Rugby News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumours
With the results marked down, two semi-finals were played in New Zealand, where determined tackling sees the Crusaders reach the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific final. There, they will travel to Auckland to meet the competition premiers, the Blues. The Blues defeated the ACT Brumbies 20-19 on a wet evening, surviving a torrid final quarter after […] READ MORE
The news is good up in Auckland. With the 2022 Blues’ winning streak continuing, it all looks rosy for the three-times Champions. News is not so good for supporters of the Wellington side, with the Hurricanes falling further downward in the standings, after a clumsy final minute decision costs them big time. Differing results sure, […] READ MORE
News that the Omicron variant is ready to ‘scupper’ the Super Rugby Pacific new season kickoff has turned what was supposed to be a fresh start, into a sad rerun of European experiences. Crowds will be removed when the competition begins on February 28. Id only for secluded numbers at a maximum of 100; with […] READ MORE
In securing his second French Top14 trophy, Jerome Kaino added to his ‘rugby-collection of awards’ over an almost 20-year career as a professional rugby player. Heralded for his individual skills, as well as his team-first priorities, Kaino has gone from provincial to International, to the European rugby market, in search of challenges – and he […] READ MORE
The ultra-impressive 2021 Highlanders import player Kazuki Himeno has already been praised with a ‘Rookie of the Year’ prize, yet he is a player who is still striving for more honours and respect from Super Rugby fans worldwide. Performances, like he again had on Friday night versus the ACT Brumbies, go a long way to […] READ MORE
As a couple of local derby matches took the center of attention over the weekend, the table-topping Crusaders’ side rested easy. More than easy, they have yet to ease out of summer mode actually; the early stages of Super Rugby Aotearoa have seen them feel relaxed and immediately in the zone. What zone that is, […] READ MORE
It is not often that Auckland fans read the statement ‘Blues beat Crusaders’ yet by Sunday evening, that might be headlining the 6pm news (maybe it could be, if the hosts defeat the visitors on March 21). While Sunday’s game is not yet a title-deciding fixture, it is the game that every fan wished they […] READ MORE
Even as the New Zealand Government was making the official announcement, NZ Rugby was poised to react. News that a Covid-19 recurrence in the Queen City is now set to spoil an enthralling Blues v Crusaders finale. The last game of the scheduled Super Rugby Aotearoa season; more often a grand final in other regular […] READ MORE
Nearly 35,000 turned out on Sunday afternoon, as delighted Blues Super Rugby fans were back in the winning mood they have grown [a little] used to. The 21-17 victory was tough on the field; the Chiefs may have suffered a series of losses but, they pushed the home side right to the final whistle. And […] READ MORE
With twenty-five minutes on the clock in the highest-profile game of rugby in months, the Crusaders went down six points. Rieko Ioane had just demonstrated his trademark finishing ability, by carrying two Crusaders with him as he muscled his way over the tryline for the Blues. Ioane’s try had handed his team the ascendancy, (with […] READ MORE