Super Rugby talking points: New Zealand sides poised to lead the charge – Stuff.co.nz

OPINION: If one things clear after the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific, its that the Kiwi teams are almost certainly going to lead the way.

A trans-Tasman clash wasnt even required to paint the picture, rather just a look at the contrasting derby matches on offer to kickoff the competition.

Its no huge surprise, either. Not after Australian sides won just two of 25 matches in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman a year ago, and were on the wrong end of a bunch of lopsided defeats.

Indeed, border issues forcing a diet of derby matches until late April are likely just delaying the inevitable roasting of the Aussie franchises.

READ MORE:* Hurricanes coach Jason Holland rues missed chances against clinical Crusaders* Crusaders pivot Fergus Burke passes the biggest test of his career * Leicester Fainga'anuku bags three tries as Crusaders beat luckless Hurricanes* Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea questions four-hour bus trips for Super Rugby Pacific* Crusaders' pre-season stutters offer rivals hope for Super Rugby Pacific

They couldnt handle the tempo the New Zealand sides play with last year, and early signs are they wont when they go head-to-head in the second half of the regular season.

The Brumbies last-ditch 29-23 win over the Force in Canberra on Sunday at least featured an entertaining conclusion, but the two other matches across the ditch were forgettable.

Those who watched the Crusaders beat the Hurricanes 42-32 in Dunedin on Saturday, and stayed tuned to their televisions for the dour Reds-Rebels fixture, both deserve a medal and would have noted the gulf in quality.

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Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga'anuku celebrates his third try against the Hurricanes in Dunedin on Saturday night.

Admittedly, heavy rain pelted Brisbane for the second half of the match, won 23-5 by the Reds, making for a miserable spectacle, but there was no such excuse earlier in the match.

Plus, a boggy ground in Queenstown, the result of a downpour ahead of kickoff on Saturday, didnt stop the Chiefs and Highlanders playing an up-tempo game of considerably higher quality.

Its only one week, but for the competitions sake, lets hope the Australians get up to speed come April.

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Hurricanes No 8 Ardie Savea on the charge against the Crusaders in Dunedin on Saturday night.

Some Hurricanes fans were fuming after their side had three tries disallowed against the Crusaders, but coach Jason Holland was not.

Fair enough, too. Referee Brendon Pickerill and TMO Mike Fraser were bang on each time, including when Fraser spied a Ben May knock-on, which rubbed out a long-range Ardie Savea try.

Savea had earlier been well held up by some desperate goal-line defence, while hooker Asafo Aumua had a try scratched for a double movement.

So obvious was Aumuas infringement, the only complaint anyone should have is Pickerill, who was in perfect position to see the rake's left knee hit the deck metres short of the line, didnt pick up on it in real time.

Holland, having watched his side trail 42-18 with nine minutes to play, before scoring two late tries to add some respectability to the final score, was, rightfully, more peeved with his teams lack of execution.

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Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick tackles Highlanders midfielder Scott Gregory in Queenstown on Saturday.

The sight of Brodie Guzzler Retallick making big plays in his first game for the Chiefs since 2019 ought to fill their fan base with confidence.

Retallicks sublime offload to set up Emoni Narawas second half try highlighted the Chiefs 26-16 win against the sloppy Highlanders.

A year after making the Super Rugby Aotaroa final, the Chiefs, armed with Retallick, a healthy Sam Cane, and Josh Ioane at first five-eighth, sure look set to again seriously challenge for the title this year.

As bad as the Highlanders were, they need not panic, nor should any team beaten in round one, not in a competition in which eight of the 12 teams make the playoffs.

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The Waratahs celebrate their drought-snapping win against the Fijian Drua in Sydney on Friday.

The Waratahs have done it, theyve finally won a game.

It took a first-up date with newcomers Fijian Drua, but 538 days after their last win, they ended their miserable run with a 40-10 win in the Super Rugby Pacific opener.

Theyll take it, but shouldnt get carried away after winning a match which made it clear just how difficult 2022 will be for the Drua and Moana Pasifika.

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Fijian Drua Vilive Miramira carts the ball into contact against the Waratahs in Sydney in the opening Super Rugby Pacific match on Friday.

The inaccurate Drua were comprehensively outplayed by far the worst franchise in 2021, highlighted by their poor handling and a shaky set piece.

Well likely get our first proper look at the latter next weekend, when they play the Chiefs in Dunedin.

Waratahs 40 (Will Harris try 13min, Dave Porecki try 35min, Lalakai Foketi try 41min, Angus Bell try 52min, Jake Gordon try 57min; Ben Donaldson 3 pen, 3 con) Fijian Drua 10 (Nemani Nagusa try 65min; Baden Kerr pen, con). HT: 21-3

Chiefs 26 (Sam Cane try 17min, Pita Gus Sowakula try 39min, Emoni Narawa try 48min; Josh Ioane 2 pen, con, Bryn Gatland pen) Highlanders 16 (Daniel Lienert-Brown try 69min; Mitch Hunt 3 pen, con). HT: 18-6

Crusaders 42 (Leicester Faingaanuku tries 8min, 11min, 51min, penalty try 65min, Shilo Klein try 69min Fergus Burke 2 con, 3 pen, Simon Hickey con) Hurricanes 32 (Ruben Love try 28min, Bailyn Sullivan try 68min, Jordie Barrett try 75min, Jackson Garden-Bachop try 79min Jordie Barrett 2 con, 2 pen, Garden-Bachop con). HT: 15-13

Reds 23 (Taniela Tupou try 14min, Harry Wilson try 49min, Jock Campbell try 80min; James OConnor 2 pen, con) Rebels 5 (Brad Wilkin try 34min). HT: 13-5

Brumbies 29 (Andy Muirhead try 18min, Folau Faingaa try 47min, Rory Scott try 58min, Lachlan Lonergan try 79min; Noah Lolesio 3 con, pen) Western Force 23 (Toni Pulu try 43min, Jake McIntyre try 76min; Ian Prior 3 pen, con, McIntyre con). HT: 10-9.

Blues v Moana Pasifika postponed

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Super Rugby talking points: New Zealand sides poised to lead the charge - Stuff.co.nz