It easy to understand why Fiji’s performance last Saturday night has re-ignited long simmering calls for the highest ranked of the Pacific Island nations to join the Rugby Championship.
My goodness they turned up with a purpose and absolutely took it to the All Blacks and then some; a mightily impressive effort having not suited up for a test match since the 2019 Rugby World Cup but made even more so by the fact that they had two tenths of sod all training time together … I can’t wait to see what they do with a full training week under their collective belts.
All the truths that have become clichés about Fijian rugby were fully illustrated in Dunedin, as was the structure and discipline that comes from playing in highly competitive competitions around the world but primarily France with a decent smattering of talent throughout the United Kingdom.
Of the 23 Fijian players that took to the field at Forsyth Barr Stadium, twenty of them ply their trade in the afore mentioned part of the world; two play in New Zealand – though Manasa Mataele is heading to the Force – and one Fiji.
If you look a little deeper at players who are unavailable, either through injury, COVID-19 travel restrictions or Olympic sevens duty, you find that for the most part they are based in Europe too
France in particular has forged very close rugby bonds with Fiji, fostering partnerships and building academies in the islands proving very beneficial for both parties … I wont get into the alliance as it relates to the politics of world rugby in this piece.
So why point out all of these things?
Because suggestions that Fiji should become part of the Rugby Championship is yet another example of the stale, 20th century thinking that continues to inhibit rugby’s growth.
When you use a 21st century thought pattern, considering all the facts above before applying some health dose of logic, it becomes abundantly clear (to my open mind anyway) that the right move for Fiji is to play in an expanded Six Nations.
Playing “home” games in the South of France and bouncing back and forth across the Channel in first third of the year makes a lot more sense than trying to extract the vast majority of their players from mid August to early October because old mate Club-versus-Country will rear its ugly head quicker than a Leone Nakarawa off-load. NB – Fiji would still play in Fiji during the July international window
The value that those Fijian players have rightly earned over time in French and UK based competitions would plummet and set the nation back where as Six Nations inclusion would further advance it.
We all know that this will never happen because rugby is still archaically viewed in hemispheres rather than delineation which actually exists in 2021 – that being the Home Unions and France and then the rest of the world – but how nice would it be to see someone take ownership of the situations that teams like Fiji face and actually lead the sport … yes World Rugby, I’m looking at you.
Here is my fifth and final ABs Depth Chart, with the All Blacks squad due to be named (as I understand anyway) a day or so after this weekend’s Super Rugby Trans Tasman decider between the Blues and Highlanders (PS congrats to both sides for making the final). As is always the case, I have not included injured players but I have reduced the length of recover time criteria from six weeks or more down to four weeks or more. At the time of writing this, I have not seen any update on Ardie Savea’s injury from the Hurricanes win over the Reds (though it didn’t sound great based on Ardie’s response when he spoke to Sky Sport after the game) hence I have left him in the chart. So here we go for the final time this Super Rugby season:
LOOSEHEAD – The top three remain unchanged but Ethan de Groot has gone to a new level in SRTT and leaps up the rankings as there is just so much raw talent and power in that 21 year old. Nice to see Alex Hodgman put in a nice wee shift on Saturday night too
HOOKER – A top division of three in Taylor, Coles and Aumua then a gap back to the chasers led by Taukei’aho and Eklund. Given Aumua’s recent play, I would expect to see him use a lot in July to get him some much needed on-field international experience and is very very close to moving above Coles
TIGHTHEAD – Laulala’s recent run of solid play sees him move ahead of Lomax, who just hasn’t seemed himself in recent appearances; Ta’avao and Jager snapping at the heels
LOCK – No change at the top but Tuipulotu moves ahead of Barrett. I think that Scott’s play is being inhibited by captaincy while Patrick is empowered by it so while I expect to see the Scott Barrett we’ve become accustomed to when he puts on the Black jersey again, he slides for the moment while Cowley-Tuioti continues to improve.
BLINDSIDE – Frizell stays top despite no play due to an ankle injury; Blackadder continues to produce quality work at a high volume while Ioane is starting to look more like his old self again. I couldn’t separate Robinson and Sowakula; Robinson a great lineout option and better working in the wide channels while PGS runs strong in the hard contact areas (akin to Frizell) and is a better lifter than a jumper; both defend strong and hard around the ruck and get over the ball for a jackel too, hence the difficulty in ranking one higher than the other
OPENSIDE – The Savea injury, whilst a huge concern, is softened slightly by the outstanding play of other openside options. Seeing Lachlan Boshier take the final conversion of the Chiefs last game all but confirms the rumour that he is off to Panasonic in Japan; however Billy Harmon is in career best form at the moment as we are seeing the completeness of his game with his open field attacking play matching his excellent defence.
NUMBER EIGHT – No change from version four to version five
HALFBACK – Finlay Christie showing what he is capable of on a regular basis sees him jump ahead of TJ Perenara for the time being and this Saturday night’s SRTT final where Christie will mostly likely match up against a man who is in a ridiculously impressive, career best vein of form, will be significant for the Blues halfback.
FIRST FIVES – Otere Black moves ahead of Damian McKenzie as he is back doing what a good first five should given a platform like he’s had, while also being very accurate off the kicking tee. Everyone else (bar the just out of MIQ Barrett) has a bit of same old same old going on.
LEFT WING – Mark Telea and Jona Nareki fill spots four and five after producing consistent performances in the last month while the top three options remain unchanged.
SECOND FIVE – Havili and ALB remain top of the 12 rankings however an impressive return from injury sees Quinn Tupaea slot in the mix with Jordie Barrett dropping out as option seems to be off the board … for the moment😉 Tupaea is doing all the things that these AB selectors like from their second five hence Quinn slides in ahead of PUJ and Nankivell, the latter who strikes as a player who, if selected for international honours, would just figure out the next level very quickly. Scott Gregory has put forward a compelling case having been moved into second five, the position which I remember seeing him play exceedingly well at secondary school level for Whangarei Boys High School, and is knocking on the door of top five on the ABDC.
CENTRE – No change from version four to version five
RIGHT WING – Ennor slides in as the fifth option. Shout out to Bryce Heem who is playing great rugby on the right wing for the Blues while I have resisted the temptation to put Richard Kahui, another player north of 30 playing outstanding code, in the mix even though I would have him in the All Blacks in a heartbeat.
