Ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific final on Saturday, we discuss the main battles from the big encounter at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.
Shaun Stevenson v Will Jordan
The form full-back in Super Rugby Pacific against the player many think should be the full-back for the All Blacks going forward. Jordan has played most of his international rugby on the wing but is very much a 15 in the eyes of Crusaders boss Scott Robertson and will look to continue his fine form since returning from an inner-ear vestibular issue, which kept him on the sidelines for eight months.
Jordan has been excellent since getting back into the ‘Saders side, but his opposite number this weekend has arguably been the standout in Super Rugby in 2023. Damian McKenzie is many people’s shout for the player of the season award, but Stevenson is up there with him, having shone for the Chiefs. He was incredibly unlucky to miss out on New Zealand selection, but the 26-year-old now has the opportunity to show why he should have made the initial 36-man squad.
Both are superb athletes with very aesthetically pleasing running styles, but they also have wonderful skill sets. As well as their ability in attack, their command of the backfield will be vitally important, with both teams having good kicking games.
Emoni Narawa v Leicester Fainga’anuku
Two players who have lit up the competition in 2023 face off out wide, looking to stamp their mark ahead of the Rugby Championship. In simplistic terms, it is pace versus power, with the fleet-footed Narawa taking on the physical and abrasive Fainga’anuku, but of course, there is much more to their respective games than that.
The Chiefs man does not lack for size, with him weighing a pretty hefty 15st 6lb, but he certainly prefers to go around rather than through, and it will be a fascinating defensive battle for the Crusaders star. Narawa is raw, especially in comparison to Fainga’anuku’s more rounded game – a player that works very hard off the ball – and his skills will be tested.
Should the 23-year-old come through this challenge then an All Blacks debut could await him in the Rugby Championship.
Anton Lienert-Brown v Jack Goodhue
These two will be the glue in their respective backlines, a couple of incredibly smart operators who make good decisions with and without the ball.
Lienert-Brown has missed a large portion of the campaign through injury but returned just in time to find his form and get himself in the All Blacks squad. His job will be crucial this weekend as he acts as an extra playmaker alongside the outstanding McKenzie, taking the pressure off the talented fly-half.
Goodhue also has good skills, but he is a slightly more direct runner who will carry in traffic. Unlike Lienert-Brown, the 28-year-old has missed out on the New Zealand squad, which is a huge blow on a personal level looking ahead to the Rugby World Cup. He is another to suffer with injury over recent years, but this is a game where he could lay down a significant marker and make Ian Foster regret his decision.
Damian McKenzie v Richie Mo’unga
The biggest duel of them all as the two best fly-halves in the competition this year clash. After returning from a stint in Japan, McKenzie has enjoyed a stunning campaign, playing a key role in the Chiefs’ rise to the Super Rugby Pacific summit. He will look to lean back on their two regular season encounters with the Crusaders as they emerged triumphant on both occasions.
McKenzie eclipsed Mo’unga each time as the defending champions struggled to find their best. However, the Christchurch outfit have gradually improved and were ominously good in their semi-final with the Blues. With the forwards dominating the collisions, it allowed their world-class fly-half to dictate proceedings and, if that happens again, the Chiefs will have no chance.
Mo’unga edges it in terms of his all-round game, knowing when to kick, pass or run, but McKenzie is the form player and that counts for a lot. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the winner of this head-to-head starts the All Blacks’ first match of the Rugby Championship against Argentina.
Sam Cane v Tom Christie
Talking of form, Christie has arguably been the Crusaders’ best forward this season and has especially stepped up in the play-offs. There is currently no better player over the ball in New Zealand than the flanker, who wreaked havoc at the breakdown against the Blues in the semi-final.
If the Chiefs are similarly suicidal in possession than the Aucklanders, then Christie will enjoy his time on Saturday. The slightly more physical Cane therefore needs to have a big match to prevent his opposite number having too much influence.
Although New Zealand’s skipper is also good at the contact area, his main asset might just be his ability to clear out the breakdown quickly and efficiently, preventing Christie and co. from gaining a foothold in that area.
Lock battle
Four All Blacks second-rows take to the field in Hamilton on Saturday. Of course, much of the focus will be on how the two legends, Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, influence proceedings in their own inimitable ways, but Scott Barrett and Tupou Vaa’i will also have a big say on the game.
The set-piece is always crucial, with the lineout, in particular, a decisive factor in this encounter. It has worked well for the Chiefs this season, but Whitelock is a savvy operator and will seek to disrupt their ball. The 34-year-old’s return from injury is crucial for the Crusaders, who can now put even more pressure on up front.
Samisoni Taukei’aho v Codie Taylor
Finally, we look at the clash in the middle of the front-row between two very talented players. They may, to a degree, be at opposite ends of their career, with the Crusaders man the old stager and Taukei’aho very much representing the future of New Zealand rugby.
These two interchanged for the All Blacks during the 2022 end-of-year series, but there is a sense that the Chiefs powerhouse is edging ahead. He has the physicality at close quarters but also the athleticism to get around the field, while his set-piece game is very solid.
In contrast, Taylor has struggled with his throwing in some big matches, so the ‘Saders will hope that holds up in Saturday’s showpiece event. Experience counts for a lot in these encounters, but Taukei’aho has the more reliable skill set, despite being the much younger player.
READ MORE: Super Rugby Pacific final preview as Scott Robertson set to go out on a high
The article The seven head-to-heads that could define the Super Rugby Pacific final appeared first on Planetrugby.com.
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