Super Rugby: Brilliant Aaron Smith inspires depleted Highlanders to stun 14-man Blues stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The opening day of The Championships 2021 delivered in style with a couple of the most dominant Group 1 wins you will see at Randwick.
The victories by Anamoe in the ATC Sires Produce Stakes and Nature Strip in the TJ Smith Stakes won’t be forgotten in a hurry while not surprisngly Jamie Kah announced herself in Sydney.
Victoria’s leading jockey guided the enigmatic Cascadian to a memorable win in the $3 million Doncaster Mile.
Another Victorian-based rider, John Allen is fast becoming the go-to jockey for a Derby – claiming a maiden Australian Derby success aboard Explosive Jack.
The Randwick track started the day rated a soft (7) improving throughout the day before being upgraded to a soft (6) following the ATC Sires Produce Stakes.
Peter Meecham/Getty Images
The Crusaders prodcued a stinker against the Highlanders in Christchurch last Friday night. There were no such excuses for their flat and error-strewn performance last week, one which was littered by poor passing, and led to just their second home loss in almost five years. The 21-point loss was also the biggest under Robertson, surpassing the 13-point defeat to the Chiefs in Fiji in 2019. Only a fairly unconvincing performance from the Blues keeps the reigning champions atop the rankings after their stinker.
Phil Walter/Getty Images
There were pats on he back all round as Rieko Ioane, right, and TJ Faiane and the Blues snapped their losing streak on Saturday.
Dalton Papalii carries for the Blues in Saturday night s clash agaisnt the Hurricanes at Eden Park.
Jackal and tackle is the mantra of in-form Blues openside flanker Dalton Papalii as he makes his big move for a serious promotion at national team level. Papalii has been arguably the form Kiwi No 7 of Super Rugby Aotearoa through the first six rounds, producing a string of outstanding performances for the Blues as they’ve gone 3-2 to establish themselves as the clear No 2 team in the competition. That’s been timely, to say the least, with All Blacks coach Ian Foster having some decisions to make on the back of news that skipper Sam Cane will be out for 4-6 months with the pectoral muscle tear suffered while playing for the Chiefs.