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Recap: Super Rugby Pacific opening night blog

(Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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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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J
JW 3 hours ago
'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

I have the selection opinion of ‘chuck them in the deep end, see if they swim’. Starting Mo’unga in the third test

But you’re calling favoritism of Dmac based on common practice, thats the illogical mindset you have and which I’m pointing out.

He isn’t Mo’unga which disproves your statement

You’ve missed my point. Mo’unga is your fixation for ‘game manager’. Dmac is every bit the game manager even then, his boot has always been his best asset.

At 10 I would’ve had: Cruden, B Barrett, and McKenzie

Thats fine, but that statement you’re trying to defend is “I guess Hansen sold them the idea that McKenzie was the way forward at 10” with the implication that now, in 2023 they let Mo’unga go because Dmac he was selected there for one test in 2018.

I brought it up as I it shows that Hansen and Foster would rather have a second 10

I brought those facts up to as I believe that both Hansen and Foster didn’t really want Mo’unga at 10 and only used him at 10 when they ran out of other ideas (which they both did)

And I have shown you the real facts, that they didn’t do that. They played MO’UNGA! The very next series after Dmac was asked to play 10 due to injury, with no experience (hence why he wanted more the next year), Mo’unga was used as the alternative 10 to Barrett, playing one game, WITH MCKENZIE AT 15, of the 6 Rugby Championships. The series after that was were opinion really shifted to Mo’unga having a better partnership with Dmac at the back than Barrett did.


THOSE ARE THE ONLY RELEVANT FACTS!


You can have your theories all you like Spew, but I’m telling you they are based on you own fallacy when it comes your picture of Dmac, and therefor any correlation with Mo’unga. They have always been great together.

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W
WilmaKiel 6 hours ago
One rule for Europe's copycats, another for the Springboks

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RegineIsaksen 7 hours ago
One rule for Europe's copycats, another for the Springboks

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28 Go to comments
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