Rugby Pass
Ardie Savea Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The long-awaited inclusion of the Pacific Islands in southern hemisphere franchise rugby is nearly upon us.
Moana Pasifika, representative of Samoa and Tonga, and the Fijian Drua will be included in a new professional competition featuring all 10 of the New Zealand and Australian Super Rugby clubs in 2022, and fanfare surrounding their addition is building.
Being granted conditional licences to play in next year’s tournament means both teams can begin the process of recruiting a playing and coaching staff to become competitive forces against New Zealand’s and Australia’s top sides.
Much has been made about who will make up the playing roster at each franchise, with reports emerging that the Fijian Drua already have Olympic sevens hopefuls, Fijian internationals and foreign stars with Fijian heritage lining up to play for the Suva-based team.
Damian McKenzie will start at first five-eighth for the Chiefs against the Crusaders on Saturday.
Having been nothing if not unpredictable through this Super Rugby Aotearoa season, the Chiefs have now made the surprise call to shift Damian McKenzie to No 10 for their clash against the Crusaders in Hamilton on Saturday night. A move called for by many following the team’s opening two losses, and after McKenzie had run there in pre-season, the Chiefs had stuck to their guns in starting their star playmaker in the extra space at fullback, then moving him to first five-eighth during the final 20-30 minutes of games, to get more involved on the ball and attack tiring defensive lines.
Highlanders 23 Chiefs 26
Highlanders 23 (Lentjes, Smith, Ione tries, Hunt penalty goal, Ioane conversion, penalty goal)
Click here for full match wrap and highlights.
Full time
84 mins - Penalty goal to Chiefs to McKenzie
Big, big moment. From the 22 metre drop out, Frizell takes the ball into contact on halfway but Lienert-Brown wins a huge breakdown penalty.
McKenzie will have a second opportunity to win it with a penalty goal right on halfway.
He nails it to win it for the Chiefs. What a kick!!
83 mins
From the scrum, the Highlanders go wide to hunt who is brought down 15 metres out. Two phases later, Ioane drops back in the pocket, right in front but he misses the drop goal.
Live Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa updates: Highlanders v Chiefs
10 Apr, 2021 06:45 AM
4 minutes to read
Sky Sports presents their post match show after the Highlanders versed the Chiefs. Video / Sky Sports
Sky Sports presents their post match show after the Highlanders versed the Chiefs. Video / Sky Sports
NZ Herald
Highlanders coach Tony Brown says the two suspended players who have earned a recall into the squad have taken their punishments on the chin and are ready to prove why they deserve a second chance.
Patelesio Tomkinson has been handed the No 13 jersey, while one-test All Black Josh Ioane starts on the bench as the Highlanders look to build on their upset win over the Crusaders.
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