Thursday, August 20, 2020

North v South Rugby Clash Delayed.

The North versus South rugby clash initially scheduled for August 28th at Eden Park in Auckland has been delayed until September 5th due to Covid-19 restrictions in the Auckland region. If there are any further delay's the match will potentially be cancelled as crowds are not allowed until alert level one is reached. The North versus South rugby squads selected by All Blacks coach Ian Foster, Grant Fox and John Plumtree are below.


NORTH SQUAD


Hookers:
Asafo Aumua (Wellington), Ash Dixon (Hawke's Bay) and Kurt Eklund (Auckland).
Props: Alex Fidow (Wellington), Ayden Johnstone (Waikato), Angus Ta'avao (Auckland), Karl Tu'inukuafe (North Harbour) and Ofa Tuungafasi (Auckland).
Locks: Scott Scrafton (Auckland), Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland and captain) and Tupou Vaa'i (Taranaki).
Loose forwards: Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Dalton Papalii (Auckland), Ardie Savea (Wellington) and Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland).
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara (Wellington), Aaron Smith (Manawatu) and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Taranaki).
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett (Taranaki).
Midfielders: Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato) and Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wellington).
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (Auckland), Mitchell Hunt (Auckland), Damian McKenzie (Waikato), Sevu Reece (Waikato) and Mark Telea (North Harbour).

SOUTH SQUAD


Hookers:
Liam Coltman (Otago), Andrew Makalio (Tasman) and Codie Taylor (Canterbury).
Props: George Bower (Otago), Alex Hodgman (Canterbury), Nepo Laulala (Canterbury), Tyrel Lomax (Tasman) and Joe Moody (Canterbury).
Locks: Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury), Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Southland) and Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury and captain).
Loose forwards: Tom Christie (Canterbury), Shannon Frizell (Tasman), Dillon Hunt (Otago), Reed Prinsep (Canterbury) and Tom Sanders (Canterbury).
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie (Tasman), Mitchell Drummond (Canterbury) and Brad Weber (Otago).
First five-eighths: Josh Ioane (Otago) and Richie Mo'unga (Canterbury).
Midfielders: Braydon Ennor (Canterbury), Leicester Faingaanuku (Tasman), Jack Goodhue (Canterbury) and Sio Tomkinson (Otago)
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett (Canterbury), George Bridge (Canterbury) and Will Jordan (Tasman).

Several players were unavailable for selection due to injury, including Hurricanes Dane Coles and Ngani Laumape, Crusader captain Scott Barrett, and All Black Captain Sam Cane. 

Super Rugby Aotearoa Week 9 & 10 Results

Week Nine Results:

Hurricanes: 31  Chiefs: 18   (Halftime 12-3)

Hurricanes: 
Tries: Umaga-Jensen (2), Coles, Van Wyk, Proctor, Conversions:  J. Barrett (3)

Chiefs:
Tries: Wainui, Slater, Penalties: McKenzie (2), Conversion: McKenzie

Chiefs finished Aoteroa round winless.

Crusaders: 32  Highlanders: 22   (Halftime 13-17)

Crusaders: 
Tries: Mo’unga, Bridge (2), Ennor, Penalties: Mo’unga (2), Conversions: Mo’unga (3)

Highlanders:
Tries: Frizell, Nareki, Collins, Penalty: J. Ioane, Conversions: J. Ioane (2)

Crusaders win Aotearoa Super Rugby round.


