Super Rugby 2025 NZ/ Drua/ Moana matches

[waiopehu oldboy]

Since matches without an Australian team seldom warrant a match thread of their own...

Round 1
Friday 14 Feb Crusaders v Hurricanes 19:05 NZDT

Saturday 15 Feb Blues v Chiefs 19:05 NZDT

 

[Dan54]

Geez what a tasty opening weekend huh?? Crusaders and Canes having points to prove etc, Crusaders that they are bouncing back, and Canes that they can be competitive with their injury list etc.
And Blues/Chiefs as a neutral has me salivating. I really looking forward to this one too, will Chiefs play DMac at 10 for full game, ro give part run at 15 so JJ can get sometime at 10? Who will fill 10 and 15 for Blues, and if young Che Clarke gets any time , he another kids like Sititi last year, may jsu make a splash this year?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

CRUSADERS (1-15): Tamaiti Williams, Ioane Moananu, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Antonio Shalfoon, Cullen Grace, Ethan Blackadder, Christin Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Taha Kemara, Sevu Reece, David Havili, Levi Aumua, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan

Replacements: Manumaua Letiu, George Bower, Sam Matenga, Tahlor Cahil, Corey Kellow, Kyle Preston, James O'Connor, Dallas McLeod

HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, Jacob Devery, Tevita Mafileo, Caleb Delany, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields (co-c), Du'Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, Cameron Roigard, Harry Godfrey, Kini Naholo, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Bailyn Sullivan, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, Callum Harkin

Replacements: Raymond Tuputou, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Pasilio Tosi, Hugo Plummer, Peter Lakai, Ereatara Enari, Riley Hohepa, Ngatungane Punivai

Referee: Nic Berry

Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane & Jackson Henshaw

TMO: Brett Cronan

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Laghlan McWhannell, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Anton Segner, Dalton Papali’i, Cameron Suafoa, Taufa Funaki, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Beauden Barrett.

Replacements: Nathaniel Pole, Josh Fusitua, Angus Ta’avao, Che Clark, Adrian Choat, Fin Christie, Corey Evans, Cole Forbes.

CHIEFS (1-15): Ollie Norris, Brodie McAllister, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Josh Lord, Simon Parker, Kaylum Boshier, Luke Jacobson (c), Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona, Leroy Carter, Damian McKenzie

Replacements: Bradley Slater, Aidan Ross, Reuben O'Neill, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert Brown, Emoni Narawa

Referee: Damon Murphy

Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane & Ben O'Keeffe

TMO: Brett Cronan

 

[Dismal Pillock]

• Hoskins Sotutu (knee)
• Zarn Sullivan (foot)
• Stephen Perofeta (calf)

 

[Wilson]

You're a hamstring away from having a leg to stand on there

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Injured/ unavailable lists per Rugby.com.au:

Blues
Kurt Eklund (groin
James Mullan (concussion)
Sam Darry (shoulder, season)
PJ Sheck (shoulder)
Hoskins Sotutu (knee)
Zarn Sullivan (foot)
Stephen Perofeta (calf)
Ben Ake (shoulder).

Chiefs
Wallace Sititi
Liam Coombes Fabling
Fiti Sa
Samisoni Taukiaho
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi

Crusaders
George Bell (toe/foot / TBC)
Kershawl Sykes-Martin (knee / 5-6 weeks)
Finlay Brewis (shoulder / season)
Dallas McLeod (hip / round one)
Codie Taylor (hamstring / 2-3 weeks)
Fletcher Anderson (heel / 2-3 weeks)
Rivez Reihana (ankle / 2-3 weeks)
Seb Calder (AC joint / 3-5 weeks)
Quentin Strange (Pec/hamstring / 4-6 weeks)
Dom Gardiner (hamstring / 4-6 weeks)
Jamie Hannah (shoulder / 4-6 weeks)
Aki Tuivailala (finger / 4-6 weeks)
Johnny McNicholll (hamstring / 4-6 weeks)
Braydon Ennor (wrist / TBC)

Hurricanes
Zach Gallagher (Achilles / TBC)
Daniel Sinkinson (hamstring / round 8)
Ruben Love (ankle / round 7)
Lucas Cashmore (knee / round 7)
Brett Cameron (knee / season)
Asafo Aumua (foot / round three)
Tyrel Lomax (ankle / TBC)
Devan Flanders (ankle / TBC)

Edit:

Highlanders
Oliver Haig (foot / 9 weeks )
Jonah Lowe (ACL / 7 weeks )
Thomas Umaga-Jensen (shoulder / 2 weeks)
TK Howden (hamstring / 4 weeks)
Jona Nareki (ankle /5 weeks)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (neck / 9 weeks)

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Current TAB odds:

CruSadists $1.70 - $2.15 'canes

I'd genuinely have thought it would be the other way around.

Loss Bleus $1.46 - $2.65 Tribe

I'd rate LB as favs but not by that margin.

 

[Crashy]

That Crusaders injury list cannot be serious can it? Thats 14 players injured from a squad of 35 BEFORE round 1. Technically they can't field a game day 23 without calling on club players etc. Whats the story here?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ coupla academy lads have been called in. The 16 is ex NZ U20, was 1st XV captain & head boy at Edit: Christchurch Boys. Big raps on him both as a player & future leader.

 

[Yoda]

The ‘Coward’ to play at 15 for the Blues! ….still rated by some!

 

[Wilson]

Hotham on one leg headed off the field, Crusader's were already down to their last 9s, season is off to shocking start. Also a ScoBar yellow, but that's par for the course

 

[LeCheese]

Stuff what anyone else thinks, Nic Berry is a fantastic referee.

 

[Yoda]

Stuff what anyone else thinks, Nic Berry is a fantastic referee.

What’s he wearing All black gear for?

 

[Sully]

Within the first two minutes he called "tackled, release" then allowed the tackled player to stand up and play the ball.

 

[LeCheese]

Within the first two minutes he called "tackled, release" then allowed the tackled player to stand up and play the ball.

Stuff what anyone else thinks

Did I stutter? (Also, I tuned in after 5...)

Jokes aside, all refs make errors - I just like that he communicates frequently and clearly. Also appreciate that he promotes a fast and flowing game

 

[Strewthcobber]

Within the first two minutes he called "tackled, release" then allowed the tackled player to stand up and play the ball.

I replayed that one (Naholo?) he actually got a sneaky place in before he stood up and went on with it (2'19)

 

[Strewthcobber]

Berry is doing a great job of keeping the game going as both sides try and slow things down with relatively minor injuries and a bit of boot housekeeping.

Don't let the water on!

 

[LeCheese]

JOC (James O'Connor) looking a handful. This feels like watching your ex have a glow up.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Razor will have seen enough of Reece, Fihaki, Glassbladder and Dave to cotton wool them now until the first All Blacks test of the year

The images of JOC (James O'Connor) in a Cantab jersey are so jarring to my violently parochial mind that I can't even begin to comprehend what I am seeing.