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Recap: Super Rugby Pacific opening night blog
By Finn Morton
Rugby fans, it’s time to rejoice. After 251 days, Super Rugby Pacific is back – and it all starts with a New Zealand blockbuster between the Crusaders and Chiefs.
The champion Crusaders claimed yet another title about 36 weeks ago, when they travelled north to Auckland in June to take on the Blues.
Led by Richie Mo’unga, the Crusaders tasted Super Rugby glory for the sixth time in as many years.
But their quest for a seventh crown doesn’t get much harder.
Following on from last year’s tense semi-final in Christchurch – which the Crusaders obviously won 20-7 – the Chiefs will be out for revenge.
But the Chiefs have a not-so-secret weapon to call upon this season.
Playmaker Damian McKenzie is back for the Chiefs in 2023 after taking a sabbatical in Japan.
Rugby World Cup winning flyhalf Stephen Donald believes McKenzie holds the key to the Chiefs’ title hopes this season, and it all begins tonight at Orangetheory Stadium.
“I think for the Chiefs to win the title, he needs to be their main man,” Donald told SENZ The Run Home.
“To me, it’s not in doubt, he’ll be going to the World Cup. He’ll be in the All Blacks’ squad without a shadow of a doubt.
“For me, Damian McKenzie goes to the World Cup and for Chiefs fans… I certainly hope that he’ll be wearing the No. 10 jersey this year for the boys from the Tron.”
But today is a time for rugby supporters on both sides of the Tasman to celebrate.
After the Crusaders and Chiefs battle it out for early season bragging rights, the attention shifts across the ditch for an Australian derby.
The NSW Waratahs are set to host the ACT Brumbies at Allianz Stadium at 7:35pm AEDT.
RugbyPass will be keeping you updated on all the latest action throughout the opening night of the new Super Rugby Pacific campaign, which you can follow below.
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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