FULLBACK – A few weeks has given me some clarity about where I see this position going. The desire for the Beau’unga combo sees older Barrett ahead of younger Barrett (who I still suspect you’ll see starting on the right wing for the big tests later in the year) Damian McKenzie’s experience sees him ahead of Will Jordan who, like the Crusaders in general, has been guilty at times of dropping their usual high standards during SRTT.
Welcome to the first ABs Depth Chart of the Super Rugby Trans Tasman era. I can’t deny that the mostly one sided nature of the opening fortnight has made assessing performances within performance a challenge but there has still been some good individual efforts that will have meaning to those who select the national men’s rugby team of New Zealand. Also please note that for version four, the conclusion of Japan’s Top League season means that a couple of players who have been plying their trade in the Land of the Rising Sun are eligible for inclusion, as are players who are injured but whose recovery time is six week or less. Having said that, all that is left to do is quote the Joker from the Dark Knight – “and here … we … go!”:
LOOSEHEAD PROP – There is a very clear delineation in the top 3 loosehead prop now – Tu’inukeafe from Ross from Bowers. Hodgman holds four on the basis of his AB involvement last year while Johnstone has been excellent for the Highlanders, especially how he handled Taniela Tupou in the opening week. BTW the pool of young talent forming below this top five is outstanding. Ethan de Groot (22yo) Xaver Numia (22yo) Tamaiti Williams (20yo) and Ollie Norris (21yo) means some much need depth should this quartet maintain their improvement trajectories through the remainder of this Rugby World Cup cycle and beyond
HOOKER – Taylor, Coles and Aumua look to be firming with every passing week, especially as Taukei’aho’s lineout throwing continues to oscillate between excellent and erratic. I hate myself for dropping Ash Dixon out of the top five however the reality is that Ash’s ABs hopes have past (but I will continue to live in hope that the man get a cap) hence the inclusion of Kurt Eklund who has been very solid since his return from suspension.
TIGHTHEAD PROP – No change from version 3; Jager made the most of a rare starting opportunity against the Reds
LOCK – Welcome back Big Fella! Retallick is in MIQ and that’s all I needed to hear to insert him at the top of the list alongside the extraordinary Sam Whitelock. Retallick has been playing some great rugby for Kobe and the endorsement of his play from one Wayne Smith (whose word is binding as far as this observer is concerned) justifies his immediate inclusion on the ABDC. Nice to see Tuipulotu return on the weekend, PPP is starting to look more and more like the player the ABs selectors have such big raps on and Josh Goodhue deserves a spot in the top ten. PS Like the quartet of young loosehead props, the pair of Sam Darry and Josh Lord have that future-international look about them too
BLINDSIDE FLANKER – No change from version 3. Really enjoyed listening to Akira Ioane explaining how the Blues coaches want him working in the wide channels rather than in and around the coal face, which is where he did excellent work in limited opportunities for the All Blacks in 2020
OPENSIDE FLANKER – Another position where the five players from the previous ABDC remain unchanged however Billy Harmon is putting some serious heat on the top five; his workrate with and without the ball is excellent
NUMBER EIGHT – Grace is starting to hit his straps however Jacobson continues to be so influential for the Chiefs, yet he in turn can’t make any ground on the ultra consistent and high quality Sotutu; Savea edging closer and closer to a return – woohoo!
HALFBACK – Not for the first time, Finlay Christie has sparked into life in mid May and deserved jumps up into the top five while watching Aaron Smith play rugby is one of the most enjoyable things on the planet at this point of time; an absolute master at the height of his powers.
FIRST FIVE – Beauden Barrett is back in the mix – let the first five debate begin. Now I’m not going to start said debate here, but Barrett’s return from Japan sure does ease, albeit very very slightly, my concerns around this crucial position in terms of depth. That said, McKenzie, Hunt and Black need to pick it up as it appears as though this trio has plateaued.
LEFT WING – No change from version 3 though I think that Fainga’anuku is really looking every inch an All Blacks starting left wing at present. Nareki pushing Rayasi for fifth spot; both too inconsistent from week to week
SECOND FIVE – Nankivell’s consistency earns him a spot in the top five though Gregory and Faiane have been excellent while the impending return from injury of Quinn Tupaea is another piece to this puzzle
CENTRE – Ennor has been very impressive in his return from injury and as such has jumped up to third, while Fainga’anuku drops to fifth but remains to viable option at thirteen though will be preferred at lift wing and rightly so. ALB and Ioane maintaining excellent form through opening fortnight of SRTT; keen to see Proctor play against a half decent Aussie midfield combo
RIGHT WING – Only change sees Reece go ahead of Jordan but this is a position that is going to be hugely influenced by the fullback decision.
FULLBACK – Barrett (B) jumps straight to the top of the list on the basis of what we have seen from the ABs selectors in recent years AND he’s played really good rugby for Suntory in Japan; he may be even quicker than what he was before he headed there & he was already pretty quick. Beauden is going to be in the starting fifteen and most likely wearing the 15 jersey as part of the two-headed attacking beast with Mo’unga. That means that Barrett (J) Jordan and McKenzie concertina up behind the returning 2 x World Rugby Player of the Year with New Zealand Rugby’s new human swiss army knife (Ben Smith being the original) David Havili a more than serviceable fifth option.
