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Mint
7 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
All Blacks to make wholesale changes for third France Test
Assistant coach Jason Holland said on Sunday that the All Blacks will ring the changes when they select their side for the third and final Test against France, but added there was "no lack of motivation" to complete a series clean sweep. An improved All Blacks outclassed a depleted France 43-17 in the second Test in Wellington to seal the series with a game to spare. New Zealand made only two changes to the starting team who scraped to a 31-27 win in the first Test in Dunedin. Speaking the day after the victory, Holland said a new-look line-up will be fielded on Saturday in Hamilton, staying true to a pre-series pledge to give all 35 New Zealand squad members game time. "The general mindset was to make sure that everyone gets a taste of some Test footy in these three games, so I don't think anything will change there," Holland told reporters on Sunday. Next week's team is set to include uncapped hooker Brodie McAlister, loose forwards Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson, and backs Noah Hotham, Ruben Love and Anton Lienert-Brown. Holland was delighted with the improvement shown in Wellington as the All Blacks opened up a 29-3 half-time lead over a vastly inexperienced France side, who left most of their first-choice players at home. "We know we've got lots and lots of areas we still need to be better," said Holland. "There'll be no lack of motivation to keep getting better and I'm sure the boys will add something when they get their opportunity." Tighter French defence forced New Zealand into mistakes in a second half that saw France and New Zealand both score 14 points. "We felt in the last 20 minutes we could have finished better than we did and really put them away," said Holland. "We've just got to have variations that don't over-complicate things. That's the challenge in coaching these days, I reckon." Holland said Tupou Vaa'i was a doubt for the third Test after the back-row forward failed an initial head injury assessment after being substituted in the second half. Vaa'i has been a standout performer in the series, scoring tries in both Tests to justify a decision to convert the athletic 25-year-old to the back row from lock, where he won his first 38 All Blacks caps. "It's exciting I reckon, obviously Tupou gives you another big man in your lineout but also he's a mobile man and he's quick around the park," Holland said, indicating Vaa'i would continue in his new role. "He likes to put a shoulder on defensively in there and has all the good attributes of a number six so I reckon it's really exciting." Holland said wing Caleb Clarke, who was replaced in the second Test starting line-up after suffering an ankle injury in training, will be out for "five to six weeks". It means Clarke is ruled out of the opening two Rugby Championship Tests in Argentina on August 16 and 23.
NZ Herald
12-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
All Blacks player ratings: How they rated in second test win over France
13 - Billy Proctor - 7 Another go at centre and a much stronger showing at both ends of the field. Won a big defensive turnover. Had eight carries in the first half but did look a bit gassed near the break. Big tackle led to a turnover in second half. Finished with second most carries (12). 12 - Jordie Barrett - 7 Saved two tries, one in first half with cover defence out wide and also held up a try. How many times has he done that now in tests? Forced a pass that wasn't needed hot on attack, but that was the same tackle that saw him dumped on his head leading to a yellow for France. Off load to Proctor almost led to try. Showed his versatility again as happy to slot in at 10 with his brother in the bin. 11 - Rieko Ioane - 7 Good chase pressure all night. A slick pass to Holland in the lead up to the Vaa'i try. Solid defence including an intercept which denied French try. Much better attacking effort in second half, finished with 10 carries total, including a line break and a decent finish to score in the corner. 10 - Beauden Barrett - 6 Not great night with the boot. One out on the full and a few chasing kicks too long. Did produce a crafty chip for Ardie which turned the French around. A harsh yellow card. One fumble under high ball which led to a penalty. Put Jordan in for try but rarely got the chance to run in a kick-heavy test. 9 - Cam Roigard - 8 A strong boot all game especially from deep own end and from kickoff exits. Finished off the trick play for opening try. Finished with 56 running metes, a solid chunk from the try run. He even won a lineout. Superb outing. 8 - Christian Lio-Willie - 7 Won a ruck penalty which we haven't seen enough of from the back three so far. Had nine carries but was off after 54 minutes for Kirifi. 