Super Rugby Pacific: Crusaders and Chiefs lock down best squads once more

Friday, 7 November 2025

Emoni Narawa tries to break through the Crusaders defence in last season’s final.

ANALYSIS: The Crusaders and Chiefs represent close to 60% of both the All Blacks and All Blacks XV squads currently in Europe so it was little surprise to see the two clubs unveil Super Rugby’s strongest squads on Thursday.

The squad namings were predictable, with most signings announced in advance, and when the chances of Josh Jacomb making an early shift from the Chiefs to the Highlanders fizzled out there was little in the way of meaningful player movement.

The Chiefs, on paper, have the best squad. They account for exactly one-third of both the All Blacks and All Blacks XV squads, even with Tupou Vaa’i, Emoni Narawa and Ollie Norris, and new coach Jono Gibbes has therefore been handed a gilt-edged opportunity to win their first Super Rugby title since 2013.

But the Crusaders are arguably stronger than last year, with returning All Black Leicester Fainga’anuku certain to cause havoc in the midfield.

The bookies have already aggressively priced in a Crusaders-Chiefs final, which would be their fourth in sixth years, and you have to go back a decade to find a final that didn’t involve either the Crusaders or the Chiefs (the 2016 decider between the Hurricanes and Lions).

If Super Rugby were regulated the Commerce Commission would be sniffing around and tournament organisers will quietly be praying for someone to break the Crusaders-Chiefs stranglehold.

The Hurricanes look like the most likely to challenge the big two.

They were already strong in the loose forwards, midfield and outside backs, but they have also built up some real size in the tight five - particularly with the addition of Japan lock Warner Dearns.

However, they still look a little too reliant on Cameron Roigard and if the All Blacks halfback gets injured the Hurricanes’ campaign could unravel.

The Hurricanes look best placed to challenge the Chiefs-Crusaders dominance - but only if Cameron Roigard stays fit.

The Blues look solid but not spectacular. They are strong in some areas - particularly at lock when Patrick Tuipulotu returns - but they have lost some significant contributors since their championship year in 2024.

The Ioane brothers, Ricky Riccitelli, Harry Plummer and Mark Tele’a were all a big part of that success and Tele’a is virtually irreplaceable.

The Highlanders look like they need the arrival of Josh Jacomb (signed for 2027 and 2028), a year of growth from their young players and another good recruitment cycle to become truly competitive.

The arrival of halfback Dylan Pledger should improve last season’s wooden spooners, but the playoffs could be beyond them again.

Moana Pasifika have undergone the biggest overhaul and the loss of Kyren Taumoefolau to the Chiefs - another case of the rich getting richer - leaves them a little down on X-factor in the outside backs.

But, of course, the big news for Moana Pasifika is the absence of Ardie Savea, who is spending next season in Japan. That’s an enormous blow given his huge contribution last season.

The Australian challenge looks patchier than last year, with only the Reds looking stronger.

The Brumbies have lost Wallabies Noah Lolesio (Japan), Len Ikitau (UK), Tom Hooper (UK) and Tom Wright (ACL injury) and they will struggle to replace them, even though Wright should be back for part of the season.

That leaves the Crusaders and Chiefs in pole position to resume their rivalry in next year’s final. Anything else would be a surprise, but that has not been Super Rugby’s strong point in recent times.