SUPER RUGBY 2024 IS UNDERWAY. FIRST GAME , WHO WILL WIN? CRUSADERS V CHIEFS
FMG STADIUM, HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND, FRIDAY 23RD FEBRUARY,2024
There has been significant change across many of the squads, in New Zealand in particular, while five teams have welcomed new coaches.
CHIEFS
One of two Kiwi teams without a new coach , McMillan has a significant departure list to manage. The end of the World Cup cycle has seen All Blacks Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick and Brad Weber all move on, while Pita-Gus Sowakula, John Ryan, Bryn Gatland, Solomon Alaimalo, Atu Moli, Angus Ta’avao and Alex Nankivell have all opted for pastures afresh. But there is good news in the return of Quinn Tupaea who did not play at all last season, while All Blacks graduates Stevenson, Narawa and Samipeni Finau will be expected to take another step forward after their Test experience from 2023. In the absence of Retallick, rising locks Josh Lord, Naitoa Ah-Koi and Tupou Vaa’i will also be expected to take more of a leadership role up front. But the eyes of the competition, and even the wider rugby world, will be firmly fixed on Damian McKenzie as he finally gets clear air to make the All Blacks No. 10 jersey his own. Sure, Beauden Barrett will be back later in the year, but this is undoubtedly McKenzie’s moment to shine. If he plays with the style and execution of 2023, the Chiefs have more than enough talent elsewhere around the park to go one better than last year.
2023 HISTORY
For much of 2023 the Chiefs were the team to beat. An All Blacks-laden forward pack, the brilliance of Damian McKenzie, and a breakout year from Shaun Stevenson carried the Waikato outfit all the way to a home final, only for them to run into a Crusaders team that knows how to get it done in the final game of the season better than anyone else. Adding to the Chiefs’ pain was the knowledge that they had already twice beaten Scott Robertson’s side during the regular season. Still, there was so much to like about what the Chiefs did in 2023, as they played a brilliant brand of rugby that maximized their strengths from 15-1. While their lineout had its issues, the Chiefs pack laid an otherwise superb platform, giving McKenzie time and space to provide for the likes of Stevenson, Emoni Narawa and Etene Nanai-Seturo. In the big dance, it was the Chiefs’ discipline that let them down. First-half yellow cards to Luke Jacobson and Anton Lienert-Brown, followed up by another to skipper Sam Cane after the break, saw the Chiefs play 30 minutes of the match with only 14 men. They were gallant in hanging in the game for so long, and even had the chance to win it late, but McKenzie couldn’t hit the target from long range, leaving Mo’unga to complete his Crusaders dynasty.
CRUSADERS
Spare a thought for Rob Penney, yes that Rob Penney, the same one the Waratahs punted midway through their winless 2021 season, who steps into the unfillable shoes of Robertson. Thankfully, unlike the short shift he was handed in Sydney, Penney takes over a squad that retains a swathe of Test quality, albeit without the outstanding Mo’unga, Whitelock and Fainga’anuku. Barrett’s presence will be huge for the red-and-blacks, particularly with Taylor opting for a non-playing sabbatical that will see him miss all but the closing few weeks of the regular season. Elsewhere, former club stalwart Ryan Crotty and Owen Franks both return to Christchurch, while Levi Aumua’s much-debated move from Moana Pasifika offsets the departure of Jack Goodhue and the loss of the luckless Braydon Ennor, who ruptured his ACL in Bledisloe II last year and then suffered an infection. Fergus Burke’s Achilles injury has opened up the opportunity for talented former New Zealand Under 20s fly-half Rivez Reihana to step into Mo’unga’s boots, while Taha Kemara and Taine Robinson are the other options. Penney has suffered a late setback with Jordan ruled out of the entire season, but the returning Sevu Reece will still offer a spark out wide, so too talented youngster Macca Springer, while David Havili may need to take on a great role in midfield. It is undoubtedly a new era for the top half of the south island, but there is more than enough class across this Crusaders squad to challenge for the title yet again.
2023 HISTORY
Seven titles in seven years: There was truly no stopping this mighty era of Crusaders dominance. Coach Scott Robertson and talisman fly-half Richie Mo’unga bowed out of Super Rugby in supreme style, lifting yet another trophy, this time on the road in Hamilton against the Chiefs, after blowing away the Blues in a semifinal a week earlier. Led by skipper Scott Barrett, in the form of his career, the Crusaders turned to the usual suspects of Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Will Jordan to create attacking havoc, while Dallas McLeod, Fletcher Newell and Tamaiti Williams emerged as All Blacks and the ever reliable Codie Taylor, Sam Whitelock and Mitchell Drummond provided the glue to hold it all together. Simply, the Crusaders just knew how to get it done under Robertson, who was unveiled as the All Blacks coach-elect early in the year; a move that removed that cloud of uncertainty from the red-and-blacks, but earned a hefty chunk of ire from Ian Foster’s supporters. Whitelock’s decision to play in the decider despite a nagging Achilles injury also irked the All Blacks coach, but it reflected both the champion lock’s character and the high regard in which he held Robertson and the famous Crusaders jersey.
As this is the opening game of the season I am expecting some rust from both sides. With the Waikato Chiefs playing at home in front of their fans I expect them to take the chocolates. They also want revenge after losing the 2023 final to the Crusaders. The Crusaders are normally a slow starting side, but will improve as the season goes on. A huge loss is Will Jordan, out for the season with a shoulder injury which requires surgery. A huge game for the Crusaders number 10, Rivez Reihana, an ex Chiefs player, facing Damian McKenzie.
Chiefs (1-15): Aidan Ross, Bradley Slater, Reuben O’Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaai, Samipeni Finau, Kalyum Boshier, Luck Jacobson (c), Xavier Roe, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Shaun Stevenson
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Jimmy Tupou, Simon Parker, Cortez Ratima, Josh Ioane, Daniel Rona
Crusaders (1-15): George Bower, George Bell, Tamati Williams, Scott Barrett (c), Quinten Strange, Dominic Gardiner, Tom Christie, Cullen Grace, Mitch Drummond, Rivez Reihana, Macca Springer, Dallas McLeod, Levi Aumua, Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki
Replacements: Quinten MacDonald, Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Jamie Hannah, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Taha Kemara, Ryan Crotty
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referees: Jordan Way, Reuben Keane
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