Week Ten Results:

Highlanders:
Tries: Punivai, Dixon, Collins, Penalty try, Hunt, Penalty: Ioane, Conversions: Ioane 3, Hunt

Hurricanes:
Tries: Aso, Booth, Umaga-Jensen, Conversions: J Barrett 3

Blues v Crusaders match cancelled due to Auckland Covid lockdown

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Seven & Eight Results

Week Seven Results: 

Crusaders: 32  Hurricanes:34  (Half Time 17-21)

Crusaders: 
Tries: Mo’unga, Bridge, Strange, Reece. Penalties: Mo’unga (2), Conversions: Mo’unga (3)

Hurricanes:
Tries: Goosen (2), Umaga-Jensen, Penalties: J. Barrett (5), Conversions: J. Barrett (2)

Blues:21  Chiefs: 17  (Half Time 14-7)

Blues: 
Tries: Duffie, Tuipulotu, Christie, Conversions: B. Barrett (3)

Chiefs:
Tries – Boshier, Lienert-Brown, Penalty: McKenzie, Conversions: McKenzie (2)


Week Eight Results:

Chiefs: 19  Crusaders: 32  (Half Time 10-17)

Chiefs: 
Tries – Boshier, Penalties: McKenzie (4), Conversion: McKenzie

Crusaders
Tries: Sanders, Jordan, Taylor, Reece, Fainga’anuku, Penalty: Mo’unga, Conversions: Mo’unga (2)


Highlanders: 21  Blues: 32  (Half Time 16-24)

Highlanders:
Tries: Dixon, Frizell, Penalties: J. Ioane (3), Conversions: J. Ioane

Blues:
Tries: A. Ioane, Christie (2), Faiane, Tu’ungafasi, Penalties: B. Barrett, Conversions: B. Barrett (2)





Thursday, July 23, 2020

Round Seven Super Rugby Aotearoa Teams Named

Blues v Chiefs, Eden Park Auckland, Sunday 26 July, 3.35pm

Blues: 15 Matt Duffie, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Blake Gibson, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu ©, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman.

Reserves: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18. Sione Mafileo, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Otere Black or Emoni Narawa, 23 Harry Plummer

Chiefs:
1. Reuben O’Neill 2. Bradley Slater 3. Nepo Laulala 4. Tupou Vaa’i 5. Mitchell Brown 6. Lachlan Boshier 7. Sam Cane © 8. Pita Gus Sowakula 9. Brad Weber 10. Kaleb Trask 11.Solomon Alaimalo 12. Alex Nankivell 13. Anton Lienert-Brown 14. Sean Wainui 15. Damian McKenzie

Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ollie Norris, Ross Geldenhuys, Adam Thomson, Mitchell Karpik, Lisati Milo-Harris, Aaron Cruden, Quinn Tupaea


Crusaders v Hurricanes, Orangetheory Stadium Christchurch, Saturday 25 July, 7.05pm

Crusaders: 1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor © 3. Michael Alaalatoa 4. Samuel Whitelock 5. Mitchell Dunshea 6. Tom Sanders 7. Tom Christie 8. Whetukamokamo Douglas (vc) 9. Bryn Hall 10. Richie Mo’unga 11. George Bridge 12. Jack Goodhue (vc) 13. Fetuli Paea 14. Sevu Reece 15. Will Jordan

Reserves: 16. Andrew Makalio 17. George Bower 18. Oliver Jager 19. Quinten Strange 20. Sione Havili 21. Mitchell Drummond 22. Brett Cameron 23. Leicester Fainga’anuku

Hurricanes: 1. Fraser Armstrong 2. Asafo Aumua 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. James Blackwell 5. Scott Scrafton 6. Reed Prinsep 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi 8. Ardie Savea 9. TJ Perenara © 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop 11. Ben Lam 12. Ngani Laumape 13. Peter Umaga-Jensen 14. Wes Goosen 15. Jordie Barrett

Reserves: 16. Ricky Riccitelli 17. Tevita Mafileo 18. Alex Fidow 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere 20. Vaea Fifita 21. Jamie Booth 22. Vince Aso 23. Chase Tiatia

Super Rugby Results 2020 Week Three To Six

Week Three Results:

Score: Blues: 27 Highlanders: 24 (Halftime 22-10)

Blues: Tries: Clarke, Papalii (2), R. Ioane, Penalty: Black, Conversions: Black (2)

