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Recap: Super Round night two live blog

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Gallagher Chiefs may have snatched the Super Rugby Pacific ‘favourites’ tag off the Crusaders last Friday, as they opened their campaign with a 31-10 win on Christchurch.

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But one match doesn’t win you a championship. Following on from their stunning victory, the pressure is on the Chiefs to repeat their heroics in round two and beyond.

After an entertaining evening in Melbourne on Friday, which saw the Crusaders and Hurricanes claim important wins, the Chiefs will play Moana Pasifika on the second day of Super Round.

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The Chiefs will be without world-class centre Anton Lienert-Brown who was ruled out of this clash with an injury. That’s one of the three changes that they’ve made to their starting XV.

Playmaker Damian McKenzie was simply incredible upon his return to Super Rugby last week, after previously leaving the rugby mad nation for a stint in Japan.

Rugby World Cup winning All Black Israel Dagg believes McKenzie “nailed” his role in the No. 10 jersey.

“All eyes were on Damian McKenzie and seeing how he could take to that 10 position and I thought he absolutely nailed it and potentially outplayed Richie Mo’unga,” Dagg told SENZ Breakfast earlier this week.

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“I thought Damian showed great signs going forward… (he’s) more than capable of taking that 10 jersey.”

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McKenzie has been named to start in the No. 1 jersey again this week, and will partner Super Rugby veteran Brad Weber in the halves.

As for Moana Pasifika, they’ll need to lean on the experience and skill of veteran flyhalf Christian Lealiifano.

But once the full-time siren has sounded at AAMI Park, and either the Chiefs or Moana after left victorious, the attention will quickly shift to another highly anticipated blockbuster tonight.

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Fijian Drua will look to repeat last weekend’s heroics against the NSW Waratahs.

The Waratahs, who lost to the Brumbies in a thriller at Allianz Stadium to open their campaign, will be hungry to get their season back on track with a victory.

For all four teams playing today, there’s plenty on the line.

 

NIGHT TWO SCORES

Moana Pasifika were beaten by the Chiefs 29-52

Fijian Drua were beaten by the NSW Waratahs 17-46

 

NIGHT ONE RECAP

Crusaders defeated the Highlanders 52-15

Rebels were beaten by the Hurricanes 33-39

Defending Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders bounced back with a vintage display against the Highlanders to kick-off Super Round at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.

After losing their season opener to the Chiefs last weekend – as they conceded a staggering 24 unanswered points at home – the Crusaders left no stone unturned against their South Island rivals.

Star playmaker Richie Mo’unga was back to his best, as the he led the champion team to a confidence building 52-15 win.

“It was awesome to get the win and more importantly play some footy as the Chiefs played all the footy last weekend,” Mo’unga told Stan Sport.

“We wanted to come out and impose ourselves against the Highlanders and I think we did a good job.

“I was pretty disappointed in myself as the driver last week, not putting us in the right areas of the field so today is very satisfying.”

As for the second match of the night, it was a thriller between the hosts Melbourne and Hurricanes.

For rugby fans in Melbourne, they may have experienced some deja vu as Jordie Barrett scored the winner in the dying stages – similarly to his heroics in last year’s Bledisloe Cup clash.

The Canes kept their unbeaten start to the season alive with a tense 33-39 win – but the match was somewhat marred by a controversial moment.

Captain Ardie Savea made an ugly gesture towards a Rebels player during the Super Round clash, after he’d been shown a yellow card.

The All Black ran his thumb across his throat, and directed the gesture at Rebels halfback Ryan Louwrens.

Savea apologised for his behaviour after the match.

“I understand that can be taken the wrong way and like in the post (match interview) I apologised, I apologised to the player I did it too as well after the game,” Savea told reporters.

“It’s just the heat of the moment mate, it’s a warrior game but I’ve got to lead by example being the skip so I got that wrong.

“Something that I can keep learning and growing from.”

RugbyPass will be keeping you updated on all the latest action throughout the night, which you can follow below.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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