Super Rugby Pacific: Overdue derby against Highlanders to test high-flying Hurricanes

Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Eight-test All Black Du’Plessis Kirifi tells the Aotearoa Rugby Pod why Dave Rennie’s selection policy of picking players on form is great for focus in Super Rugby.

Five weeks have whizzed by, meaning we’re already almost a third of the way through the Super Rugby Pacific regular season.

And yet nobody has put their hand up and made a compelling case to go down as the form team.

Sure, the Brumbies, Hurricanes, Chiefs, Blues and Reds have made decent cases, but they’ve all had/got warts.

With autumn leaves falling, and evening temperatures stiffening, the next five or six weeks should be a heck of a lot more telling.

Here are this week’s power rankings.

1. HURRICANES (3-1) PREVIOUS RANK: 1

Are scoring points for fun, having run in 25 tries in just four matches.

They should add to that under the roof in Dunedin on Friday night, when they finally face their first New Zealand derby.

Yes, things are about to get tougher for the Hurricanes, who have started with games against Moana Pasifika (home), Drua (away), Waratahs (away) and Force (home).

After visiting the Highlanders, the Hurricanes face the Reds (home), Blues (home), Chiefs (away), Brumbies (home) and Crusaders (home).

2. BLUES (3-2) PREVIOUS RANK: 3

Could quite easily be 5-0, only for a refereeing blunder against the Chiefs and a late collapse against the Brumbies to drag them down.

Bossed the Crusaders and Moana Pasifika the last two weeks, and will fancy their chances of continuing to roll with the Waratahs (away) and Fijian Drua (home) next up.

Captain Dalton Papali’i and lock Sam Darry have been particularly impressive among their bruising pack, which is yet to feature injured All Black Patrick Tuipulotu.

3. REDS (3-1) PREVIOUS RANK: 4

The Reds’ round one stinker against the Waratahs sure is a distant memory.

In fact, having beaten the Highlanders, Brumbies and Waratahs the last few weeks, they’re arguably the form team in the competition.

No 10 Carter Gordon, back from a brief NRL stint, has been a big part of their run, scoring three tries the past two weeks.

They now face a test they’ve failed in the past - the Drua in Fiji (Lautoka).

4. CHIEFS (3-1) PREVIOUS RANK: 2

Drop a couple of spots in the rankings while on a bye week, but can quickly rebound by heading across the Tasman and taking care of the Brumbies in Canberra.

5. CRUSADERS (2-3) PREVIOUS RANK: 8

Made some important strides en route to beating the Highlanders in their final South Island derby at Apollo Projects Stadium.

Their lineout, barely operating above 50% heading into the match, was particularity slick and now sits at 80% on the season, while their defence was hard-nosed and feisty.

But the defending champs aren’t yet humming, not with poor discipline and a continued lack of polish costing a team that leads the competition in metres gained (2355), but has just 18 tries (sixth most) to show for it.

Their bulging injury ward, now 15 strong after captain David Havili hurt his foot, isn’t likely to shrink until after their round seven bye.

6. FIJIAN DRUA (2-2) PREVIOUS RANK: 10

Continue to be a menace on Fijian soil, where they backed up their victory over the Hurricanes with a resounding victory over the Brumbies last weekend.

Good luck to the Reds in Lautoka on Saturday afternoon.

With away fixtures against the Blues and Crusaders to follow the next fortnight, it’s a must-win for the Fijians.

7. BRUMBIES (3-2) PREVIOUS RANK: 6

Were the toast of the competition after rolling the Crusaders and Blues to start the season with three straight wins.

However, the Stephen Larkham-coached Aussies have since blown a big lead late against the Reds, and been run ragged by the Drua in Ba.

Their Friday night showdown with the Chiefs in Canberra shapes as a crunch junction in their season.

8. HIGHLANDERS (2-3) PREVIOUS RANK: 5

After starting their campaign by upsetting the reigning champion Crusaders, the Highlanders have won just once in four matches.

Their lineout was a shambles last weekend, even before starting lock Mitchell Dunshea hurt his Achilles during the first half of the defeat to the Crusaders

For all the attacking weapons they possess, highlighted by Caleb Tangitau, their decision making and execution with ball in hand has been ropey.

The 19-test All Blacks winger has returned to Super Rugby with the Western Force after three years in France.

Only the Drua (13 tries) have crossed the line fewer times than the Highlanders (15).

9. WESTERN FORCE (1-4) PREVIOUS RANK: 7

Gave the Hurricanes plenty to think about, but ultimately dropped a second straight game by eight points in New Zealand.

Encouragingly, having barely played defence to start the season, they were much improved without the ball in Napier, especially in the first half.

Make no mistake, the Force are going to be more than a pest when they return home.

10. WARATAHS (2-2) PREVIOUS RANK: 9

Wing Max Jorgensen continues to do freakish things, but the Waratahs have dropped two straight since losing Wallabies centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to injury.

And, fresh from losing a brutal derby to the Reds in Brisbane, it doesn’t get any easier with the bruising Blues Sydney-bound.

11. MOANA PASIFIKA (1-4) PREVIOUS RANK: 11

It’s quickly getting ugly for Moana Pasifika, whose poor discipline cost them multiple tries against the Blues at Eden Park.

No team has coughed up more points than the 213 they’ve conceded, leaving them last on the ladder after four straight defeats.

Now, the Crusaders are coming to town.