7 - Ardie Savea - 9 A monster effort for the full 80. The best on the field. Had an early knock on after a lineout steal. Assist in the Roigard try. Well sold. Scored the second try from lineout - all on his own. Strong run out wide in lead up to third try. 6 - Tupou Vaa'i - 7 Need to see more at six as he has impressed so far. Was leading All Blacks tackler with 13 when he left the field. Had a charge down early on and finished a great team try. Replaced after accidental head knock in second half. 5 - Fabian Holland - 7 Another superb outing. Was busy on defence early and got a lineout steal. Put under pressure at kickoff time but mostly did a good job. Seven carries in the first half including assist for Vaa'i try. Finished with 16 tackles, most for the All Blacks. 4 - Patrick Tuipulotu - 7 A welcomed return to test rugby. Was a safe option at lineout and had a steal in the first half. Made an impact with ball in hand, seven carries in the first half. Replaced after 60 minutes. 3 - Fletcher Newell - 7 Made eight tackles in first half and finished with 10. Scrum went from strength to strength. Replaced after 50 minutes 2 - Codie Taylor - 8 Vintage Taylor. Forced early knockout with France on attack. Was near perfect at lineout time, one lost deep in French half. Crafty with the close throw to Holland before Savea's try and scored himself from lineout drive. Even had a lineout steal. Replaced after 54 minutes. 1 - Ethan de Groot - 6 Put under pressure at first scrum but improved as match went on. Lost ball in contact inside French half but called back for high shot. Not a massive tackle count. Reserves Samisoni Taukei'aho - 4 Ollie Norris - 5 Pasilio Tosi - 5 Samipeni Finau -5 Du'Plessis Kirifi -4 Cortez Ratima -4 Timoci Tavatavanawai -6 Damian McKenzie - 5
Otago Daily Times
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Unwanted utensil for Highlanders
It was a night of lasts. Last game. Last place. And last match for Sam Gilbert in the Highlanders colours. He is off to Irish club Connacht at the end of the NPC season. The Highlanders are off to assess where the season went wrong. The 41-24 defeat to the Chiefs in Dunedin last night has left them stranded in last place. The season could have been a lot different had they been able to reverse a few of those seven games they lost by seven or fewer points. Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i nabbed a hat-trick in a standout performance for the visitors, who set up the win with a stunning opening quarter. Highlanders loosehead Ethan de Groot coughed up an early turnover and the Chiefs probed away for four or five minutes until eventually, they found a way around the defence. It was brilliant too. Etene Nanai-Seturo gathered in a chip kick and linked up with centre Daniel Rona, who set off for the line, but passed back inside to Samipeni Finau to score. The competition front-runners were back lining up another conversion a few brief minutes later. Vaa'i barged over and then grabbed a double when he pounced on a mistake and ran in from 45. It was 19-0 in under quarter of an hour. Thoughts turned to the Chiefs' 85-7 romp against Moana Pasifika last weekend. Thoughts also turned to how quickly the end of the season could come for the Highlanders. Sixty-five minutes and counting. But the Highlanders rallied and were rewarded. The went close when Jonah Lowe made some yards down the right, and Veveni Lasaqa put in a grubber. Damian McKenzie scooped it up, but was caught by Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens in the in-goal. The Highlanders kept the Chiefs pinned in their 22, and de Groot crashed over from a tap kick 5m out. There was no stopping the big Southlander. Chiefs tighthead Reuben O'Neill picked up a yellow card moments later for an untidy cleanout on Jack Taylor. He made contact with the head. The Highlanders exploited the advantage. Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, Tanielu Tele'a and Taniela Filimone combined beautifully down the left. That created some space on the right and Tavatavanawai powered over to close the gap to five points at halftime. But just a comeback glimmered, the home side was caught napping early in the second spell. Hooker Bradley Slater rumbled free from a maul and passed to halfback Xavier Roe, who had a clear run to the line. The Chiefs threatened to score twice more, but the Highlanders added the next points through the boot of Cameron Millar. But replacement back Manasa Mataele stretched the lead again with a try out on the left. The Chiefs had wriggled their way into the red zone and floated the ball wide to the unmarked finisher. Gilbert scored a try to create some late drama. But Vaa'i collected the ball from a short drop-out gone wrong to nab a hat-trick right on fulltime. And the Chiefs left with what they came for — five points and with pole position intact ahead of the playoffs. The win came at a cost, though. Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea was injured midway through the first half and transported from the field. Super Rugby Pacific The scores Chiefs 41 (Tupou Vaa'i 3, Samipeni Finau, Xavier Roe, Manasa Mataele tries; Damian McKenzie 4 con, pen) Highlanders 24 (Ethan de Groot, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Sam Gilbert tries; Cameron Millar 2 con, pen, Gilbert con) Halftime: 19-14.
