Source: Radio New Zealand
Tensions have reached boiling point between the Blues and Moana ahead of their clash at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon. Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
It’s rivalry round, and shots have been fired before kick off.
The weekend sees a trio of rivalries, two traditional grudge matches, and one burgeoning beef.
Moana Coach Tana Umaga has unleashed a tirade against the Blues before the two Auckland based sides go to battle at Eden Park on Sunday.
Tensions between the two teams are at boiling point, after Moana picked up a stunning upset win over the Blues in 2025.
However, they will be without the Albany crowd and their inspirational leader Ardie Savea, who drove the victory with one of the greatest individual performances in Super Rugby history.
It was another rough week for Moana, who were soundly beaten by the Chiefs in Hamilton with Damian McKenzie returning to run the show in Hamilton.
They head across the bridge to Eden Park to meet a resurgent Blues side, fresh off a decisive victory over the Crusaders.
Beauden Barrett also made a timely return for the Blues, immediately asserting himself in the 10 jersey.
Auckland bragging rights go on the line at Eden.
Elsewhere we have the iconic southern derby and the classic NSW vs Queensland showdown.
Jamie Joseph put the disappointment of missing out on the All Blacks job in the rear with a quality Highlanders win over the Force, but face a tough task as they prepare to meet a wounded Crusader’s side in Christchurch.
Rob Penney’s men have been clearly hurt by the Blues loss, with two of their players almost coming to blows at training this week.
They will again have their most lethal attacking weapon in Will Jordan back at fullback, the Hurricanes continued their dominance over the Waratahs last weekend, picking up their ninth win on the trot to shoot back up to third and kick off round four against the Force in Napier. The Chiefs sit the week out with a bye.
Selection notes
The big news out of Hurricanes camp is that All Blacks Ruben Love and Tyrel Lomax will make their comebacks in Hawke’s Bay. Former All Black prop Atu Moli will make his Moana Pasifika debut at prop while Malachi Wrampling has been named for a potential Blues debut off the bench.
Chay Fihaki will play his 50th match for the Crusaders.
Injury ward
Ngane Punivai was scratched from the Hurricanes 23 after sustaining a hamstring injury in training. Moana are still without both Jimmy Tupou and Solomon Alaimalo. Stephen Perofeta injured his calf in last week’s Blue’s warm up and will sit out the week while Patrick Tuipulotu still recovers from shoulder surgery. Jamie Hannah will need two weeks to recover from a knock to his hip while no word yet on when Cullen Grace may return for the Crusaders. Highlanders utility Jonah Lowe’s shoulder will keep him sidelined for at least a round.
Key stats
The Hurricanes have lost only one of their last 14 games against the Western Force.
The Brumbies have won all six of their encounters with the Fijian Drua.
Caleb Tangitau has scored 10 tries across his 11 Super Rugby Pacific games since the beginning of the 2025 season.
Caleb Clarke has scored five tries across his last two Super Rugby Pacific games after not scoring any in his previous 13 games.
Team lists
Hurricanes vs Force
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 13 March
McLean Park, Napier
Live blog updates on RNZ
Hurricanes:
1. Pouri Rakete-Stones. 2. Jacob Devery. 3. Pasilio Tosi. 4. Caleb Delany. 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere. 6. Brad Shields. 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc). 8. Devan Flanders. 9. Cam Roigard. 10. Callum Harkin. 11. Fehi Fineanganofo. 12. Jordie Barrett (cc). 13.Jone Rova. 14. Bailyn Sullivan. 15. Josh Moorby.
Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua. 17. Xavier Numia. 18. Tyrel Lomax. 19. Warner Dearns. 20. Brayden Iose. 21. Jordi Viljoen. 22. Ruben Love. 23. Riley Higgins.
“We had a draw with them last year, went to golden point and weren’t good enough to get across the line, so we know it’s going to be a tough challenge.” – Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw
Crusaders vs Highlanders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 14 March
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Live blog updates on RNZ
Crusaders:
1. Finlay Brewis. 2. Codie Taylor. 3. Fletcher Newell. 4. Antonio Shalfoon. 5. Tahlor Cahill. 6. Ethan Blackadder. 7. Johnny Lee. 8. Christian Lio-Willie. 9. Noah Hotham. 10. Rivez Reihana. 11. Sevu Reece. 12. David Havili (c). 13. Braydon Ennor. 14. Chay Fihaki. 15. Will Jordan.
Bench: 16. George Bell. 17. George Bower. 18. Seb Calder. 19. Will Tucker. 20. Xavier Saifoloi. 21. Kyle Preston. 22. Leicester Fainga’anuku. 23. Dallas McLeod.
“As a team, as a group, we’ve got some really good strategies around trying to nullify their strengths and expose our strengths as often as we can.” – Crusaders coach Rob Penney.
Highlanders:
1. Ethan de Groot. 2. Jack Taylor. 3. Angus Ta’avao. 4. Tomás Lavanini. 5. Mitch Dunshea. 6. Te Kamaka Howden. 7. Sean Withy. (cc) 8. Lucas Casey. 9. Folau Fakatava. 10. Cameron Millar. 11. Jona Nareki. 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc). 13. Tanielu Tele’a. 14. Caleb Tangitau. 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Bench: 16. Soane Vikena. 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown. 18. Rohan Wingham. 19. Oliver Haig. 20. Nikora Broughton. 21. Veveni Lasaqa. 22. Adam Lennox. 23. Reesjan Pasitoa.
“Highlanders-Crusaders games are traditionally fairly tight. Typically it comes down to discipline, a few moments. It’s a close competition, so every match matters and the Crusaders in Christchurch is always one of the season’s biggest challenges.” – Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph.
Blues vs Moana
Kick-off: 3:35pm Sunday 15 March
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ
Blues:
1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi. 2. Kurt Eklund. 3. Marcel Renata. 4. Josh Beehre. 5. Sam Darry. 6. Anton Segner. 7. Dalton Papali’i (c). 8. Hoskins Sotutu. 9. Sam Nock. 10. Beauden Barrett. 11. Caleb Clarke. 12. Xavi Taele. 13. AJ Lam. 14. Codemeru Vai. 15. Cole Forbes.
Bench: 16. James Mullan. 17. Mason Tupaea. 18. Sam Matenga. 19. Laghlan McWhannell. 20. Malachi Wrampling. 21. Taufa Funaki. 22. Pita Ahki. 23. Zarn Sullivan.
“We were really pleased with the effort against the Crusaders, but the challenge for us now is to back that up. There’s good energy in the group this week and some extra players have an opportunity to take their chance.” – Blues coach Vern Cotter.
Moana:
1. Tito Tuipulotu. 2. Millennium Sanerivi. 3. Atu Moli, on debut. 4. Tom Savage. 5. Allan Craig. 6. Miracle Faiilagi (c). 7. Semisi Paea. 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa. 9. Augustine Pulu. 10. Patrick Pellegrini. 11. Glen Vaihu. 12. Lalomilo Lalomilo. 13. Tevita Latu. 14. Tevita Ofa. 15. William Havili.
Bench: 16. Mamoru Harada. 17. Monu Moli. 18. Lolani Faleiva. 19. Veikoso Poloniati. 20. Dominic Ropeti. 21. Joel Lam. 22. Ngani Laumape. 23. Tuna Tuitama.
“We’ve got nothing against the playing group, nothing against the staff that work there. But the people that make decisions have made it very hard for us to survive over here. That’s why they (the Blues) are our greatest rivals because they want us to see us not do well, not thrive. I struggle with that when rugby’s in a place where we’re at.” – Moana coach Tana Umaga.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
