The DHL Super Rugby Pacific is entering a critical phase, with the penultimate weekend of regular fixtures set to reshape the competition’s landscape before the tournament converges on Christchurch for the blockbuster Super Round. As we head towards the business end of the season, this weekend’s matches will prove decisive for teams eyeing a top-six finish and the pathway to the playoffs.
Five compelling fixtures will unfold across the Tasman, each with significant implications for the final ladder positions. The weekend kicks off on Friday night at Eden Park in Auckland, where the Blues host the Highlanders in what promises to be a fiercely contested New Zealand derby. Saturday’s action features the heavyweight clash between the Hurricanes and Chiefs in Hamilton, a match that could determine the competition’s leading position, alongside the Brumbies versus Fijian Drua encounter in Canberra and the Waratahs versus Moana Pasifika showdown in Sydney. The round concludes with the Western Force welcoming the Crusaders to Perth—a fixture that could prove pivotal for both franchises’ finals ambitions.
The race for the top six in Super Rugby Pacific intensifies this weekend
The Blues will be desperate to bounce back after last weekend’s defeat to the Hurricanes saw them slip to third on the ladder. However, there’s a silver lining for Vern Cotter’s side: the return of Patrick Tuipulotu, the influential lock who’s been sidelined with a shoulder injury. Alongside Tuipulotu, both Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu return to the starting lineup, providing the Blues with much-needed reinforcement in the forward pack. The losses of Caleb Clarke and Ofa Tu’ungafasi will sting, but the leadership injection Tuipulotu brings could prove transformative.
Cotter was emphatic about the impact of his captain’s return: “Having Patrick back is massive for us. He’s a leader who drives standards on and off the field. You can feel the lift in the group with him back out on the field.” The Blues will be defending the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy against the Highlanders, a fixture steeped in tradition. The visitors have made minimal changes to their lineup following a narrow loss to the Brumbies, with TK Howden joining the bench and Adam Lennox earning his first start of the season at halfball.
In Sydney, the Waratahs will face Moana Pasifika in a fixture that’s garnered unusual attention off the field—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are among the expected spectators at Allianz Stadium. On the pitch, Moana have responded with near full-strength selection, deploying the formidable loose forward trio of Miracle Faiilagi, Semisi Paea, and Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa. The Waratahs, meanwhile, will give Angus Scott-Young his first start of the season at blindside, but it’s otherwise a settled outfit. Waratahs coach Dan McKellar has warned his players not to underestimate the visitors, despite their position at the foot of the table.
“They’re big, powerful men, who have got the ability to be really dangerous off turnover ball and can go front door or they can go the back door,” McKellar cautioned. For the Waratahs, victory is essential to maintain their top-six credentials as the window for qualification begins to close. The stakes couldn’t be higher for either franchise, with the losing side potentially finding themselves adrift of the playoff positions heading into the final round.
The weekend’s marquee fixture pits the Hurricanes against the Chiefs in Hamilton, a collision between the competition’s top two teams. The Hurricanes currently lead the table, while the Chiefs sit hot on their heels, and a bonus-point win for Christchurch could see them snatch top spot. The Hurricanes, however, can extend their advantage to five points with a bonus-point victory and a game in hand. This match will be won in the forward pack, where two elite units will square off. The lock battle between Warner Dearns and Josh Lord promises to be intriguing, but the loose forward contest is where the real fireworks could ignite.
The Hurricanes boast Devan Flanders, whose form this season has been so impressive that an All Blacks call could beckon by July. The Chiefs’ loose forward depth is extraordinary—Wallace Sititi is languishing on the bench despite being one of the best in the land. In the backline, Ruben Love and Damian McKenzie are both in scintillating form for the Waikato-based franchise. Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw acknowledged the Chiefs’ forward dominance: “They have probably the strongest forward pack we’ve faced. They’re full of All Blacks, so we’re well aware of the threat they pose, but we’re confident in the way we’re playing.”
In Canberra, the Brumbies will aim to propel themselves to third with victory over the Fijian Drua, a side that’s struggled to win away from home all season. The Brumbies are riding the momentum of last weekend’s impressive road win in Dunedin, and the return of Wallaby fullback Tom Wright from a serious ACL tear represents a massive morale booster. Wright was handed a starting spot rather than a bench role, a decision Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham believes offers both immediate impact and rehabilitation benefits. “Just the leadership and the confidence that he gives to the rest of the playing group from the get-go of the game is going to be good for us,” Larkham explained.
The weekend concludes with the Crusaders attempting to bounce back from their disappointing loss to the Reds as they travel west to Perth. The Crusaders have rolled out a heavily rotated squad—notably, they’re heading to the field with no incumbent All Blacks for the first time in years. This presents a unique opportunity for emerging talent, with Christian Lio-Willie set to lead the team for the first time. The Western Force, meanwhile, have welcomed back Darcy Swain, Tom Robertson, and Carlo Tizzano, while Zac Lomax has earned a starting wing berth following a strong defensive display last weekend.
A special milestone awaits the Force: Harry Johnson-Holmes will bring up his 100th Super Rugby cap when he comes off the bench. The Crusaders, desperate to build momentum ahead of the Super Round at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch, know that Perth represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Coach Rob Penney was frank about the imperatives: “Every week’s important. Every point you get is critical. We’re there or thereabouts and we need to start building rhythm sooner rather than later. We know what we’re capable of, now it’s about showing it.”
This weekend encapsulates everything that makes Super Rugby compelling—genuine competition, high stakes, and franchises fighting tooth and nail for playoff positioning. The results will reverberate through the final round and into the Super Round, where the tournament’s true climax awaits.