Week One Draw Super Rugby Pacific

2022 Super Rugby Pacific kicks off this weekend with the opening matches played out of the Queenstown bubble due to Covid related issues. Seven Moana Pasifika players have tested positive for Covid last week, and their opening match against the Blues has been postponed.

The Chiefs will face the Highlanders at Queenstown's Recreation Ground on Saturday 19th February at 4.35pm. The Chiefs have All Black Brodie Retallick back in the side for the first time since 2019, and will have the lock Laghlan McWhannell, first five Josh Ioane, and full back Emoni Narawa making their debut for the side. The Highlanders have prop Jermaine Ainsley, centre Fetuli Paea, winger Josh Timu and reserve front rower Andrew Makalio making their debut for the side.

Chiefs:

1. Ollie Norris, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. Sione Mafileo, 4. Laghlan McWhannell, 5. Brodie Retallick, 6.  Luke Jacobson, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Pita Gus Sowakula, 9. Xavier Roe, 10. Josh Ioane, 11. Jonah Lowe, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Alex Nankivell, 14. Shaun Stevenson, 15. Emoni Narawa

Reserves:

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Atu Moli, 18. Angus Ta’avao, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Kaylum Boshier, 21. Brad Weber (c), 22. Bryn Gatland, 23. Chase Tiatia

Highlanders:

1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5. Josh Dickson, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. James Lentjes, 8. Gareth Evans, 9. Aaron Smith (c), 10. Mitch Hunt, 11. Josh Timu, 
12. Scott Gregory, 13. Fetuli Paea, 14. Mosese Dawai, 15. Sam Gilbert

Reserves:

16. Andrew Makalio, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Josh Hohneck, 19. Bryn Evans, 20. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Marty Banks, 23. Thomas Umaga-Jensen

On Saturday evening, the Crusaders face the Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin at 7.05pm. The Hurricanes will have lock Justin Sangster and reserves Jacob Devery and Bailyn Sullivan making their Super Rugby debut, while the Crusaders will have Argentina International Pablo Matera at blindside and Shilo Klein and Simon Hickey in the reserves.

Crusaders:

1. Joe Moody, 2. Brodie McAlister, 3. Oli Jager, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Pablo Matera, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Cullen Grace, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. Fergus Burke, 11. Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12. David Havili (vc), 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. George Bridge, 15. Will Jordan

Reserves: 

16. Shilo Klein, 17. George Bower, 18. Tamaiti Williams, 19. Quinten Strange, 20. Mitch Dunshea, 21. Mitch Drummond, 22. Simon Hickey, 23. Sevu Reece

Hurricanes:

1. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Justin Sangster, 6. Devan Flanders, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Ardie Savea (c), 9. Jamie Booth, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Wes Goosen, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Julian Savea, 15. Jordie Barrett 

Reserves:

16. Jacob Devery, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Ben May, 19. Reed Prinsep, 20. Brayden Iose, 21. Richard Judd, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Bailyn Sullivan 

Super Rugby Pre-Season Results

The 2022 Super Rugby pre-season has opened with wins to the Chiefs, Highlanders and Blues. 

The Chiefs faced debutant Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday and handed them a 61-7, eight tries to one loss, with newcomer Josh Ioane kicking all six of his conversions.  In a wet match at Weston, North Otago, the Highlanders left it late in the match to beat the Crusaders, with Marty Banks kicking a penalty. In a wet and windy match on Sunday, the Blues had to come from behind in the second half to record a 28-21 win after conceding a number of penalties, and a penalty try. The Hurricanes held a 14-7 halftime lead, and went out to 21-7 early in the second half before the Blues started to move the ball out wide. Winger AJ Lamb scored two tries, and fellow wing Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens added another.

Chiefs: 61 

Tries: Leni Apisai, Laghlan McWhannell, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Jonah Lowe, Bradley Slater, Josh Ioane, Emoni Narawa, Chase Tiatia< Conversions: Bryn Gatland 2, Josh Ioane 6

Moana Pasifika: 7 

Try: Lotu Inisi, Conversion: Christian Lealiifano 

Highlanders: 20

Tries: Moses Dawai, Liam Coltman, Conversions: Mitch Hunt 2, Penalty: Marty Banks

Crusaders: 19 

Tries: Dallas McLeod, Simon Hickey, penalty try, Conversion: Fergus Burke

 

Blues: 28 

Tries: A J Lam 2, Marcel Renata, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Conversions: Harry Plummer, Stephen Perofeta

Hurricanes: 21 

Tries: Siua Maile, Wes Goosen, penalty try, Conversions: Ruben Love, Jackson Garden-Bachop

Waikato And Taranaki NPC Winners

Waikato men's rugby side has joined their women's rugby team in winning the NPC Premiership Division for 2021 with a 23-20 win against Tasman at Hamilton's FMG Stadium.

