Super Rugby Pacific talking points: Historic all New Zealand semifinals no cause for celebration

Monday, 8 June 2026

The Blues were reduced to 14 men early in the first half when Malachi Rampling was sent off. The Crusaders took full advantage, scoring three unanswered tries to build an unassailable 33-14 halftime lead in Christchurch.

Kiwi teams swept all four semifinal spots for the first time in history, though the round was marred by low crowd numbers in Wellington and Hamilton.

The highest-seeded loser from the qualifying finals, the Blues, advanced to the semifinals despite leaking almost 200 points across four straight defeats.

All Black Wallace Sititi will miss the semifinal against the Crusaders due to concussion protocols following a shoulder-to-head tackle

There was a time not so long ago that the history the four Kiwi semifinalists made would have been widely lauded and celebrated.

However, at a time even New Zealand Rugby chairman David Kirk was hoping for an Australian team to win Super Rugby, the fact Kiwi franchises make up both semifinals for the first time in competition history isn’t seen as something to hoot and holler about.

Of course, the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Crusaders and Blues won’t be complaining, but there’s a bigger picture - the health of a competition on the cusp of shrinking to 10 teams.

Yes, Super Rugby had every right to celebrate the success of the Super Round in Christchurch in April, and we’re told broadcasting numbers are healthy.

But this isn’t a competition in great shape. If it were, you wouldn’t have NZR’s chair saying the following: “I think it would be good if an Australian team won Super Rugby,” Kirk recently told The Australian.

“It would just put a lot of tension, a lot of jeopardy back into [Super Rugby].”

Brumbies player Rory Scott reacts after his team coughs up yet another try against the Hurricanes.

The World Cup winning All Blacks captain might be waiting an awful long time to get his wish for a first Australian winner since 2014 (Waratahs).

Sure, the Reds pushed the Chiefs for 50 minutes in Hamilton on Saturday night, but it was all too predictable as the hosts finished over the top of them en route to a 46-24 win.

The previous night, the Brumbies were a colossal disaster against the Hurricanes, as the Australian teams dropped to 0-23 in playoff matches on New Zealand soil.

Their 66-12 annihilation at the hands of the top-seeded Hurricanes set the tone for three underwhelming blow outs during the opening round of the playoffs.

The fact the Crusaders’ 52-31 rout of the Blues, who scored a couple of consolation tries, was the tightest - on the scoreboard at least - of the matches shouldn’t excite anyone.

Nor should the lame crowds in Wellington and Hamilton.

Yes, the weather was foul in both cities, but qualifying finals and quarterfinals have historically been hard sells in Super Rugby.

Meanwhile, it looks like footage is being beamed in from another planet whenever the Crusaders play at One New Zealand Stadium, which has been packed with 25,000 fans in each of the first five Crusaders games there.

Fresh from extending their home playoff record to 33-0, the defending champions will not play there again until next year, unless they beat the Chiefs in a tasty rematch of last year’s final in Hamilton on Friday night, and the Blues tip up the Hurricanes in the capital on Saturday.

Let’s hope there are few empty orange and yellow seats, and we’re treated to two cracking semifinals.

The end of the Lucky Loser?

While there is still hope in some circles that Moana Pasifika can be saved, chances are their demise will be confirmed and a 10-team competition will be played in 2027.

That should mean a re-think of the playoff format, which continues to, justifiably, draw flak.

Having leaked almost 200 points across four straight defeats, the Blues should be knee deep in a season autopsy.

Instead, as the highest-seeded loser from the qualifying finals, they live on and will face the Hurricanes.

And nobody is surprised. Most people correctly predicted the Hurricanes and Chiefs would roll against the Aussies, meaning the loser of the Crusaders-Blues match in Christchurch was going to advance.

Again, where is the jeopardy?

Let’s hope administrators opt for straight semifinals next year, although there is an argument for a six-team playoff format that rewards the top two teams with a first-round bye.

However, rewarding more than half the competition with playoff spots only sucks life out of the regular season.

Injuries and more injuries

Another big name’s Super Rugby season looks over.

The sight of All Black Wallace Sititi laying on the turf and shaking after taking a nasty blow to the head soured the Chiefs’ victory over the Reds.

After a hospital visit, which included a scan, Sititi was back home on Sunday and reportedly “feeling good”.

However, in concussion protocol after Lukhan Salakaia-Loto’s shoulder-to-head tackle, he’s no chance to play against the Crusaders on Friday, and is a doubtful starter if the Chiefs advance to the final.

Sititi wasn’t the only casualty ahead of the semifinals.

The Blues lost halfback Sam Nock to a suspected broken hand, while the already injury-hit Crusaders are monitoring midfielder Dallas McLeod and fullback Johnny McNicholl.

McLeod left their second victory over the Blues in their new stadium within a month with a groin complaint, while McNicholl completed the game with a heavilty strapped hand after scoring a hat-trick.

Whether some teams are bolstered by returning players unclear, with Blues coach Vern Cotter giving little away regarding Beauden Barrett’s status.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney, however, indicated All Black tighthead prop Fletcher Newell (knee) was a chance to return.

The Hurricanes are likely to welcome back competition-leading try-scorer Fehi Fineanganofo.

QUALIFYING FINALS

At Hnry Stadium, Wellington: Hurricanes 66 (Caleb Delany, Cam Roigard 2, Billy Proctor, Warner Dearns 2, Ngane Punivai 3 tries; Ruben Love 9 con, pen) Brumbies 12 (Corey Toole, Tane Edmed; Ryan Lonergan con). HT. 38-7.

At One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch: Crusaders 52 (Sevu Reece try, Johnny McNicholl 3, David Havili, Chay Fihaki, Taha Kemara, Manumau Letiu tries; Kemara 5 con, Rivez Reihana con) Blues 31 (Sam Nock, Anton Segner, Xavi Taele, Payton Spencer, Caleb Clarke tries; Zarn Sullivan 3 con). HT: 33-14

At FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton: Chiefs 46 (Kyren Taumoefolau 2, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Damian McKenzie 2, Isaac Hutchinson tries; McKenzie 5 con, 2 pen) Reds 24 (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Aidan Ross, Matt Faessler tries; Carter Gordon 3 con, pen). HT: 22-17.

SEMIFINALS

Friday, 7.05pm: Chiefs v Crusaders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

Saturday, 7.05pm: Hurricanes v Blues, Hnry Stadium, Wellington