RECORD – Won 5; Lost 4; Pts For 200; Pts Agt 244; Tries For 19; Tries Agt 33
BEST FORWARD – While he missed a couple of games due to concussion, Luke Jacobson was invariably the best Chiefs player (not just forward) for the vast majority of the games he played. From first whistle to last (and Luke did play every minute of every game he was selected for including the OT in Dunedin) he was relentless in everything he did. He carried hard, tackled harder, was excellent over the ball, could roam in the wide channels, won his lineout ball and when Sam Cane went down with injury, stepped up as co-captain even though it was never officially announced by the franchise
BEST BACK – He started the season slow, but whatever it was that Anton Lienert-Brown said to himself after the round three loss to the Crusaders, it worked. From that point on, ALB’s involvement, accuracy and intensity went up tenfold, especially on defence. His ability to get over the ball when breakdowns were form in midfield or in the wider channels was outstanding (one such effort gave McKenzie the chance to win the game in OT against the Highlanders). Special mention to Brad Weber whose game, which is was already going pretty good, got even better when he assumed sole captaincy
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – During the off-season, Quinn Tupaea put on around five to six kilograms of “targeted weight” (for those not familiar with the phrase, it means putting muscle on a specific body part or parts) to help him be more impactful when carrying or defending. He most certainly did that but the extra size did not affect his speed and agility. His form prior to the campaign-ending knee injury, was the best of any second five in the competition.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Tupou Vaa’iwas an injury replacement when playing a handful of game for the Chiefs last season, so I could argue on technicalities that this is his rookie season. Vaa’i was so consistent in his work-rate and physicality which was laced with some subtle and delightful ball skill. He took all the lessons that he learnt in the All Blacks and improved on them at a greater rate than many (myself very much included) would have expected. Now if you don’t want accept my rookie technicalities regarding Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau’s story is very cool. Finau was called in as injury cover for pre-season, never had a contract, work his tail off to the point where he started the season opener and deservedly so. His play when on the field reflected the effort he put in to get to that point; diligent, industrious, combative and direct.
BEST STAT OF THE CAMPAIGN – Ruck success and scrum success are the clear standouts (though the Crusaders scrums in Christchurch will haunt the Chiefs for a while still) as well as that only one of their 19 tries was not converted; turning five into seven was pretty significant when you’re winning games by small minuscule margins
MOST CONCERNING STAT OF THE CAMPAIGN – Least number of points and tries scored is significant because they were able to generated such a high number of clean breaks and could not convert those into more tries.
BEST PERFORMANCE – The second half against the Hurricanes in Wellington was when the Chiefs rediscovered themselves and played with a confidence and freedom that they never truly achieved in the four other wins that followed. Our first look also at the very incisive combo of McKenzie at 10 and Tiatia at 15 in late game siutations.
TURNING POINT – The non-call on the forward pass from Luke Jacobson to Chase Tiatia (yes it was clearly and obviously forward in my opinion) which would lead to Damian McKenzie’s match winning try against the Blues in round five. On the back of their first win in forever the week prior in Wellington, this moment really got the Chiefs believing again and led to a run of last minute (or in the case of Dunedin, extra time) victories that got them to the final.
LOOKING AHEAD – The Chiefs simply have to be more efficient at converting the opportunities that they create into tries. Yes, kicking penalties worked in Super Rugby Aotearoa but try scoring bonus points are going to be vital in the Trans-Tasman competition. The rest of their game can still be improved but attacking accuracy has got start matching their improvement made in all other areas.
With Super Rugby Aotearoa done and dusted – Congrats Crusaders on claiming the 2021 title – its time to update the All Blacks depth chart. There’s a bit of change here and there due to the departure post Super Rugby Trans Tasman of Ngani Laumape, the return of TJ Perenara in the halfback ranks, Caleb Clarke & Etene Nanai-Seturo opting for a chance to go to the Olympics and Ardie Savea edging closer to a return from injury which brings him back into the mix NB. A reminder that one of the rules this chart is produced under is that players with injuries requiring six weeks or more of recovery time are not considered) So with all that said, lets crack into version 3 of the ABDC:
LOOSEHEAD PROP – No change at the top but Aidan Ross is now a clear number two behind Tu’inukuafe, edging ahead of Bower while Hodgman’s inactivity due suspension sees him coming under real heat from De Groot, who squeezes Xavier Numia out of the top five
HOOKER – No change in this position. Taukei’aho was very impressive with ball in hand in the final, but a couple of poor lineout throws keep him from moving up the rankings.
TIGHTHEAD PROP – Tuungafasi and Lomax remain one and two, Laulala jumps back above Ta’avao while the departure post SRTT of Siate Tokolahi to France sees Oli Jager makes his first appearance in the top five, though on his recent form off the Crusaders bench, Jager probably would have shaded Tokolahi on form any way
LOCK – No changes but gees young Sam Darry is hammering the door down at the moment
BLINDSIDE FLANKER – The only change is Tom Robinson making his first appearance on the list (There! Happy Sauce fans 😉) having finally shown me some real sting in his defence against the Chiefs to close out the regular season. Akira Ioane holds his spot as I believe the ABs coach will back themselves to get him playing like he did to close out the 2020 international season, but does need to show a thing or two against the Aussie teams.
OPENSIDE FLANKER – As stated above Ardie Savea is back in the mix and slots straight into top slot as Papali’i, Kirifi, Jacobson and Boshier all slide down one spot each.
NUMBER EIGHT – Savea also take up the top spot here too; it really will depend on how the AB selectors want to go, but based on last year you suspect traditional type sixes and sevens allowing them to flex Ardie around based on field position and scenario. That sees Sotutu, Jacobson and Grace all drop a spot while Pita Gus Sowakula’s impressive run of form to finish SRA sees him oust Ioane and Flanders.
HALFBACK – We welcome back TJ Perenara who slots in behind Smith and Weber, despite him not being able to play for the Hurricanes unless called in as an injury replacement. His return sees Drummond drop a spot but Tahuriorangi’s steady resurgence this season sees him jump ahead of Hall to hold his spot. While he’s not everybody’s cup of tea (more so for what he does off the field than I suspect; personally I like the dude) Perenara’s return is timely because, the injured Folau Fakatava aside, no one else has really put up a compelling cases to be the 3rd halfback in the ABs squad.
FIRST FIVE – No change but Black, Hunt and Ioane need to be much more consistent during SRTT; Bryn Gatland and Ruben Love doing things right to finish their respective SRA campaigns in a very tidy fashion
LEFT WINGS – Fainga’anuku jumps up to number one in a straight like-for-like swap with Clarke following the latter’s move back to the Sevens squad. Leicester has been tough to hand be it on the wing or at centre and could have a similar barnstorming impact in test matches like Clarke did last season. Bridge and Ioane hold their spots; Ennor’s return means he is a viable left wing option while Salesi Rayasi makes an appearance for the first time but needs work a bit more without the ball during the trans Tasman comp
SECOND FIVES – With Laumape heading to France (absolutely gutted he’s going but quite frankly who can blame him) Havili moves into the top spot. Why not ALB who has been second in V1 & V2? Because I think Havili at 12 and ALB at 13 would compliment each other very nicely and thus would be the preferred option in the midfield while IMO ALB skills at 12 would work best with a centre like Ioane or Fainga’anuku. Laumape’s departure after SRTT and the injury to Goodhue leaves things a little thin at second five, though Umaga-Jensen can play the position and his (albeit brief) experience with the ABs last year sees him slot in ahead of specialist TJ Faiane
CENTRES – Fainga’anuku on form grabs the third spot, with Ennor slotting in ahead of Umaga-Jensen now that the former has recovered from long term injury. No change to the top two.
