Highlanders: 33
Tries: Billy Harmon, Michael Collins, Connor Garden-Bachop, Conversions: Mitch Hunt 3, Penalties: Hunt 4.
Crusaders: 12
Tries: Codie Taylor, David Havili, Conversion: Richie Mo’unga
Blues : 27
Tries: TJ Faiane, Mark Telea, Penalty Try, Conversions: Otere Black 2, Penalties: Black 2
Hurricanes: 17
Try: Reed Prinsep, Penalties: Jordie Barrett 4
Chiefs :15
Tries: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Damien McKenzie, Conversion: McKenzie, Penalty: McKenzie
Blues: 12
Tries: Akira Ioane, Tom Robinson, Conversion: Otere Black
Hurricanes: 30
Tries: Jordie Barrett 3, Conversions: Barrett 3, Penalties: Barrett 3
Highlanders: 19
Tries: Bryn Evans, Connor Garden-Bachop, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Conversions: Josh Ioane 2
The Chiefs have beaten the Hurricanes 35-29 in Wellington on Saturday night, to end a 11-match losing streak. The Chiefs trailed 26-7 at halftime after Hurricanes winger Salesi Rayasi scored two tries, as well as Ricky Riccitelli and Luke Campbell. The Chiefs fought back after halftime with replacement and former Hurricane Chase Tiatia scoring in the 57th minute. From the re-start the Chiefs moved the ball down the field, with halfback Brad Weber scoring, and the Chiefs were in again shortly after when Naitoa Ah Kuoi drove over from a lineout. Jordie Barrett then kicked a penalty for a 29-28 lead, but it was the Chiefs who had the final say with a try to Luke Jacobson.
Chiefs: 35
Tries: Kaleb Trask, Chase Tiatia, Brad Weber, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Luke Jacobson, Conversions: Damian McKenzie 5.
Hurricanes: 29
Tries: Salesi Rayasi 2, Luke Campbell, Ricky Riccitelli, Conversions: Jordie Barrett 3, Penalty: Barrett
The Crusaders continued on their winning ways with a 43-27 win over the Blues at Eden Park on Sunday. Crusaders first five-eighths Richie Mo'unga scored 28 points for the visitors, and the Blues discipline didn't help through periods of the match. Blues hooker Kurt Eklund has received a three match ban for an illegal flip in a tackle on Crusaders winger Sevu Reece, while prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi has also been cited for a hit on Scott Barrett in a ruck.
Blues: 27
Tries: Blake Gibson, Kurt Eklund 2, Hoskins Sotutu, Conversions: Otere Black 2, Penalty: Black
Crusaders :43
Tries: Jack Goodhue, Codie Taylor, Richie Mo'unga, Sevu Reece, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 4, Penalties: Mo'unga 5
Chiefs: 23
Tries: Luke Jacobson, Damian McKenzie, Conversions: McKenzie 2, Penalties: McKenzie 3
Highlanders: 39
Tries: Jonah Nareki 3, Folau Fakatava, Shannon Frizell, Conversions: Josh Ioane 4, Penalties: Ioane 2
Crusaders: 33
Tries: Codie Taylor 2, Richie Mo’unga, Ethan Blackadder, Scott Barrett, Conversions: Mo’unga 3
Hurricanes: 16
Tries: Ricky Riccitelli, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Penalties: Jordie Barrett 2
Super Rugby Aotearoa for 2021 kicked off with wins for both the Crusaders in Dunedin, and Blues in Wellington over the weekend with results below. Due to the Covid level changes this week across New Zealand, the Chiefs v Highlanders match in Hamilton on Friday will have no crowd, while the Crusaders v Hurricanes match in Christchurch has been moved from Saturday to Sunday 4.35pm in the hope that the level will drop back at 6am Sunday allow crowds to attend.
Crusaders: 26
Tries: Codie Taylor, Bryn Hall, Sevu Reece, Brodie McAlister , Conversions: Richie Mo’unga 3
Highlanders: 13
Tries: Shannon Frizell, Connor Garden-Bachop, Penalty: Mitch Hunt
Blues: 31
Tries: Dalton Papalii, Caleb Clarke, Stephen Perofeta, Rieko Ioane, Conversions: Otere Black 4, Penalty: Black
Hurricanes 16
Tries: Asafo Aumua 2, Penalties: Jordie Barrett 2
The 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season kicks off tonight, with the Highlanders hosting the Crusaders at 7.05pm, at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. The second match has the Hurricanes hosting the Blues at Sky Stadium Wellington at 7.05pm on Saturday 28 February.
Highlanders:
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown 2. Ash Dixon (cc) 3. Siate Tokolahi 4. Josh Dickson 5. Jack Regan 6. Shannon Frizell 7. Billy Harmon 8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u 9. Aaron Smith (cc) 10. Mitch Hunt 11. Jona Nareki 12. Patelesio Tomkinson 13. Ngatungane Punivai 14. Connor Garden-Bachop 15. Solomon Alaimalo
Reserves: 16. Liam Coltman 17. Josh Hohneck 18. Jeff Thwaites 19. Bryn Evans 20. Liam Squire 21. Folau Fakatava 22. Josh Ioane 23. Hugh Renton
Crusaders:
1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor (vc) 3. Michael Alaalatoa 4. Scott Barrett © 5. Samuel Whitelock 6. Ethan Blackadder 7. Tom Christie 8. Cullen Grace 9. Bryn Hall 10. Richie Mo’unga 11. Leicester Fainga’anuku 12. Dallas McLeod 13. Jack Goodhue (vc) 14. Sevu Reece 15. Will Jordan
Reserves: 16. Brodie McAlister 17. George Bower 18. Fletcher Newell 19. Quinten Strange 20. Sione Havili Talitui 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Fergus Burke 23. Chay Fihaki
Hurricanes:
1: Fraser Armstrong 2: Asafo Aumua 3: Tyrel Lomax 4: James Blackwell 5: Scott Scrafton 6: Vaea Fifita 7: Ardie Savea (C) 8: Devan Flanders 9: Jonathan Taumateine 10: Jackson Garden-Bachop 11: Julian Savea 12: Ngani Laumape 13: Billy Proctor 14: Wes Goosen 15: Jordie Barrett
Reserves: Ricky Riccitell, Xavier Numia, Alex Fidow, Reed Prinsep, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Luke Campbell, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Salesi Rayasi
Blues:
1 James Lay 2 Kurt Eklund 3 Nepo Laulala 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (C) 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti 6 Akira Ioane 7 Dalton Papalii 8 Hoskins Sotutu 9 Sam Nock 10 Otere Black 11 Caleb Clarke 12 Harry Plummer 13 Rieko Ioane 14 Mark Telea 15 Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Tom Robinson, 21 Adrian Choat, 22 Jonathan Ruru, 23 Tanielu Tele’a.
The All Blacks have been drawn with hosts France in Pool A for the 2023 Rugby World Cup based in France. Due to Covid-19 affecting test matches this year, the rankings for the draw were based from January 2020, and saw the All Blacks seeded number two behind 2019 RWC winners South Africa. Details for the 2023 World Cup match schedule, venues and timing will be announced later in February 2021.
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Italy, Americas 1 and Africa 1
Pool B: South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Asia / Pacific 1 and Europe 2
Pool C: Wales, Australia, Fiji, Europe 1 and Final Qualifier Winner
Pool D: England, Japan, Argentina, Oceania 1 and Americas 2.
