Super Rugby Pacific wrap: Chiefs face delicate last-round selection juggling act

Monday, 25 May 2026

Chiefs coach Jono Gibbes faces a real selection balancing act for the final-round game against the Blues.

Jono Gibbes faces a delicate last-round selection juggling act, as the Chiefs coach ponders just what the right approach will be for Saturday night’s clash against the Blues in Hamilton, which the hosts have already confirmed Damian McKenzie will sit out.

With their slim hopes of overtaking the Hurricanes to finish as top qualifier over following Friday night’s 36-32 defeat to the Crusaders in Christchurch and then the Canes’ 45-28 win over the Highlanders in Wellington 24 hours later, the Chiefs are now locked into the No 2 spot on the ladder.

That will see them play a home qualifying final against the No 5 seeds next Saturday night, where a win would book them a home semifinal, while a loss could still keep them alive if the Hurricanes were to beat the No 6 seeds the night before.

While any Battle of the Bombays contest is a typically willing and fiercely-competitive affair, this one will at least have some of the sting taken out of it for the hosts, who will balance the desire of not wanting to enter the finals on the back of successive losses with the luxury of being able to rest some players, and pondering whether the timing is right to welcome some stars back from the casualty ward.

Already on Sunday the franchise confirmed McKenzie would not be back to face the Blues, which will mean no intriguing All Blacks No 10 head-to-head with Beauden Barrett.

Damian McKenzie will miss a second week of action following his concussion against the Highlanders.

Following his sickening knockout against the Highlanders, McKenzie had to miss the Crusaders game on a mandatory 12-day stand-down, and while the Chiefs say his progress is positive, they are wisely playing it safe with their star playmaker.

There will be others on the sideline itching for action.

All Blacks winger Emoni Narawa, who has missed the past seven weeks with a foot problem and, especially on the back of Caleb Tangitau’s season-ending injury, will be desperate to get back in the national selectors’ sights.

The four-test flyer’s return has always been slated as the final round or qualifying final, while fellow outside back Etene Nanai-Seturo has been on the exact same timeframe with his own foot injury suffered the week before Narawa’s.

The Chiefs’ other All Blacks winger, Leroy Carter, who has been out four weeks with a hamstring issue, has always had the qualifying final as his likely return, while on Friday night there was a fresh injury concern for another All Black, with prop Ollie Norris taking a “bang to the knee” and forced off late in the first half.

A David Havili-inspired comeback led the Crusaders to victory over the Chiefs, now the defending champs are hunting third spot.

With the likes of senior statesmen Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa’i and Samisoni Taukei’aho having already had two games out on top of the two byes, and another one in Quinn Tupaea rested the previous round, the squad has already been well managed, but come Wednesday’s team naming it would not surprise to see a few big guns missing, particularly after a game in Christchurch Gibbes noted had been “a battle” and left them with “some sore bodies”.

Same top six, all on for third

Depending on what happens in the 24 hours prior, the Chiefs-Blues match could even be one that has nothing riding on it for the visitors, either, as Vern Cotter’s side could be locked in to the third and final home qualifying berth by kickoff time.

But that would be contingent on the Crusaders suffering a first-ever loss at their new One NZ Stadium, where they have now gone 3-0 and will be desperate to continue that run against the Hurricanes on Friday night in order to give them a shot of playing finals footy at their shiny new roofed venue.

Like the Chiefs, the Hurricanes now know their fate, so it could mean some players also sit out, though they are set to be boosted by the return from injury of All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard.

However, in an intriguing twist, if the Canes, who will be looking to become the first team in the competition’s five years to top the table and go on to win the title, do win in Christchurch, it looks likely they would then have to face the Crusaders in their qualifying final, in what would shape as an eminently more loseable game than against the Brumbies or Reds.

Clark Laidlaw’s side would, of course, as top seeds, be guaranteed a second life, but, in the change of rule from last year, would then drop not one place but to the bottom of the seedings, losing hosting rights for their semifinal, and the final.

Meanwhile, after the Reds’ last-gasp win over Moana Pasifika killed off the Waratahs’ slim playoff hopes, the top six is now confirmed as the same half-dozen sides as last season.

While the Queenslanders, who host the Fijian Drua on Friday night, can’t make it up to third, there is still a chance of one qualifying final being staged across the ditch, with the Brumbies needing results to go their way as well as picking up maximum points at home to Moana Pasifika on Saturday afternoon.

Super Rugby Pacific, Rd 15

At One NZ Stadium, Christchurch: Crusaders 36 (Johnny McNicholl 2, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Jamie Hannah, Christian Lio-Willie, David Havili tries; Rivez Reihana con, Taha Kemara 2 con) Chiefs 32 (Kyren Taumoefolau, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Josh Lord, Quinn Tupaea tries; Josh Jacomb 3 con, 2 pen). HT: 17-19.

At Allianz Stadium, Sydney: Brumbies 21 (Billy Pollard, Cadeyrn Neville, Allan Alaalatoa tries; Ryan Lonergan 3 con) Waratahs 14 (Isaac Kailea, Max Jorgensen tries; Sid Harvey 2 con). HT: 14-0.

At North Harbour Stadium, Auckland: Reds 33 (Tim Ryan 2, Josh Canham, Trevyon Pritchard, Jock Campbell tries; Carter Gordon 3 con, Ben Volavola con) Moana Pasifika 31 (Augustine Pulu, Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, Israel Leota tries, penalty try; Patrick Pellegrini 3 con, pen). HT: 21-7.

At Hnry Stadium, Wellington: Hurricanes 45 (Kini Naholo 2, Josh Moorby, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Ruben Love, Brayden Iose, Ereatara Enari tries; Love 5 con) Highlanders 28 (Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Adam Lennox, Lucas Casey tries; Cameron Millar 4 con). HT: 28-14.

At HBF Park, Perth: Force 19 (Carlo Tizzano, Vailoni Ekuasi, Zac Lomax tries; Max Burey 2 con) Fijian Drua 15 (Kitione Salawa, Zuriel Togiatama tries; Kemu Valetini con, pen). HT: 7-12.

Points (games played): Hurricanes 55 (13), Chiefs 46 (13), Blues 38 (13), Crusaders 36 (13), Brumbies 33 (13), Reds 32 (13), Waratahs 27 (13), Force 26 (13), Highlanders 24 (14), Fijian Drua 21 (13), Moana Pasifika 5 (13).