RIGHT WING – I feel either Barrett or Jordan are going to end up here, depending on what route the selectors take at fullback (more on that in a moment) Good options outside that pair with Reece, Telea and Ioane
FULLBACK – I will give the answer that I always give when confronted with something I don’t know and that is I don’t know. Three quality options depending on how Foster and co want to go when the first test rolls around hence I can’t split them from that point of view. Personally, and this is because of the departure of Laumape and likely elevation of Havili into a hypnotical ABs starting XV, I’d start Jordan at fullback (give him a shot in his specialist position with Crusaders mates Mo’unga and Havili in front of him) Barrett on the right wing (he has to be in the team) and McKenzie to spark plug off the bench with twenty minutes to go.
Tomorrow night at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch, the juggernaut that is the Crusaders look to go back-to-back in Super Rugby Aotearoa. Standing in their way, the Chiefs – the cardiac kids – winners of five games this season, all by single digits, the last four of them won with the final play of the game, all of which were delivered by “Big Jim” Damian McKenzie. Its been as interesting and not always smooth road to the finals for both sides (more so the Chiefs and the Crusaders it must be said) and against that backdrop I respectful present my thoughts of the final. This preview has head-to-head and sub-group matchups including who I believe has the advantage (or not) individually and collectively, a few individuals’ stats and some team statistics smattered throughout the piece. So let get into by starting where all rugby game since time immemorial have started …
FRONT ROW
1. George Bowers vs 3. Angus Ta’avao – EVEN
Bowers is the more active around the field while Ta’avao a better lifter at the lineout. Both are good defenders, very effective at moving bodies at the breakdown and should be very evenly matched at scrum time.
APPEARANCES: Bower 8 (339 mins, 42 per game) Ta’avao 7 (428 mins, 61 per game)
2. Codie Taylor vs. Samisoni Taukei’aho – (advantage) CRUSADERS
While the improvement in Taukei’aho’s game is evident for all to see, he is still not in the same class as Taylor, who has been a standout right through the season for the defending champions.
APPEARANCES: Taylor 8 (492 mins, 62 per game) Taukei’aho 7 (440 mins, 63 per game)
Ross gets through more work around the field and while Alaalatoa is a bigger hitter in defence, he won’t do it as often as Ross. This is where the Chiefs will attempt to attack the Crusaders at scrum as the Manu Samoan international has been found wanting on recent occasions, so look for Ross and Taukei’aho to load up on Alaalatoa, especially on Crusaders put ins.
APPEARANCES: Alaalatoa 8 (478 mins, 60 per game) Ross 6 (328 mins, 55 per game)
RESERVES
16. Brodie McAlister vs Bradley Slater – CRUSADERS
McAlister has been more polished in his limited playing time this season, whereas Slater has regressed behind Taukei’aho in the hooker pecking order at Ruakura and frankly I’m more than a wee bit surprised not to see veteran Nathan Harris in the Chiefs 16 jersey this week
APPEARANCES: McAlister 7 (149 mins, 21 per game) Slater 6 (135 mins, 22 per game)
Slight edge to Mafileo who has been very effective in helping close out the Chiefs tight victories but my goodness this young man in Williams is talented and a big chunk of humanity to boot but has only played 13 minutes prior to the final
APPEARANCES: Williams 1 (13 mins) Mafileo 5 (147 mins, 29 per game)
18. Oli Jager vs 17 Ollie Norris – CRUSADERS
Who doesn’t enjoy an all-Ollie battle. I do wonder how close Jager was to starting this game given he’s outplayed Alaalatoa in recent outings. Norris’s growth this season has been a big positive for the Chiefs but while both are excellent athletes around the field, Jager is the better scrummager at present
APPEARANCES: Jager 5 (121 mins, 15 per game) Norris 7 (199 mins, 28 per game)
Collectively – CRUSADERS
This group is a hardworking dozen, who won’t shirk their work at any time for any reason, so this really does boil down to what happens at scrum time and these gents will be the heroes or villains, no matter what is going on behind them. The dusting the Crusaders scrum gave the Chiefs when they first met this season was the catalyst for what is now the re-emergence of the Chiefs scrum as a competitive force but I still think the defending champs have a little something in reserve at set piece time.
