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Four of the best performers from Super Rugby Pacific round six
By Adam Julian
The sixth round of Super Rugby saw the Australian teams continue their improved results and the Crusaders thrash the Blues while also capturing some age-group silverware.
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Here are four of the best performances from the weekend that was.
Alex Hodgman (Reds)
The Reds first victory against the Highlanders in Dunedin in 12 years was created by extreme scrum pressure. The Reds won four consecutive scrum penalties in an 11-minute span that saw All Blacks loosehead prop Ethan De Groot yellow carded in the 62nd minute when the score was 20-19 to the Highlanders. Two minutes later lively winger Lachie Anderson sailed over for a try when the Reds were sitting on a penalty advantage from a scrum.
Centre Filipo Daugunu’s 57th and 70th-minute tries were also created by scrum pressure, the clincher from a Tom Lynagh free kick that was reclaimed by the Reds.
Hodgman only entered the game at halftime but completely changed the script with his robust display.
In 2024 he joined Ted Jessep, Des Connor and Owen Stephens as the only previous men to have represented both Australia and New Zealand at Test level.
Hodgman qualifies for the Wallabies through his Fijian-Australian father. He made his name at Mount Albert Grammar School in Auckland and then with Canterbury (55 games, 44 wins) winning two NPC championships.
He played 56 games (31 wins) for the Blues falling out of favour (after four All Blacks Tests in 2020) with a shoulder injury in 2023.
Meanwhile, following consecutive home defeats the Highlanders have away fixtures against the Brumbies and Force in coming weeks.
Chay Fihaki (Crusaders)
When Chay Fihaki was selected to train with the All Blacks last year there was widespread surprise in the press. While a consistent performer in a dozen starts for the Crusaders he hardly set the world on fire.
The opposite was true in the Crusaders 42-19 slaying of the Blues at Eden Park. He scored two tries, the first a quality 25-metre burst to the line.
His kicking both created and relieved pressure and he’s safe under the high ball and defensively.
While Fihaki lacks the spark of Mark Tele’a or the brawn of Caleb Clarke, consistency is one of his appealing attributes. He has made 50 appearances (31 wins, 17 tries) for Canterbury since shifting from Auckland in 2020. Fihaki covers both wings and fullback and boasts a left boot that on occasion resembles James Lowe.
The Crusaders have beaten the Blues 33 times, a record number of victories over a single team in Super Rugby.
Carlo Tizzano (Western Force)
The Force equaled their record for most tries in a Super Rugby match with a commanding 52-15 win over Fijian Dura in Perth.
With two tries and 17 tackles, openside Carlo Tizzano was again superlative. The top tackler in 2024 ranks third in 2025 and has scored an equal competition-leading six tries.
Tizzano started four Tests for the Wallabies in the absence of Fraser McReight last year. His compelling form in 2025 should genuinely challenge McReight as the default starter when available. Would Australia consider repeating the Michael Hooper/David Pocock days of starting two opensides or has that zeitgeist past?
Combined the Australian teams have as many wins (14) as their Kiwi counterparts after six rounds.
Eli Oudenryn (Crusaders Under 20s)
The Super Rugby Under 20 tournament was held in Taupo over the past week and the Crusaders became the first team to successfully defend the title after a dramatic 41-36 extra-time victory over the Chiefs in the final.
A major part of the Crusaders success was a reliable lineout and ruthless rolling mail. Abrasive and energetic blonde Eli Oudenryn impressed so much that he became the first hooker to win the prestigious DJ Graham Medal as the player of the tournament. Oudenryn scored a try in the final and another in a first-up 29-22 victory against Moana Pasifika.
His most eye-catching display was the three tries he scored in a 45-43 shootout against the Blues.
Eli is the son of former New Zealand Warriors winger Lee Oudenryn. Eli attended Palmerston North Boys’ High School and was in the First XV for three seasons making the National Top Four in 2023, a first for Palmerston North since 2005. He was selected for the New Zealand Barbarians team that season.
He plays for the Stoke club in Nelson and made three appearances for Tasman in the 2024 NPC.
The previous winners of the DJ Graham Award, named after the former All Blacks captain and leading educator are.
2014: Mitch Karpik (Auckland)
2015: Charlie Gamble (Canterbury)
2016: Luke Jacobson (Waikato)*
2017: Sione Havili (Auckland)*
2018: Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty)
2019: Fletcher Newell (Canterbury)*
2020: Not Awarded due to Covid
2021: Sean Withy (Highlanders)
2022: Tahlor Cahill (New Zealand Barbarians)
2023: Harry Godfrey (Hurricanes)
2024: Mosese Bason (Hurricanes)
2025: Eli Oudenryn (Crusaders)
*Denotes internationally capped players. All winners have made appearances in first-class rugby.
Seven winners have been part of the side that won the tournament. Only Karpik, Withy, Godfrey and Bason have not been part of the winning tournament teams.
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Chay Fihaki deserves huge plaudits. Macca Springer scored 5 tries the week before, he was brilliant. But Chay produced a sublime performance for the Crusaders against the Blues.All round great game, two tries, one of which was a perlar.
LOL at the bandwagon supporters take. This was exactly how he finished last years (or was he instead playing well at the begging, can’t remember which was his best part) Super season. You’re right though, he was still hardly setting the world on fire for someone brought into an All Black camp.
Not worth the mention for someone who took Springers spot imo. I heard Springer wasn’t even in the team orginally, what was Penney thinking?
I’m sick of my Fantasy picks being locked out when theyre not even playing. He would have been a late effort goto pick for sure in the weekend.
Great mention from the u20s, that kid’s got a great head/game on his shoulders. As do a few others.
Impressed with young Oudenryn for Crusaders u20. Fantastically high and skilful workrate and his future All Black prospects look bright.