1News
01-06-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Vaa'i hat trick clinches top spot for Chiefs
A hat trick to Tupou Vaa'i has seen the Chiefs score a 41-24 win over the Highlanders and clinch top spot in the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs. Needing a bonus point to make sure of home ground advantage through to the final, Vaa'i's third try as time expired sealed the deal after a hard-fought end to the Highlanders' season. A serious-looking injury to All Black hopeful Quinn Tupaea was a major turning point in the first half. The midfielder was stretchered off the field after 20 minutes, which, along with a yellow card to prop Reuben O'Neill 12 minutes later, shifted the momentum of the game completely to the home side before halftime. Before then, the Chiefs had simply picked up where they left off last weekend in their massive win over Moana Pasifika. Samipeni Finau and Vaa'i (two) scored off some slick work by their backs and a massive hit on Cam Millar that jolted the ball free for Vaa'i to gallop half the length of the field to score. However, after Tupaea's injury, the Highlanders knuckled down and were able to control territory. It eventually led to a try from a quick tap to Ethan de Groot, who had a very strong game across the park. ADVERTISEMENT Right on halftime the Highlanders' other co-captain Timoci Tavatanawai muscled his way over after some great lead up work by Taniela Filimone, Tanielu Tele'a and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Even though Xavier Roe scored straight after the break for the Chiefs, the Highlanders didn't wilt like they did when the two sides met in round 10. Manasa Mataele's 59th minute try to give the Chiefs some decent breathing room was totally against the run of play, but even then, the Highlanders kept fighting and were rewarded with a try to Sam Gilbert. Vaa'i completed his hat trick in fortuitous fashion on fulltime by nabbing a short goal line restart - however the bonus point was more of a nice to have as even if they didn't get it, the Crusaders would've needed to have beaten the Brumbies by over 100 points to overtake the Chiefs. The Highlanders finish their season with only three wins and 11 losses, the defeat consigning them to last place no matter what happens in the rest of the weekend. The Chiefs will now watch on tomorrow's games with interest, with the Waratahs, Blues and Moana Pasifika all in a three way battle to face them in the first round of the play-offs next weekend.
The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Chiefs down Highlanders to secure Super Rugby top spot
Lock Tupou Vaa'i scored a hat-trick of tries as the Waikato Chiefs locked up top spot in the Super Rugby Pacific standings and home advantage throughout the finals with a 41-21 victory over the Otago Highlanders. Runners-up for the last two years, the Chiefs did not hit the heights they have this year in their final regular season clash but always looked like having enough to get past a young Highlanders side on Friday night. "Although the game wasn't perfect, we got the win," said Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson. "We got the four points, and we're at the top, and we can change our focus to what's in front of us in the quarter-final next week now. Credit to the Highlanders. They were gutsy as tonight." The Chiefs thrashed Moana Pasifika 85-7 last week and looked like running rampant again when they raced to a 19-0 lead inside the first 13 minutes under the roof at Dunedin Stadium. Flanker Samipeni Finau went over to open the scoring before All Black Vaa'i crossed twice in the space of two minutes but the Highlanders gradually worked their way back into the game. Prop Ethan de Groot got one try back from close range on the half-hour mark and, with Chiefs tighthead Reuben O'Neill in the sin bin, the ever-dangerous Timoci Tavatavanawai added another to cut the deficit to 19-14 at halftime. Scrumhalf Xavier Roe raced away down the blindside to give the Chiefs the perfect start to the second half and replacement back Manasa Mataele gave them a 31-17 lead heading into the final quarter, but the Highlanders would not lie down. Sam Gilbert ran onto a clever Tanielu Tele'a kick to score a try in his final appearance for the Highlanders seven minutes from time and they would have drawn