Highlanders: Tries: Dixon, Hunt, Frizell. Penalties: Hunt (2), Conversions: Hunt (3)


Score: Crusaders: 18  Chiefs: 13 (Halftime 10-3)

Crusaders: Tries: Jordan (2), Penalties: Mo’unga (2), Conversion: Mo’unga

Chiefs: Try: Wainui, Penalties: McKenzie (2), Conversion: McKenzie


Week Four Results:

Score: Highlanders: 20 Crusaders: 40 (Halftime 17-14)

Highlanders: Tries: Frizell, Punivai, Penalties: Hunt (2), Conversions: Hunt (2)

Crusaders: Tries: Jordan (2), Christie (2), Reece, Penalties: Mo’unga (3), Conversions: Mo’unga (3)


Score: Chiefs: 18  Hurricanes: 25 (Halftime 3-20)

Chiefs: Tries: Penalty try, Boshier, Penalties: McKenzie (2)

Hurricanes: Tries: Van Wyk (2), Kirifi, Penalties: J. Barrett (2), Conversions: J. Barrett (2)


Week Five Results:

Final Score: Crusaders: 26  Blues: 15 (Halftime 6-7)

Crusaders: Tries: Drummond, Jordan, Penalties: Mo’unga (4), Conversions: Mo’unga (2)

Blues: Tries:  Telea, R. Ioane, Penalty: Black, Conversion: Black

Score: Hurricanes: 17  Highlanders: 11  (Halftime 12-0)

Hurricanes: Tries: Perenara, Van Wyk, Flanders, Conversions: J. Barrett

Highlanders: Try: A. Smith, Penalties: M. Hunt (2)


Week Six Results: 

Score: Hurricanes: 29  Blues: 27  (Halftime 15-15)

Hurricanes: Tries: Laumape, Prinsep, Coles, Aumua, Penalty: J. Barrett, Conversions: J. Barrett (3)

Blues: Tries B. Barrett, Papali’i, A. Ioane, Eklund, Penalty: Black, Conversions: Black, B. Barrett


Score: Chiefs: 31 Highlanders: 33   (Halftime 24-7)

Chiefs: Tries: Boshier, Lienert-Brown, Slater (2), Penalty: McKenzie, Conversions: McKenzie (4)

Highlanders: Tries: Mikaele-Tu’u, Hunt, A. Smith, Nareki, Tomkinson, Conversions: Hunt (4)

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Super Rugby Results Aotearoa Round Two

Round two of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition has seen the Blues beat the Chiefs 24-12 in Hamilton, and the Crusaders beat the Hurricanes 39-25 in Wellington.

On a cold and wet Saturday night in Hamilton, the Blues beat the Chiefs at home for the first time since 2011.
The Chiefs dominated early possession and territory, but they had only managed a solitary penalty by the 12th minute. It was after the Damian McKenzie penalty that the Blues struck back from the restart with Hoskins Sotutu scoring beside the posts, with Otere Black adding the conversion.
Midway through the half the Blues had conceded eight penalties to the Chiefs one, and McKenzies penalty kicks kept the Chiefs in the match, trailing 10-9 at halftime.
The second half saw both side kicking for territory in the wet match, and McKenzie and Black trading penalty kicks.
It was not until the late in the match that the Blues scored their second try, with winger Mark Telea finishing off an attacking move.

Chiefs: 12 

Penalties: McKenzie (4)

Blues: 24

Tries:  Sotutu, Talea, Penalties: Black (2), B. Barrett, Conversion: Black, Drop: B. Barrett

