The three-week finals season starts on Friday. I thought I’d review the season of each team from seventh to eleventh. I have graded the teams on a curve based on expectations v performance.
Moana Pasifika
Season score 6.5
Record 2025 6 wins 8 losses, 2024 4 wins 10 losses.
Season high – the win against the Blues.
Season low – the next two weeks losing by a combined 130 points and finishing with a whimper.
I would’ve graded the Moana boys higher if they hadn’t blown chunks against the Canes and Chiefs in the last two games.
Waratahs
Season score 7
Record 2025 6 wins 8 losses, 2024 2 wins 12 losses.
Season high – beating both the Chiefs and the Brumbies.
Season low – road form.
A realistic Tahs fan would’ve taken this level of improvement with a new coaching set up and so many new players. I expected them to do worse.
Western Force
Season score 7
Record 2025 4 wins,1 draw 9 losses, 2024 4 wins 10 losses.
Season high – away win against the Brumbies in round 2 and being in the top six until round 11.
Season low – loss against the Blues in a game when they had to arrest the decline.
On the face of it they’ve ended up where they were last year. Early injuries to props meant they were always on the back foot. There’ no doubt their travel schedule played a part with the team travelling over 44,000km this year. I feel that the Force are on the right track being able to stay in the fight for longer. They seem to be well coached and are building something in Perth.
Fiji Drua
Season score 1
Record 2025 4 wins 10 losses, 2024 6 wins 8 losses.
Season high – it’s over, beating the Chiefs in round 4.
Season low – pretty much everything else.
What happened to the Drua? Was it just one of those seasons or was it the new coaching not bedding in? It’s hard to say. I’ve heard that discipline within the group was poor at times with a bit happening off the field and a few players securing overseas contracts and effectively clocking off. I reckon they’ll be in for a tough off season.
Highlanders
Season score 4
Season high – 8 bonus points proving that they were in a lot of games.
Season low – probably the final round against the Chiefs. It was the only game where I thought they clocked off.
Will be the big improvers next year with a young squad and a very good coach. Jamie Joseph is in my opinion the coach of the year, he squeezed every bit of juice out of a squad not as talented as others.
Super Rugby qualifying finals, injury lists & Happy’s fearless predictions
Friday 5:05 pm AEST – Crusaders v Queensland Reds at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch,
Six day turn around for the Reds, Australian teams have a 0 and 19 win/loss record against Kiwi opposition in New Zealand in finals. Their injury list is massive with a club prop as reserve tighthead. Playing in Mordor against the Crusaders, Paul Williams with the whistle, the weather is going to be cold, wet and windy. I really don’t see how the Reds can lose this.
Seriously the Reds will have to play their best game and have a narrow path to victory but at their best can beat anyone in the competition.
CRUSADERS (1-15): Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Antonio Shalfoon, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Sevu Reece, David Havili (c), Braydon Ennor, Chay Fihaki, Will Jordan
Replacements: George Bell, George Bower, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Tahlor Cahill, Cullen Grace, Kyle Preston, James O’Connor, Dallas McLeod
REDS (1-15): Sef Fa’agase, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (c), Tom Lynagh, Filipo Daugunu, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell
Replacements: Josh Nasser, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Nick Bloomfield, Angus Blyth, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Dre Pakeho, Tim Ryan
Referee: Paul Williams Assistant Referee: Angus Mabey, Mike Winter TMO: Richard Kelly
Injuries
Crusaders
- Finlay Brewis (shoulder/season)
- Taha Kemara (knee/season)
- Dom Gardiner (foot/season0
Queensland Reds
- Massimo De Lutiis
- Matt Faessler
- Matt Gibbon
- Frankie Goldsbrough
- Mason Gordon
- Isaac Henry
- Alex Hodgman
- Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
- Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
- Liam Wright
Saturday June 7 5:05 pm AEST – Chiefs v Blues at FMG Stadium Waikato,
This will be a classic derby close hard-fought battle. The physicality will be on point. Gus Gardner will have his work cut out on this one. There are world class battles everywhere, back row, #10 and wing.
I expect the Chiefs will prevail, but only just.
CHIEFS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Simon Parker, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Leroy Carter, Gideon Wrampling, Daniel Rona, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
Replacements: Brodie McAlister, Ollie Norris, Reuben O’Neill, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Etene Nanai-Seturo
BLUES (1-15): Joshua Fusitu’a, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Laghlan McWhannell, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Corey Evans
Replacements: Kurt Eklund, Jordan Lay, Angus Ta’avao, Josh Beehre, Anton Segner, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Cole Forbes
Referee: Angus Gardner Assistant Referee: Damon Murphy, Matt Kellahan TMO: James Leckie
Injuries
Chiefs
- Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (shoulder/TBC)
- Quinn Tupaea (eye/short-term)
- Manaaki Selby-Rickit (toe/short-term)
- Liam Coombes-Fabling (hamstring/short-term)
- Anton Lienert-Brown (collarbone/mid-term)
- Malachi Wrampling (hamstring/mid-term)
- Kaleb Trask (hamstring/mid-term)
- Sione Ahio (ankle/long-term)
- Fiti Sa (shoulder/long-term)
- Rameka Poihipi (knee/season)
Blues
- Cam Christie (thumb)
- Stephen Perofeta (leg)
- Reon Paul (shoulder)
- Cam Suafoa (medical/season)
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi (neck/season)
- Sam Darry (shoulder/season)
Saturday 7:35 pm AEST – ACT Brumbies v Hurricanes at GIO Stadium, Canberra,
Brumbies coming off a heartbreaking loss last week against the hottest team in the comp.
This will be decided in the fine moments. I’ve gained a lot of respect for Stephen Larkham and his coaching team this year, I think they’ll make adjustments from when the Canes last visited. Both teams are as close to full strength as you can be at this stage of the season.
Brumbies by not much.
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli, Feao Fotuaika, Lachlan Shaw, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Declan Meredith, Ollie Sapsford
HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua (co-c), Tyrel Lomax, Zach Gallagher, Caleb Delany, Devan Flanders, Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c), Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Brett Cameron, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Billy Proctor (co-c), Bailyn Sullivan, Ruben Love
Replacements: Raymond Tuputupu, Tevita Mafileo, Pasilio Tosi, Hugo Plummer, Brad Shields (co-c), Ereatara Enari, Ngatungane Punivai, Callum Harkin
Referee: Nic Berry Assistant Referee: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey TMO: Brett Cronan
Injuries
Brumbies
- Charlie Cale (lower back injury/TBC)
- Austin Anderson (jaw fracture/2-4 weeks)
- Blake Schoupp (Achilles/season)
Hurricanes
- Kini Naholo (knee/season)
- Brayden Iose (ankle/season)
- Riley Higgins (lower leg/season)
- Siale Lauaki (ankle/season)
- Harry Godfrey (lower leg/TBC)
- Isaia Walker-Leawere (knee/TBC)
Hoss will be back tomorrow with more pearls of wisdom.
