Crusaders And Blues Get First Round Wins

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

2021 Super Rugby Starts Tonight

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.

Draw Announced For Rugby World Cup 2023 In France

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.

NZ Maori Beat Moana Pasifika

The New Zealand Maori team has beaten the Moana Pasifika side 28-21 in Hamilton on Saturday.  

Māori All Blacks: 28 

Tries: Kaleb Trask, Ash Dixon, Billy Proctor, Mitch Karpik, Conversions: Trask 4

Moana Pasifika: 21 

Tries: Alamanda Motuga, Dwayne Polataivao, Conversion: Josh Ioane, Penalties: Ioane 3

2021 Super Rugby Squads Named

Blues 2021 Super Rugby Squad:

Hookers: Ray Niuia, James Parsons, Soane Vikena
Props: Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, James Lay, Marcel Renata, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi
Locks: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti , Sam Darry, Josh Goodhue, Jacob Pierce, Patrick Tuipulotu
Loose forwards: Blake Gibson, Dillon Hunt, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Taine Plumtree, Tom Robinson, Hoskins Sotutu
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Jonathan Ruru
Inside backs: Otere Black, Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer
Midfield: TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane, Tanielu Tele'a
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Jone Macilai-Tori, Emoni Narawa, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Zarn Sullivan, Mark Telea

Chiefs  2021 Super Rugby Squad:

Hookers: Nathan Harris, Bradley Slater, Samisoni Taukei'aho
Props: Sione Mafileo, Atunaisa Moli, Ollie Norris, Reuben O'Neill, Aidan Ross, Angus Ta'avao
Locks: Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Lord, Laghlan McWhannell, Tupou Vaa'i
Loose forwards: Kaylum Boshier, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Brown, Sam Cane, Pita Gus Sowakula, Luke Jacobson, Mitchell Karpik, Simon Parker
Halfbacks: Xavier Roe, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Brad Weber
Inside backs: Bryn Gatland, Rivez Reihana, Kaleb Trask
Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Alex Nankivell, Bailyn Sullivan, Quinn Tupaea
Outside backs: Jonah Lowe, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Shaun Stevenson, Chase Tiatia, Sean Wainui.

Hurricanes 2021 Super Rugby Squad:

Props: Pouri Rakete-Stones, Alex Fidow, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Fraser Armstrong, Tevita Mafileo
Hookers: Ricky Riccitelli, Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles,
Locks: Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Scott Scrafton, Kane Leaupepe, Isaia Walker Leaware
Loose forwards: Du Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Gareth Evans, Ardie Savea, Devan Flanders, Vaea Fifita, Brayden Iose
Halfbacks: Jamie Booth, Jonathan Taumateine, Luke Campbell
Inside backs: Jackson Garden Bachop, Simon Hickey
Midfield: Ngani Laumape, Billy Proctor, Vince Aso, Julian Savea
Outside backs: Salesi Rayasi, Wes Goosen, Jordie Barrett, Danny Toala, Peter Umaga Jensen, Lolagi Visinia, Ruben Love, Pepesana Patafilo

Crusaders 2021 Super Rugby Squad:

Props: Joe Moody, Ollie Jager, Isi Tuungafasi, George Bower, Michael Alaalatoa, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell
Hookers: Codie Taylor, Brodie McAlister, Andrew Makalio,
Locks: Scott Barrett, Quentin Strange, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano
Loose forwards: Cullen Grace, Tom Sanders, Ethan Blackadder, Sione Havili, Whetu Douglas, Tom Christie
Halfbacks: Mitch Drummond, Ere Enari, Bryn Hall,
Inside backs: Richie Mo'unga, Brett Cameron
Midfield: Jack Goodhue, Fergus Burke, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod,
Outside backs: Chay Fihaki, George Bridge, Manasa Mataele, Sevu Reece, David Havili, Will Jordan, Leicester Faingaanuku, Isaiah Punivai

Highlanders 2021 Super Rugby Squad:

Props: Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokolahi, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jeff Thwaites, Ethan de Groot, Jermaine Ainsley, Josh Hohneck
Hookers: Ricky Jackson, Ash Dixon, Liam Coltman
Locks: Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Maanaki Selby-Rickit, Bryn Evans
Loose forwards: Billy Harmon, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Marino Mikaele Tu'u, Sione Misiloi, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Liam Squire
Halfbacks: Kazuki Himeno, Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Folau Fakatava
Inside backs: Josh Ioane, Mitchell Hunt
Midfield: Fetuli Paea, Sio Tomkinson, Thomas Umaga Jensen, Ngane Punivai
Outside backs: Nehe Milner Skudder, Connor Garden Bachop, Scott Gregory, Jona Nareki, Solomon Alaimalo, Michael Collins, Sam Gilbert, Vilimoni Koroi

New Zealand Maori Named To Face Moana Pasifica

New Zealand Maori coach Clayton McMillan has named his side to face Moana Pasifica in Hamilton on Saturday 5th December, 7.05pm. The match 23 features eight debutants, and former All Black Liam Messam at number eight, while prop Josh Hohneck has not played for the side since 2015.

Lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit, midfielders Quinn Tupaea and Billy Proctor, and fullback Kaleb Trask will debut for the starting side, while hooker Kurt Eklund, prop Tamaiti Williams, loose forward Ethan Roots and midfielder Rameka Poihipi will start off the bench.

Māori All Blacks: 

Kaleb Trask, Shaun Stevenson, Billy Proctor, Quinn Tupaea, Sean Wainui, Otere Black, Bryn Hall, Liam Messam, Billy Harmon, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Marcel Renata, Ash Dixon (c), Josh Hohneck. 

Reserves: 

Kurt Eklund, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tamaiti Williams, Ethan Roots, Mitchell Karpik, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Rameka Poihipi, Jonah Lowe.

Moana Pasifika: 

Stephen Perofeta, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Fetuli Paea, Vince Aso, Salesi Rayasi, Josh Ioane, Folau Fakatava, Pita-Gus Sowakula, Alamanda Motuga, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Michael Alaalatoa (C), Leni Apisai, Daniel Lienert-Brown. 

Reserves: 

Samisoni Taukie'aho, Jordan Lay, Sione Mafileo, Samipeni Finau, Nasi Manu, Dwayne Polataivao, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Etene Nanai-Seturo.

All Blacks Win Final Match Of 2020

 The All Blacks have beaten Argentina 38-0 in Newcastle on Saturday night, reversing the loss they suffered two weeks ago. It was a committed forward pack that set the stage for the win, and forced multiple errors and missed tackles onto Argentina. Hooker Dane Coles scored the opening try out wide in the 12th minute, and Richie Mo'unga added a penalty for a first half 10-0 lead.

Midway through the second half the All Blacks led 17-0 after Ardie Savea scored off a lineout drive, but it was the addition of replacement back Will Jordan that opened the game right up. Jordan scored a try off a spilled Argentina ball, and two minutes later was in again off an intercept for a 60m dash. The final act of the game saw replacement lock Patrick Tuipulotu score in the 81st minute with Jordan again involved.

New Zealand: 38 

Tries: Dane Coles, Ardie Savea, Will Jordan 2, Patrick Tuipulotu, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 5, Penalty: Mo'unga

Argentina: 0