Analysis: 1News sports writer Patrick McKendry looks at the weekend's Super Rugby action including a Blues collapse in Dunedin and a Chiefs' demolition in Hamilton.
The Finn Hurley/Timoci Tavatavanawai double act
There were so many moving parts in the Highlanders’ extraordinary 29-21 victory over the Blues in Dunedin, indeed, including a moving tribute to former player, the late Connor Garden-Bachop, that it would probably be wrong to pinpoint Hurley and Tavatavanawai as reasons why the home side were victorious.
But fullback Hurley and second-five Tavatavanawai were a big part of it.
Hurley, a 21-year-old who stands 1.75m tall – for reference, that’s only 4cm taller than Aaron Smith – and who must be about 75kg dripping wet, announced himself to the competition with two tries in a phenomenal performance that had echoes of Ben Smith and even Cheslin Kolbe about it.
Hurley has pace and footwork, yes, but he also has an incredible knack for making the difficult look easy and if nothing else proved that the game still has room for players of all shapes and sizes.
Skipper Tavatavanawai, meanwhile, simply carried his side home on his shoulders with an inspirational performance in which he was a threat at virtually every ruck.
He also casually kicked a 50-22 to put the Highlanders hot on attack.
Two men down in the second half? Not a problem for a fit Highlanders side with these two individuals in their backline.
What’s happened to the Blues?
Which brings us to the defending champions who appeared firmly in control of this match in the first quarter and who let it slip in the second half – just as they did in round one against the Chiefs.
It was mentioned on the airwaves today that the big Blues pack who paved their way to glory last season with a mixture of set piece excellence and relentless, direct carrying up the middle of the park, could be disadvantaged by the officials’ insistence on a fast game this season which is bringing the fatigue factor back.
Possibly. But of greater concern for coach Vern Cotter will be the decision-making of his key men, including lock Patrick Tuipulotu, halfback Finlay Christie, first-five Harry Plummer and fullback Beauden Barrett. They are all experienced players and have all represented their country. But the Blues' leadership went missing.
The Highlanders had to fight back from a 21-16 deficit in the second half and then had to play the last 15 minutes with 13 men after Daniel Lienert-Brown’s yellow card was upgraded to a red (due to front row injuries which forced uncontested scrums, the Highlanders then had to take off another player).
Hurley’s second try scored in front of an increasingly excitable “Zoo” section of the crowd allowed the Highlanders to overtake the Blues and they extended their lead, despite the numerical disadvantage, via Sam Gilbert’s two penalties.
Extraordinary – from both teams.
The Chiefs are coming
This clash in Hamilton against the Crusaders was always going to be significant.
Are the Chiefs the real deal after their Eden Park exploits a week earlier?
What about the way the Crusaders, who came from behind to beat the Hurricanes in Christchurch in round one after a disastrous 2024?
It turns out that yes, the Chiefs are very much the real deal – to the extent that they have probably already overtaken the Blues as the favourites to win this year’s championship.
The Crusaders? Not so much. Rob Penney’s men showed fight to come back into the game again but they were dismantled in a 29-point blitz after the break, to the point where it was bordering on humiliating. In the end, they seemed utterly powerless to do anything about what the Chiefs were doing to them.
Midfielder Quinn Tupaea scored a double in his 50th match after coming off the bench, and loose forward Simon Parker, 24, impressed with his straight running and option-taking.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan, who made seven changes to his team, has an embarrassment of riches in terms of depth and, it seems, ways of winning matches. Impressive.
Drua delight
There is nothing in Super Rugby like the Fijian Drua in full flight and they were once again against the Hurricanes in Napier.
They finished on the wrong side of the ledger but their try by lock Isoa Nasilasila must be considered one of the tries of the competition so far. It was started on their 22m line and the ball went through seven pairs of hands in a masterclass of evasion and use of space.
Fair play to the Hurricanes for coming back in the final moments to win 38-34. After their first-round loss to the Crusaders, this was an important result for them.
Force for good
Say what you like about the defence in Australia over the first two rounds, but they sure know how to attack, and few knew better than the Force as they beat the Brumbies in Canberra 45-42.
After an extraordinary start on Saturday night which had them 21-0 up, they had to come from behind with 13 men to win, an echo of the Highlanders’ exploits a little earlier.
This weekend we'll see an Australian team against a Kiwi team for the first time when the Brumbies travel to Hamilton to play the Chiefs. It promises to be a difficult trip.
SHARE ME