The Crusaders played their first match in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition and it resulted in a 39-25 win over the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The Crusaders scored an early try to wing Sevu Reece in just the second minute of the match with Richie Mo'unga kicking the conversion.
The Hurricanes kicked a penalty in the 7th minute toget on the board, but it was the Crusaders extending their lead in the 14th minute with a second try to centre Braydon Ennor.
The Hurricanes had leveled the scores 12-12 by the 31st minute with two penalties and a drop kick to first five Jackson Garden-Bachop.
The Crusaders scored their third try to second five Jack Goodhue, with the conversion extending the lead to 19-12, but it was 19-15 at halftime after Garden-Bachop added another penalty.
The Hurricanes reduced the gap to 19-18 after Goodhue was sin-binned, but Mo'unga kicked two penalties to put up 25-18.
The Hurricanes then scored their first try to replacement Asafo Aumua, and Garden Bachop's sideline conversion tied the scores 25-25.
The Crusaders then added a further two tries in the last ten minutes to Mo'unga and replacement David Havili.

Hurricanes: 25

Try: Aumua, Penalties: Garden-Bachop (5), Conversion: Garden-Bachop, Drop: Garden-Bachop

Crusaders: 39

Tries – Reece, Ennor, Goodhue, Mo’unga, Havili, Penalties: Mo’unga (2), Conversions: Mo’unga (4)

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Super Rugby Aotearoa Results Round One 2020

The results for the first round of Super Rugby Aotearoa 2020 from 13-14 June are as follows.

Highlanders v Chiefs, Dunedin, Saturday 13 June.

The Highlanders have defeated the Chiefs 28-27 after a late 78th minute dropped goal from Bryn Gatland, son of Chiefs coach Warren.
The Highlanders had scored three tries to the Chiefs two, and led 22-16 at half time after tries to second five Patelesio Tomkinson and hooker Ash Dixon. Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie had kicked two early penalties to keep them in contact, while winger Sean Wainui scored a try to narrow the gap. The sin-binning of Highlander fullback Vilimoni Koroi in the 32nd minute saw McKenzie add another penalty before a late first half try to number eight Marino Mikaele Tu’u pushed the Highlanders to a six point half time lead.
The second half saw first five Mitch Hunt extend the lead for the Highlanders with a penalty, but they lost another to the sin-bin with Jona Nareki taking out McKenzie in the air.
A try to centre Anton Lienert-Brown brought the Chiefs to within a point of the Highlanders, but McKenzie missed the conversion. In the 77th minute McKenzie put the Chiefs in front with a dropped goal, but it was Gatland with the winner when the Highlanders worked there way to the Chiefs 22 from the restart.

Highlanders: 
Tries: A. Dixon, Tomkinson, Mikaele Tu’u, Penalties:  Hunt (2), Conversion: Hunt (2), Drop: Gatland
Cards: Koroi (Yellow, 32′), Nareki (Yellow, 61′)

Chiefs:
Tries: Wainui, Lienert-Brown, Penalties: McKenzie (4), Conversion: McKenzie, Drop: McKenzie

Blues v Hurricanes, Auckland, Sunday 14 June.

The Blues have beaten the Hurricanes 30-20 at Auckland's Eden Park in front of a crowd of 43,000 after holding a narrow 14-13 lead at half time.
Both teams scored three tries each, but it was the boot of first five Otere Black who proved to be the decider with his 15 points.
The Blues struggled with the new offside laws for Super Rugby, and conceded ten penalties to the Hurricanes four in the first half.
The Hurricanes opened the scoring with a penalty to first five Jackson Garden-Bachop, but the Blues hit back with a try to wing Caleb Clarke. Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles was next to score with a try in the corner, but the Blues hit back again with one of their own to second five TJ Faiane.
The Hurricanes then scored a late try to wing Ben Lam, but Garden-Bachop was unable to convert.
The second half saw the Hurricanes concede multiple penalties, with Black kicking three for the Blues in ten minutes. Both sides scored late tries to replacements Dalton Papalii and Jamie Booth to leave the final score 30-20.

Blues 
Tries: Clarke, Faiane, Papalii, Penalties: Black (3), Conversions: Black (3)

Hurricanes
Tries: Coles, Lam, Booth, Penalty: Garden-Bachop, Conversion: Perenara