SCRUMS: Crusaders – Won 41 Lost 3 = 93.2%; Chiefs – Won 40 Lost 2 = 95.2%
SECOND ROW
4. Scott Barrett (c) vs Tupou Vaa’i – CHIEFS
Vaa’i has been massive and accurate for the Chiefs this season. Barrett is the most penalised player in this game (12 in 8 games) and has missed a lot of tackles based on his very high standard (17) Both have huge motors but Vaa’i is simply playing better and with a lower error-rate than Barrett
APPEARANCES: Barrett 8 (618 mins, 77 per game) Vaa’i 6 (420 mins, 70 per game)
LINEOUTS WON: Barrett – 26 won inc 2 steals; Vaa’i – 10 won, no steals
5. Sam Whitelock vs Mitch Brown – CRUSADERS
Brown is playing high quality, combative rugby (though is the most penalised Chiefs, having conceded 10 in 7 games) but IMO Whitelock has never been better at this level than he has been in 2021. Both make the lineout calls for their respective teams but its Whitelock’s ability to create confusion and/or doubt opposition lineouts that could be a decisive factor in the game
APPEARANCES: Whitelock 7 (545 mins, 78 per game) Brown 7 (490 mins, 70 per game)
LINEOUTS WON: Whitelock – 34 won inc 1 steal; Brown – 14 won, no steals
RESERVE
19. Mitch Dunshea vs Naitoa Ah Koui – CRUSADERS
Two very talented young lock forwards, however I feel that Ah Koui is better as a starter while Dunshea is very good at the impact/closing role that Scott Robertson wants from his reserves
APPEARANCES:Dunshea 6 (192 mins, 32 per game) Ah Koui 7 (479 mins, 68 per game)
LINEOUTS WON:Dunshea – 16 won inc 1 steals; Ah Koui – 13 won, no steals
Collectively – CRUSADERS
These are two very good second row units going head-to-head however only one of them has Sam Whitelock
LINEOUTS: Crusaders – Won 97 Lost 5 = 95.1%; Chiefs – Won 82 Lost 17 = 82.8%
Crusaders Results and Points Scorers in SRA 2021
LOOSE FORWARDS
6. Ethan Blackadder vs Pita Gus Sowakula – CRUSADERS
A pair of absolute workhorses for their respective sides however Blackadder just does slightly more work and at a higher pace than Sowakula, who I expect to switch with number eight Luke Jacobson in specific situations. NB Sowakula is just back from an injury so perhaps less kilometres on the clock this season might be useful
APPEARANCES: Blackadder 6 (428 mins, 71 per game) Sowakula 5 (227 mins, 45 per game)
7. Sione Havili Talitui vs Lachlan Boshier – CHIEFS
This is solely on the basis of Boshier’s ability to get over the ball which the Crusaders have had issues preventing this season and that Boshier’s body hasn’t being through the ringer this season, having only been back playing for less than a month. Havili Talitui has been so good playing out of position since Tom Christie was injured and has been second only to Tom Sanders as the best Crusaders in terms of getting hands on opposition ball at the breakdown
APPEARANCES: Havili Talitui 8 (393 mins, 49 per game) Boshier 2 (138 mins, 69 per game)
8. Cullen Grace vs Luke Jacobson – EVEN
Grace hasn’t quite reached the same heights of play compared to last year when he made the All Blacks but has still been very effective for his side; a deadset menace at lineout time on opposition ball. Jacobson has consistently been the best Chiefs forward this season however the time away due to concussion concerns me at any time but that’s heightened heading into a final
APPEARANCES: Grace 6 (455 mins, 76 per game) Jacobson 6 (495 mins, 80 per game + GP in Dunedin)
LINEOUTS WON: Grace – 12 won inc 4 steals, Jacobson – 8 won inc 1 steals
RESERVE
20. Tom Sanders vs Zane Kapeli – CRUSADERS
Kapeli is my kind of weapon; his battle with Adrian Choat last Saturday night was so much fun to watch as neither know anything other than full-noise however Sanders has experience, great ball sense and as stated earlier, is the best Crusaders at the getting breakdown turnovers.
In Boshier and Jacobson, the Chiefs have two legitimate threats over the ball which, as started above, is an area that the Crusaders have been exposed in … but just take the time to look at the enormous talent, physicality and energy that this octet possesses between them; the battle in the loose is going to next level in this one
RUCKS: Crusaders – Won 556 Lost 41 = 93.1%; Chiefs – Won 653 Lost 34 = 95.1%
MAULS WON: Crusaders 31; Chiefs 16
INSIDE BACKS
9. Mitchell Drummond vs Brad Weber (c) – CHIEFS
Interesting that Drummond has become the starter after Scott Robertson described him as the best closing halfback in the comp (but hey, who am I to argue with a coach that wins everything) Drummond deserves the spot but Weber’s play has been excellent with the captaincy empowering not hindering him whilst also benefiting from the increase support off the bench provided by a resurgent Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
APPEARANCES: Drummond 8 (357 mins, 45 per game) Weber 7 (450 mins, 64 per game)
10. Richie Mo’unga vs Bryn Gatland – CRUSADERS
The Chiefs know that if they can unsettle the Crusaders pack, that will go a long way to stifling Mo’unga’s influence on this game because, the Highlanders nightmare aside, Richie has looked easily the most complete first five in the tournament and someone who can break a game open in the blink of an eye. Gatland have been very solid for the Chiefs this year and doesn’t get nearly enough credit for the totality of his game; watch out if the games on the line and Bryn drops back into the pocket … well he does has form in the drop-goal-for-the-win department
APPEARANCES:Mo’unga 8 (600 mins, 75 per game) Gatland 5 (267 mins, 53 per game)
Hall has been slightly down on previous campaigns where he historically has started finals while Tahuriorangi is looking more and more like the player that made his way into the All Blacks a few years back though it will be interesting to see how much game time he gets backing up the Chiefs skipper
APPEARANCES: Hall 8 (284 mins, 35 per game) Tahuriorangi 7 (145 mins, 21 per game)
Collectively – CRUSADERS
You have to acknowledge finals pedigree in this position and in Drummond, Hall and Mo’unga, you have a trio that have been involved in the previous four titles.
Chiefs Results and Point Scorers in SRA 2021
MIDFIELD BACKS
12. David Havili vs Alex Nankivell – CRUSADERS
This is a battle between one of the most naturally gifted rugby players in the country and one of the most underappreciate players in our game. Havili has been key for the champs as he reads the game so well and provides an excellent foil for Mo’unga to work off or with, which is why he has the advantage in this battle within the battle. He will be tested defensively by Nankivell who carries unflinchingly into heavy contact and can stick it to you with a tackle too. NB David Havili is the only player to slot a drop goal in this edition of Super Rugby Aotearoa (for the win in Cake Tin)
APPEARANCES: Havili 7 (525 mins, 75 per game) Nankivell 6 (243 mins, 41 per game)
13. Leicester Fainga’anuku vs Anton Lienert-Brown – CHIEFS
After a slow start to the season and a session of self-berating for his poor defence, ALB has got back to being what we all know him to be, which is a world-class midfield back. However, there’s not that much in this as Fainga’anukuu has been a handful with ball in hand whether or the left wing to start the campaign or now at centre. Last game out, he and Havili combined well on defence to shut down Rieko Ioane, which will give him heaps of confidence ahead of facing another ABs midfielder.
APPEARANCES:Fainga’anuku 8 (543 mins, 68 per game) Lienert-Brown 7 (525 mins, 75 per game)
RESERVE
22. Dallas McLeod vs Rameka Poihipi – CRUSADERS
Just the more consistent work from McLeod throughout the season, though Poihipi was very good for the young Chiefs last week in Auckland
APPEARANCES: McLeod 6 (231 mins, 39 per game) Poihipi 2 (91 mins, 45 per game)
Collectively – CRUSADERS
Even though he’s providing back three cover, the inclusion of Brayden Ennor has to be considered when assessing the midfield battle, given he could quite easily end up in there as well, but overall, the Crusaders midfield has been very consistent this year and hasn’t really missed a beat after losing Jack Goodhue in the early stages of the Hurricanes game in round 7.
