said. "I love these men and I know how hard they work and I'm confident that in the near future, they'll get across the line. "The wheels are going to keep ticking over and we've got bloody good people in the organisation and, who knows, maybe a change of head coach might be what's needed to get the job done." The loss in the final in Christchurch was the second in three seasons to the Crusaders for McMillan and his team, who were defeated in the 2024 edition by the Auckland Blues. Saturday's defeat was by the narrowest margin of the three, with only four points separating the teams at the end of a tense encounter, in which Rivez Reihana kicked 11 points for the Crusaders. "Everyone knows we have been to the final dance a number of times and not got the job done, but I'm at peace," McMillan said. "The disappointment will linger, but we can't change anything. It's done now. "The reflection will be about remembering all the good stuff that happened. But I know that we are a tight group who feel the disappointment, who have ridden the highs. "We will bounce back. The sun will rise in the morning, I think, here tomorrow, and life will continue. "People probably don't realise how tough it is to just get to a final, and even tougher when you've been to a number and you haven't quite got the job done."
ABC News
22-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Crusaders secure another Super Rugby title with 16-12 win over Chiefs
The Crusaders are again the kings of Super Rugby Pacific after consigning the Chiefs to a third-straight loss in the title decider. Playing in Christchurch, the Crusaders claimed a 32nd successive play-off home match victory over three decades of Super Rugby as they downed the Chiefs 16-12 in Saturday's final. It's the Crusaders' 13th title in a combined competition while the Chiefs, who were minor premiers, become just the second team in history to lose three straight Super finals, joining the Lions from South Africa (2016-2018). The victory was all the more remarkable given the Crusaders missed the top eight play-offs in 2024, winning only four matches in their worst-ever season to end their run of seven-straight titles. "Where we were at the end of last year, the start of this year we had a mountain to climb," said Crusaders fullback Will Jordan, who won his seventh Super Rugby title. "Everyone had to dig deep and it hasn't been easy. "This title is right up there for me, I just think even at the top." The victory came in a disappointing week for Australian veteran playmaker James O'Connor, who missed selection for the Wallabies' squad to face Fiji and likely the British and Irish Lions, seemingly drawing the curtain on his Test career. Used off the bench for most of the season, O'Connor, who joined the Crusaders this season from Queensland, only came on the field to replace rising star Rivez Reihana with just over a minute remaining. Hunting their first title since 2013, the Chiefs opened the scoring through prop George Dyer, who crashed over while Crusaders skipper David Havili was sent to the sin bin in the 11th minute for a high tackle on Emoni Narawa. The lead lasted until the 26th minute when All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor scored a brilliant try after peeling off a maul on the 22 and raced down the sideline. Reihana converted and kicked two penalties in six minutes to open up a 13-7 lead before the Chiefs hit back just before half-time. Fullback Shaun Stevenson went over for a try in the corner but Damian McKenzie failed to nail the conversion from wide out and the Crusaders retained a 13-12 lead at the break. Under relentless physical pressure from the Crusaders, McKenzie then missed an opportunity to put his side ahead with a wayward penalty strike in the 55th minute. The arm wrestle continued as the Chiefs held up Christian Lio-Willie over the line to repel the Crusaders after 25 phases. A dominant scrum earned the Crusaders a penalty seven minutes from full-time, and man of the match Reihana sealed the victory, bringing his tally to 11 points. The Crusaders have now won 13 full editions of Super Rugby, including three of the last four on offer, as well as two New Zealand-only versions played in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID pandemic. The defeat was a bitter blow for the Hamilton-based Chiefs. "It was a classic final, two great teams going at it and a small margin," Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson said. "It's just down to us winning the territory battle, being clinical in our half, being efficient, and I think Crusaders did a good job of that tonight. "We were good at times, but we just weren't good all the time, and it cost us." The Crusaders' triumph came in the last match at their "temporary" stadium that has been their home ground since their former headquarters was destroyed in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. They will defend the title from a brand new 30,000-seat stadium in 2026. AAP
The 42
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Crusaders out-muscle Chiefs to clinch 15th Super Rugby crown
Crusaders 16-12 Chiefs THE CLINICAL CANTERBURY Crusaders turned to forward power to beat the Waikato Chiefs 16-12 in a tense Super Rugby final on Saturday and clinch a record 15th title. The home side were out-scored two tries to one in Christchurch but 11 points from the boot of fly-half Rivez Reihana proved decisive in a brutal contest dominated by defence. The Crusaders played no-frills rugby to extend their perfect record to 32 wins in home play-off matches since the competition began in 1996. The Chiefs finished runners-up for a third successive season, matching the unwanted record of South Africa's Lions from 2016-18. The result was a remarkable turnaround for Crusaders coach Rob Penney after his side failed to reach the play-offs last year. Advertisement He steered his side to victory in 10 of their last 11 games of the season. Their 15 titles is 11 more than any other team, although two of them were won during the Covid-19 pandemic, when regional competitions were contested. Ahead 13-12 at the interval, Reihana's third penalty was the only score in a second half largely dominated by the Crusaders. They kept the game tight, relying on their trademark forward power that included a muscular scrum. It was enough to suffocate a Chiefs side laden with match-winners who had beaten the Crusaders in their two previous matches this season. The Chiefs struck first through a try to prop George Dyer after the Crusaders were reduced to 14 men with captain David Havili shown a yellow card for a high tackle. The home side levelled when Havili returned through a clever try to hooker Codie Taylor, who burst 20 metres down the blindside of a maul to score in the left corner. Reihana landed the sideline conversion and kicked two penalties in quick succession to put the Crusaders six points clear. The Chiefs closed to within one before the interval when fullback Shaun Stevenson crossed out wide off a long pass from lock Tupou Vaa'i. Errors crept into the Chiefs game as the pressure mounted and they spent much of the second half defending in their own territory. The match was the last in charge for coach Clayton McMillan, who was unable to end a Chiefs trophy drought dating back to 2013. McMillan takes over as head coach of Munster later this year. – © AFP 2025