closer had Cortez Ratima not come up with a brilliant try-saving cover tackle. Vaa'i was not done yet, however, and he pounced on a loose ball from a goal-line drop out in the final minute to condemn the Highlanders to the wooden spoon for the first time since the second season of Super Rugby in 1997. Lock Tupou Vaa'i scored a hat-trick of tries as the Waikato Chiefs locked up top spot in the Super Rugby Pacific standings and home advantage throughout the finals with a 41-21 victory over the Otago Highlanders. Runners-up for the last two years, the Chiefs did not hit the heights they have this year in their final regular season clash but always looked like having enough to get past a young Highlanders side on Friday night. "Although the game wasn't perfect, we got the win," said Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson. "We got the four points, and we're at the top, and we can change our focus to what's in front of us in the quarter-final next week now. Credit to the Highlanders. They were gutsy as tonight." The Chiefs thrashed Moana Pasifika 85-7 last week and looked like running rampant again when they raced to a 19-0 lead inside the first 13 minutes under the roof at Dunedin Stadium. Flanker Samipeni Finau went over to open the scoring before All Black Vaa'i crossed twice in the space of two minutes but the Highlanders gradually worked their way back into the game. Prop Ethan de Groot got one try back from close range on the half-hour mark and, with Chiefs tighthead Reuben O'Neill in the sin bin, the ever-dangerous Timoci Tavatavanawai added another to cut the deficit to 19-14 at halftime. Scrumhalf Xavier Roe raced away down the blindside to give the Chiefs the perfect start to the second half and replacement back Manasa Mataele gave them a 31-17 lead heading into the final quarter, but the Highlanders would not lie down. Sam Gilbert ran onto a clever Tanielu Tele'a kick to score a try in his final appearance for the Highlanders seven minutes from time and they would have drawn closer had Cortez Ratima not come up with a brilliant try-saving cover tackle. Vaa'i was not done yet, however, and he pounced on a loose ball from a goal-line drop out in the final minute to condemn the Highlanders to the wooden spoon for the first time since the second season of Super Rugby in 1997. Lock Tupou Vaa'i scored a hat-trick of tries as the Waikato Chiefs locked up top spot in the Super Rugby Pacific standings and home advantage throughout the finals with a 41-21 victory over the Otago Highlanders. Runners-up for the last two years, the Chiefs did not hit the heights they have this year in their final regular season clash but always looked like having enough to get past a young Highlanders side on Friday night. "Although the game wasn't perfect, we got the win," said Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson. "We got the four points, and we're at the top, and we can change our focus to what's in front of us in the quarter-final next week now. Credit to the Highlanders. They were gutsy as tonight." The Chiefs thrashed Moana Pasifika 85-7 last week and looked like running rampant again when they raced to a 19-0 lead inside the first 13 minutes under the roof at Dunedin Stadium. Flanker Samipeni Finau went over to open the scoring before All Black Vaa'i crossed twice in the space of two minutes but the Highlanders gradually worked their way back into the game. Prop Ethan de Groot got one try back from close range on the half-hour mark and, with Chiefs tighthead Reuben O'Neill in the sin bin, the ever-dangerous Timoci Tavatavanawai added another to cut the deficit to 19-14 at halftime. Scrumhalf Xavier Roe raced away down the blindside to give the Chiefs the perfect start to the second half and replacement back Manasa Mataele gave them a 31-17 lead heading into the final quarter, but the Highlanders would not lie down. Sam Gilbert ran onto a clever Tanielu Tele'a kick to score a try in his final appearance for the Highlanders seven minutes from time and they would have drawn closer had Cortez Ratima not come up with a brilliant try-saving cover tackle. Vaa'i was not done yet, however, and he pounced on a loose ball from a goal-line drop out in the final minute to condemn the Highlanders to the wooden spoon for the first time since the second season of Super Rugby in 1997.