Crusaders at Home vs Chiefs on the Road in SRA 2021
BACK THREE
11. George Bridge vs 14. Jonah Lowe – CRUSADERS
Lowe has thrived in his first year with the Chiefs and will provide the more experienced Bridge with plenty to think about out wide, but George has been here, done that, is a big game player PLUS he’s only played the last month since returning from injury and, has been mentioned a few times now, having some slightly fresher bodies could be a big fill up for both parties involved should it get tight in the closing stages
APPEARANCES: Bridge 4 (309 mins, 77 per game) Lowe 5 (363 mins, 73 per game)
14. Sevu Reece vs 11. Etene Nanai-Seturo – CRUSADERS
It hasn’t been a flashy season from Reece but it’s been a very effective and influential one. Nanai-Seturo looks superb, jinking and jiving, but he does appear to be dancing across field rather than running north to south. Both have a step quicker than a hiccup and the confidence to use it to make a game-changing play
APPEARANCES: Reece 8 (568 mins, 71 per game) Nanai-Seturo 6 (455 mins, 76 per game)
15. Will Jordan vs Damian McKenzie – EVEN
Possibly the two most influential backs in this game if it becomes a tactical kicking game which Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan expects. He’s predicted the Crusaders to kick a lot more, citing an increase in kicking from hand in the champs last round-robin win over the Blues, hence keeping McKenzie at fullback rather than moving him to ten, as he did in round 8 clash in Hamilton. Both have vision, both can carve up from the back with Jordan a more direct runner than McKenzie who can go lateral looking for holes to straighten up into. Gutsy defenders, good at anticipating where to be, brave and reliable under the high and very, very quick when in open space, the two number fifteens will be to the fore in this one me thinks NB I have not included McKenzie’s goal kicking (stat below) when assessing this match up
APPEARANCES: Jordan 7 (503 mins, 72 per game) McKenzie 7 (565 mins, 7 full games + GP in Dunedin)
Chase Tiatia is Clayton McMillan’s guy. Tiatia is empowered every time he plays for McMillan and this incarnation at the Chiefs has seen him formed a nice combo with McKenzie when the Southlanders is moved to ten for the last quarter of the contest. Ennor is pure class and Robertson wouldn’t name him if he wasn’t ready. He’ll also be very fresh compared to some of the bodies he’ll (hopefully) be running at late in the game.
APPEARANCES: Ennor has not played this season; Tiaita 4 (158 mins, 39.5 per game)
COLLECTIVELY – CRUSADERS
That’s four All Blacks in this part of the park for the Crusaders and blokes who have played a lot of rugby together in recent time despite the injuries amongst the quartet. The enterprise, excitement and impetuousness of the Chiefs foursome will make for a fun night if they choose to chance their arm
FINAL PREDICTION
As Ric Flair likes to say “to be the man, woooooo, you gotta beat da man!!!” and that’s the reality facing the Chiefs. The Crusaders are unbeaten in 24 playoff games in Christchurch while the Chiefs have never beaten NZ opposition in a playoff game away from the cosy confines of the Tron. I know the Chiefs have more than a punchers chance (Clayton McMillan even referred to his side as brawlers on Thursday) but everything in my gut tells me that the Crusaders are primed after a week off to control the tempo up front (look for them to be especially urgent with the removing of Boshier and Jacobson if either of that pair even thinks about going looking for a turnover at the breakdown) thus allowing Richie Mo’unga time and space to dictate terms. Chiefs will not go quietly into the night but ultimately will have to start chasing the game as they succumb to scoreboard pressure.
RECORD – Won 4; Lost 4; Pts For 210; Pts Agt 191; Tries For 28; Tries Agt 21
BEST FORWARD – second-year syndrome, sophomore slump, year two blues (no pun intended) whatever name you choose to call it, Hoskins Sotutuhad none of it in 2021. The tireless number eight did everything in his power to try and get his side to the where they wanted to go. Carries, tackles, line breaks, lineout takes, scrums, link play, in tight or in the wide channels, just an absolute tour de force from this young man
BEST BACK – And here in lies part of the Blues problem for me as I really (REALLY) battled to settle on a recipient of this title, given the player who to me was the Blues best back, Caleb Clarke, was poorly utilised in my opinion. When the opportunity presented itself on attack, Clarke was an absolute menace however the team never ran nearly enough plays with the purpose of getting the ball in his hands; he’s defence and positional play with excellent as well. Reiko Ioane also battled away manfully but the inconsistency around he and Clarke in the back line is a big concern ahead of SRTT
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – Impossible not to admire the way lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti stepped up to fill the void created by the injury to captain Patrick Tuipulotu, imposing himself on defence, carrying strongly and taking charge of the lineouts. On the form he displayed in the second half of the season, he would not look out of place at test match level.
ROOKIE OF THE CAMPAIGN – Alongside Cowley-Tuioti, Sam Darry has completely justified his decision to move north from the cosy confines of the Canterbury system that developed him. He’s got a huge appetite for work in general play especially in the dark places, excellent at lineout time and working hard to improve his scrummaging. It may not be until after the 2023 RWC but this young man will be an All Black and given some insight from those in the know, possibly even a future leader of the national side
BEST STAT OF THE CAMPAIGN – second best in possession and territory stats were a big step up on last year when they were ranked 5th in both whilst they were also 2nd best in the clean breaks to tries scored ratio; big improvement in metres per carry as well, up to 4.2 from 3.2 last year
Blues statistics game-by-game of Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021
MOST CONCERNING STAT OF THE CAMPAIGN – The decline in the scrum stats despite having a highly publicised group of four All Blacks props and a Manu Samoa international. The Blues were credited with just one lost scrum last year and a success rate of 97.9% compared to 88.7% in 2021; lineouts still an issue as well while goal kicking needs to be better than 69%
BEST PERFORMANCE – Even though the lineout went pear-shaped for a spell in this game, it’s the round three win over the Highlanders that was the standout eighty-minute effort of the season.
