Crusaders torment Chiefs again in ‘turning point’ after slow start to Super Rugby Pacific
Monday, 2 March 2026
ANALYSIS: The Crusaders were the Chiefs’ tormentors again with a foreboding show of strength and quality to hit back from last Sunday’s dizzying defeat to the Brumbies.
Down 14-0 in the eighth minute after Etene Nanai-Seturo finished the home side’s sensational 100m try in Hamilton, the defending champions responded with six tries in 47 minutes to secure their first win of the Super Rugby Pacific season with time to spare.
It was a sparkling attacking display from the red and blacks to complement their typical physical fortitude and left Jono Gibbes’ Chiefs team somewhat bewildered with a 43-33 defeat, made closer only by late consolation tries on Saturday night.
The vultures beforehand were circling around the Crusaders’ supposed rut, albeit from two matches, after losses to the Highlanders (25-23) and an astonishing implosion in Christchurch against the Brumbies (50-24).
Crusaders coach Rob Penney told Sky Sport at full-time: “It was always going to be a turning point for us.”
The team so many to love to hate because of their success, those vultures scattered and were distant dots.
The perennial champions flung away their early-season cobwebs with No 8 Christian Lio-Willie’s hat-trick, All Black Will Jordan was tearing into space from fullback, and Chay Fihaki’s class under the high ball was such an asset as kicking duels continued.
The combination of Noah Hotham and Taha Kemara was also excellent in exposing a rushing Chiefs defence.
That Waikato-bred pairing at halfback and first five-eighth would have made the locals’ beverages sour.
Hamilton hosts the big stage
No doubt enticed for a rematch of last year’s grand finalists, there was a hearty crowd of more than 18,000 under the lights at Waikato Stadium.
They witnessed several spiteful flare-ups that will tickle the fancy of most spectators. More, please, although Jared Proffit’s tip tackle off the ball on David Havili was overkill.
To see a Super Rugby ground packed was refreshing. Punters filling stadiums has not been a regular sight after three rounds and is still an ongoing challenge for the game.
It would be outstanding if Eden Park was heaving with more than 40,000 fans when the Crusaders return north to face the Blues in another huge Kiwi derby next Saturday night. Whether Aucklanders will bother is another matter.
Hamilton’s raid was not all rosy for the Crusaders. With victorious captain Havili stood nursing a developing shiner from his right eye through the high fives and handshakes, hooker George Bell was injured in the second half and helped off.
Busy carries and an improved lineout from his throws suggests there is more to come from the four-test All Black, aged 24.
As for the Chiefs, who were again without the talismanic Damian McKenzie, their attack was still slick with Josh Jacomb at first-five and Nanai-Seturo, Emoni Narawa and Leroy Carter marauding in their back three. They know how to entertain.
Still, the Chiefs were slow to too many loose balls, inaccurate, and punished by an old foe who have beaten them so often at the final hurdle since their last title in 2013.
McKenzie’s looming return against Moana Pasifika in Hamilton next Friday should set their form right after starting with tight wins over the Blues (19-15) and the Highlanders (26-23).
Blues blow it in Canberra
Nine ahead with 10 minutes to go, the Blues had a coveted Canberra win in their hands. No team expects to wander into the Brumbies’ den and stroll away with victory.
After overcoming the Force 42-32 in Perth, the Blues were on course for back-to-back wins in Australia after Caleb Clarke’s double and Dalton Papali’i’s try on his 100th appearance.
However, Vern Cotter’s troops were undone by the patient Brumbies after Stephen Perofeta jabbed his hands at a wide pass, deemed cynical enough as a deliberate knockdown and a yellow card for the playmaker.
One man down, the Blues conceded twice, letting victory slip at the death as Brumbies No 8 Charlie Cale wriggled over to seal a 30-27 win. It was the second match the Blues have lost by a close margin in three weeks.
The Crusaders are next at home. The Brumbies sit pretty on top with three victories on the bounce.
Welcome to Lautoka
The Hurricanes were visiting the Fijian Drua’s preferred home for the first time and got the full experience of the tropical climate at Churchill Park in a 25-20 defeat.
Accompanying the heat and humidity was heavy rain that waterlogged areas of the pitch and other patches were quickly cut up by rucks, scrums and mauls.
This became a kicking lottery in Lautoka, albeit with brilliant handling and attacking intent that belied the challenging conditions.
The Drua are more accustomed to playing in the wet of Fiji’s late summer. Etonia Waqa’s try, via an offload from veteran prop Peni Ravai, was a worthy match-winner in the mud for their first success of the season.
The unbeaten Waratahs await the Hurricanes in Sydney next Friday night. Coach Clark Laidlaw will welcome a drier deck.
Australian joy
The Highlanders’ promise from the opening rounds, with a win over the Crusaders before a tight loss to the Chiefs, unravelled against the Reds as their dreadful form across the Tasman endured.
The Queenslanders ran Jamie Joseph’s team off their feet with enterprising attacks for a 31-14 win, their first of the campaign.
The Highlanders have lost seven on the trot in Australia and will be grateful to return to Dunedin when hosting the Western Force next Saturday.
The Force have an awful record when leaving Perth but will head to the deep south after a rare triumph on New Zealand soil.
Despite former All Black George Bridge’s howler when squandering a certain try, the Force broke an eight-match losing streak by beating Moana Pasifika 35-19 in Pukehoke on Friday night.
Frankly, Tana Umaga’s team were woeful. Their record 1-2, the Chiefs are next down the road.
Super Rugby Pacific, round three
At Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe: Western Force 35 (Darby Lancaster 6’, Darcy Swain 33’, George Bridge 40+1’, Carlo Tizzano 62’, Leonel Oviedo 69’ tries; Ben Donaldson 5 con) Moana Pasifika 19 (Millennium Sanerivi 19’, Melani Matavao 76’, Allan Craig 80’ tries; Patrick Pellegrini, Jackson Garden-Bachop con). HT: 21-7.
At Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane: Queensland Reds 31 (Fraser McReight 17’, Matt Faessler 27’, Tim Ryan 34’, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 56’, Vaiuta Latu 61’ tries; Louis Werchon 2, Jock Campbell con) Highlanders 14 (Adam Lennox 30’, Lucas Casey 51’ tries; Cameron Millar 2 con). HT: 19-7.
At FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton: Crusaders 43 (George Bell 19’, Noah Hotham 26’, Christian Lio-Willie 30’, 52’, 66’, David Havili 58’ tries; Taha Kemara 4 con, pen, Chay Fihaki con) Chiefs 33 (Quinn Tupaea 5’, Etene Nanai-Seturo 8’, Samisoni Taukei’aho 22’, Tupou Vaa’i 73’, Emoni Narawa 80’; Josh Jacomb 4 con). HT: 24-21.
At Churchill Park, Lautoka: Fijian Drua 25 (Motikai Murray 30’, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre 50’, Etonia Waqa 67’ tries; Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula 2 con, 2 pen) Hurricanes 20 (Fehi Fineanganofo 12’, Peter Lakai 25’, Billy Proctor 34’ tries; Jordie Barrett con, pen). HT: 13-17.
At GIO Stadium, Canberra: Brumbies 30 (Declan Meredith 8’, Billy Pollard 22’, Luke Reimer 72’, Charlie Cale 80+2’ tries; Meredith con, Ryan Lonergan 2 pen, con) Blues 27 (Caleb Clarke 12’, 51’, AJ Lam 30’, Dalton Papali’i 63’ tries; Stephen Perofeta 2 con, pen). HT: 15-15.