Waikato: 23

Tries: Bailyn Sullivan 2, Conversions: D'Angelo Leuila 2, Penalties: Leulia 2, Fletcher Smith

Tasman: 20

Tries: Quinten Strange, Regan Ware, Conversions: Mitch Hunt 2, Penalties: Hunt 2

Waikato: 1- Ayden Johnstone, 2-Rhys Marshall, 3-George Dyer, 4-James Tucker, 5-Hamilton Butt, 6-Saminpeni Finau, 7-Mitch Jacobson, 8-Jack lam, 9-Cortez Ratima, 10-D'Angelo Leuila, 11-Mosese Dawai, 12-Gideon Wrampling, 13-Bailyn Sullivan, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15-Ryan Tongia

Reserves: 16-Steven Misa, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Sefo Kautai, 19-Rupeni Tamani, 20-Liam Messam, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Fletcher Smith, 23-Beauden Waaka

Tasman: 1- Isi Tau'ungafasi, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Sam Matenga, 4-Antonio Shalfoon, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Jacob Norris, 7-Anton Segner, 8-Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 9-Louie Chapman, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Regan Ware, 12-Alex Nankivell, 13-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15-Andrew Knewstubb

Reserves: 16-Quentin MacDonald, 17-L Inch, 18-Isaac Salmon, 19-M Hicks, 20-Hugh Renton, 21-N Hotham, 22-M Springer, 23- L Aumua

In the Championship Division, Taranaki completed an unbeaten season, with a 32-19 win over Otago at TET Stadium in Inglewood. Because of the Covid disruption to the NPC this year where Auckland based sides were forced to pull out, their will be no promotion to the Premier Division.

Taranaki: 32

Tries: Jared Proffit, Mickey Woolliams, Kini Naholo, Daniel Waite, Conversions: Stephen Perofeta 3, Penalties: Perofeta 2

Otago: 19

Tries: Joshua Hill, Josh Ioane, Vilimoni Koroi, Conversions: Ioane 2

Taranaki: 1-Jared Proffit, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Michael Bent, 4-Kaylum Boshier, 5-Mickey Woolliams, 6-Bradley Slater, 7-Tom Florence, 8-Pita Sowakula, 9-Logan Crowley, 10-Jayson Potroz, 11-Kini Naholo, 12-Teihorangi Walden, 13-Daniel Waite, 14-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 15-Stephen Perofeta

Reserves: 16-Millenium Sanerivi, 17-Donald Brighouse, 18-Kyle Stewart, 19-Scott Jury, 20-Mitchell Crosswell, 21-Liam Blyde, 22-Daniel Rona, 23-Vereniki Tikoisolomone

Otago: 1-Josh Hohneck, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Joshua Hill, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Sam Fischli, 7-James Lentjes, 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Kayne Hammington, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Vilimoni Koroi, 12-Patelesio Tomkinson, 13-Matt Faddes, 14-Freedom Vahaakolo, 15-Sam Gilbert

Reserves: 16-Ricky Jackson, 17-Abraham Pole, 18-Tau Kolomatangi, 19-Fabian Holland, 20-Slade McDowall, 21-James Arscott, 22-Cameron Millar, 23-Raymond Nu'u

All Blacks Lose Last Match For 2021

The All Blacks have finished their final test match of 2021 with a 40-25 loss to France. It was a similar physical contest to last weeks loss to Ireland, with a relentless French side leading 24-6 at half time. The All Blacks worked their way back into the match in the second half, but the sin-binning of number eight Savea, and an intercept try to Damian Penaud ended their resurgence.

New Zealand All Blacks: 25

Tries: Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Ardie Savea, Conversions: Barrett 2, Penalties: Barrett 2

France: 40 

Tries: Peato Mauvaka 2, Romain Ntamack, Damian Penaud tries;  Melvyn Jaminet 4 con, 4 pen) 

All Blacks Named To Face France

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face France for the final test of the year at Stade de France in Paris on Sunday morning 9am. There are seven changes from the side that lost to Ireland last week, with two of them forced due to injury. Beauden Barrett suffered a head knock and has been replaced by Richie Moúnga, while Anton Leinert-Brown's shoulder injury has seen Quinn Tupaea start ahead of David Havili at second five. Other changes see Aaron Smith in at halfback in place of TJ Perenara, Sam Cane and Akira Ioane in for Dalton Papalii and Ethan Blackadder, Dane Coles in for Codie Taylor, and George Bridge in for Sevu Reece on the left wing.

New Zealand All Blacks:

Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Quinn Tupaea, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Akira Ioane, Sam Whitelock (c), Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody. 

Reserves: 

Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Bower, Ofa Tuungafasi, Tupou Vaa’i, Shannon Frizell, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie, David Havili.

NPC Final Matches

New Zealand Rugby has announced the locations for the finals matches in the 2021 Bunnings NPC competition.

In the Premiership, Waikato will host Tasman at Hamilton's FMG Stadium on Saturday 20th November at 7.05pm after it was announced the Waikato area will drop back to Covid level 2 on Tuesday night. The Waikato rugby team had spent 6 weeks on the road after relocating to the Bay of Plenty when Hamilton and surrounding areas went into level 3 lockdown.

The Championship final has Taranaki hosting Otago at TET Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday 20th November at 2.05pm

Super Rugby 2022 Draw Announced

The draw for the twelve team 2022 Super Rugby Pacific has been announced, and will feature new teams Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua. The competition kicks off on Friday February 18th, where new side Moana Pasifika will face the Brumbies at Mt Smart Stadium.

The competition will be played over 15 rounds running through until the end of May, and each team will have a bye weekend through rounds 7-9. The quarter finals will start on 3-5 June, and run through to the 18th June final.

Teams are: Moana Pasifika, Fijian Drua, Blues, Chiefs Hurricanes, Crusaders, Highlanders, Waratahs, Reds, Force, Brumbies, Rebels