TURNING POINT OF THE CAMPAIGN – The disallowed lineout drive try to Dalton Papali’i with eleven minutes to play in the round five match against the Chiefs in Hamilton when it was ruled that Gerard Cowley-Tuioti was in front of the player when the transfer was made off the top of the lineout… which IMO he most definitely was not; in line is not front in rugby. If the try was awarded as it should have been, it would have been 17-8 with a conversion to come. From that point on the Blues season slowly ebbed away from them, while it must also be said that decisions to turn down kickable penalties in that same game, thus building scoreboard pressure, were questionable.
LOOKING AHEAD – The expectations leading into SRA 2021 were sky high and after initially meeting them, it came crashing down in the much-hyped clash with the Crusaders at Eden Park and then steadily declined after the 69th minute in Hamilton a week later (as detailed earlier) This group just needs to clear its head and go again in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman. The talent is there for all to see; focus on getting the set pieces functioning more efficiently (if that means throwing darts to number two in the lineout, so be it) and create opportunities to use the myriad of strike weapons at your disposal off that.
The regular season has come to an end after ten torrid round of Super Rugby Aotearoa, which means its time to select a team of the tournament, “the elite … the best of the best” to quote Viper from “Top Gun”. Its an interesting exercise; there are some players who were just head and shoulders above any one else in their position (no prizes for who the halfback is) whilst others spots were tougher, either due to a number of high quality options or a lack of consistent performers. Well that’s enough stalling, here it is, my Team of Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021:
Even though he missed the last two games with injury, Joe Moody (Crusaders) was pretty much everything you’d expect of an All Black incumbent. His core role work was excellent, busy in the tight stuff and runs some really nice attacking lines; sneaky good passer too
Codie Taylor (Crusaders) has consistently been one of the players in SRA from week one to week ten (and no doubt he’ll be up there on Saturday night too) as there is just no flaws in his game at moment.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues) has been the most reliable tighthead in terms of the completeness of his game – scrummaging, tackling, lifting, cleaning out at the ruck and ball carry. Another feature is his quickness at getting back on his feet and into the next job, be it attack or defence
Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs) continues to go from strength to strength thanks to a delightful mix of combativeness, skill, athleticism and endurance. He has been a huge part of the Chiefs engine room and even at a young age, has been a leader in the tight five
I ran out of superlatives for the performances of Sam Whitelock (Crusaders) this campaign week ago, so instead of more pontificating I’ll simply take this chance to reiterate that in the injury enforced absence of Sam Cane, Whitelock MUST be the All Blacks captain; he commands his position and IMO is clearly the best person for the job
In a team that has struggled for consistency Shannon Frizell (Highlanders) has been ultra reliable. He hurts you when he carries, he hurts you when he tackles and yet he is so much more than a blunt-force-trauma player, as he has a lovely array of underappreciate skills. On current form, he wears the number six jersey when the ABs run out for their first test of the year
This is the first really, really tough call of this selection process, bouncing between two really good and influential opensiders but I’ve gone Dalton Papali’i (Blues) just from Ardie Savea. I couldn’t go past the unrelenting way in which Papali’i attacked the breakdown this season, often causing disruption to the speed of the oppositions ball or less often, snaffling a turnover as well as being so busy on the other side of the ball too, particularly as a support player
No sophomore slump for Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) who has been so prominent and industrious in so many areas throughout the tournament, in some cases picking up the slack when others around him haven’t meet their individual expectation.
Absolute no brainer … its Aaron Smith (Highlanders) you know, I know, heck everyone knows.
This is an odd position to select as players like Damian McKenzie and Jordie Barrett have effectively been playing the position a lot throughout the season despite being named at fullback (which is the position I decided to consider that pair in). So in terms of pure first fives, its Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders) who, despite a slight form dip directly after the bye, has been the standout with excellent read’n’react play complimented by a good kicking game and courage in defending his position
Other left wings may have had better individual games here and there but Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders) has been impactful right throughout the tournament. He carries hard and strong, can beat you with a step and has pace but he also uses his strength and speed to excellent effect on defence
This has been the best campaign of Ngani Laumape’s (Hurricanes) impressive Super Rugby career. He has worked so hard for his team in so many ways and IMO is the backline leader in the capital
After a slow-ish start and a stern talking to (from himself) Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs) has been the midfield general that the Chiefs needed. His defence, the area he berated himself over, is what got him going again and its flowed into every element of his play.
Its the little touches that Sevu Reece (Crusaders) provided that earn him this spot. He has made some very smart plays to benefit others on attack and been excellent in terms of his positional play and defensive reads … still know how to finish too
Man picking this position sucked. There are compelling cases to make for three gentleman who wear the fifteen jersey but in the end I’ve gone with Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) ahead of Will Jordan and Jordie Barrett, though each of them have had their name in bold writing of the course of this exercise. “Big Jim” gets the nods because of that “c” word again – consistency. He hasn’t gone missing in games and even if he makes a mistake, he has been able to bounce back, often almost immediately, with a positive play for his team
RECORD – Won 3; Lost 5; Pts For 201; Pts Agt 226; Tries For 26; Tries Agt 28
BEST FORWARD – Shannon Frizell was a brutal work-horse for the Southernmost franchise. All of his contacts – and there was a boat load of them – were impactful to the max! When he carried, he carried with such force but could still hurt you with an offload and when he tackled you, well it looked like you’d be feeling for a fortnight. He was a reliable lineout option and good in the wide channels when he wasn’t pounding away at the coal face. On form, he is the starting blindside flanker for the first All Blacks test of the year.
BEST BACK – You can see why Folau Fakatava is sticking around. I mean, what promising young number nine wouldn’t want to study halfback play at the University of Nugget under the tutelage of Professor Aaron Smith? Smith just seems in such a good place, off the field more so than on it looking on from afar. On said playing field, he’s been simply superb. From his decision making to his organisation to his scramble defence to his leadership he, like Crusaders lock Sam Whitelock, just seem to be getting better and better. The games in recent years where Smith has been the subject of the Sky Sport Player Cam have basically been a clinic in the art of playing his position.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – The Highlanders player I got the most correspondence about throughout the season was loosehead prop Ethan de Groot. “Where’s de Groot?” was regular comment from the Landers faithful when I posted my “Team of the Week” selection and on some occasions justifiably so. Re-watching a few Highlanders game recently, with the sole purpose of watching him, you can see Ethan has come along in leaps and bounds and at just 22 years of age, is clearly going to be an anchor of Highlanders pack and potentially the ABs too. He, like a vast majority of the Highlanders in general, just need to be more consistent with his play from week to week but he possesses all the visible attributes are there to be a very good rugby player for as long as he desires it
ROOKIE OF THE CAMPAIGN – Those who knew Kazuki Himeno understood that Super Rugby was going to be right up the Japanese internationals alley and when he got the chance, off the bench against the Hurricanes, he proved it with an outstanding 30 minutes effort that saw became the starting number eight for the reminder of the campaign. He plays an industrious game with physicality, pace and skill, forming a very complimentary loose forward trio with Frizell and Harmon.
BEST STAT OF THE CAMPAIGN – Slim pickings here but joint least penalised team in the comp is one; 2nd most turnovers won coupled with equal lowest number of turnovers conceded isn’t a bad combo while they did have the most possession overall with 54.1% per game.
Highlanders statistics game-by-game of Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021
MOST CONCERNING STAT OF THE CAMPAIGN – a goal kicking percentage of 64.4% is simply not good enough likewise conceding 7.7 points per ten minutes of non-possession is way too high while I was stunned to see them with the lowest number of clean breaks (55) compared to the second lowest of 70 by the Blues NB The points per 10 mins of non-possession stat is based on 80 minutes as I do not have access to ball-in-play statistics – cheers NY
BEST PERFORMANCE – This is an absolute no-brainer! The round 6 disembowelment of the Crusaders in Christchurch was a Hannibal Lecter-esque piece of rugby art. There are Crusaders players waking up in the middle of the night because the lambs are still screaming.
TURNING POINT OF THE CAMPAIGN – Every game after a win. This team simply could not produce two performances of a same quality in successive weeks. Don’t let the golden point game against the Chiefs fool you; the Landers were very poor that night, squandering a plethora of opportunities to secure the win, because they never came close to replicating the dominance, they displayed a week earlier in Christchurch.
LOOKING AHEAD – As pointed out numerous times already, the Highlanders just need to be consistent. If Friday 2 April 2021 in Christchurch is the guide, they can beat anyone, anywhere, anytime, but you’ve got to do that every week, not once a fortnight. The peaks and troughs through SRA were just too vast, but smooth them out and the Highlanders will definitely make some noise in the Trans-Tasman comp.
RECORD – Won 2; Lost 6; Pts For 200; Pts Agt 223; Tries For 24; Tries Agt 28
BEST FORWARD – It always seemed that Ardie Savea was going to be a lead-by-example kind of captain and lead by example he most certainly did, invariably at the forefront of most of the positive aspects of the Canes play before he suffered the knee injury that saw him hobble off against the Crusaders. Ardie is an outstanding, instinctive athlete however I don’t think he gets anywhere enough credit for his rugby acumen.
BEST BACK – NganiLaumape has had some quite brilliant Super Rugby seasons during his career (remembering this is the bloke who scored 37 tries in three seasons from 2017 t0 2019) however this campaign is his best ever and in my opinion by some distance too. From the quality and quantity of his ball carrying to the strength and accuracy of his defence to his leadership and direction in all aspects across the park, Laumape was beyond superb for Hurricanes.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – This is a tough choice but I’m going with loose forward Devan Flanders who flourished with every minute of game time he got over the course of the competition. Flanders edges out loosehead prop Xavier Numia, who’s scrummaging is starting to match his athleticism and work rate around the field and wing Salesi Rayasi, who just needs a little more time to tidy up his defensive and positional work so it matches his attacking prowess
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – In three games, Ruben Love showed what an outstanding young talent he is. His presence as a genuine first five option (no disrespect to Orbyn Leger who is a fine player but IMO is a second five or centre) was highlighted in the final three games which were easily the best trio of efforts the Canes strung together in their campaign. No doubt coach Jason Holland continues to start the young man throughout Super Rugby Trans-Tasman … at least he should because as it appears as though the Hurricanes may have found their franchise first five given the excellent combination he formed with Ngani Laumape at second five and Jordie Barrett in terms of the play making duties.
BEST STAT OF THE SEASON – won the most turnovers in the regular season with 53 whilst only losing 29 rucks to be joint best in that area with 95.1% efficiency (same as the Chiefs) Also had the most clean-breaks with 77 though that number was heavily padded in the final game when the out-broke (is that a word?) the Highlanders 24 to 2
MOST CONCERNING STATS OF THE SEASON – They had the lowest overall percentage of possession and territory – 47.6% and 46.1% respectively – while 8 yellow cards did not help them one bit; there were only two games where they didn’t have someone parked up for ten minutes and on two occasions had to deal with a pair of yellows.
BEST PERFORMANCE – Not often that the best performance is a loss but for me the Canes were at their best against the Crusaders in round 7, with the effort against the Chiefs in round 9 a very close second. As mentioned earlier, the inclusion of Ruben Love at ten along with a great first touch by the rookie in the opening exchanges seemed to injected some lost confidence in the side. Captain Ardie Savea was spectacular on two legs and (for ten minutes or so) magnificent on just one fully functioning leg with all others lifting around him. They didn’t deserve to lose that game (FYI I despite Golden Point in the regular season) nor a fortnight later in Hamilton, but it was just that sort of season for Jason Holland’s men; not to dissimilar to what the Chiefs endured at points of the inaugural SRA competition last year
TURNING POINT OF THE CAMPAIGN – Blowing a 19-point halftime lead to lose to then winless-in-ten-straight Chiefs in round 4 hit the Hurricanes hard; Ardie Savea looked so bewildered as to how that had happened during his post-match chat on Sky Sport.
LOOKING AHEAD – Despite the wooden spoon finish, Hurricanes fans should be feeling optimistic about the forthcoming Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition. Ruben Love has shored up the troublesome spot of first five while even with the odd hiccup, Luke Campbell just got better and better at halfback. No Ardie Savea is tough however his absence has spurred fellow openside tyro Du’Plessis Kirifi to even greater heights in his already robustly industrious play. Clearly, they need to get their hands on the ball more and do so in the right part of the field because even with low territory and possession numbers in SRA, the Hurricanes were efficient in turning that into points with just over 6.5 points per ten minutes of possession, 2nd in the competition, bettered only by the Crusaders.
Nigel Yalden Sports 