Super Rugby Aotearoa: Five Talking Points from Round 4

The Crusaders celebrate Will Jordan’s try on the way to a 40-20 victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin

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Round 4 of Super Rugby Aotearoa saw drama on display across both games, with the Crusaders showing they are the side to beat and Warren Gatland’s Chiefs continuing their slump.

Despite the Highlanders staying in the fight against the Crusaders, the Canterbury men showed their class and ran away to a rather flattering 40-20 win.

The Hurricanes and Chiefs were both without a W heading into their clash in Hamilton, but the Wellington outfit’s backline scythed through flimsy Waikato defending to came away with a priceless 25-18 victory.

See our major talking points from another great weekend of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Crusaders backline is scarily good - with their pack not bad either

Even when the Crusaders did their best to butcher their opening try, due to a lack of straight running and lazy passing, rookie winger Will Jordan still squeezed into the corner despite the Highlanders’ Rob Thompson hanging on his coattails.

His second wasn’t bad either to put the cherry onto a 40-20 win, gathering his own chip and chase before showing his electric speed to streak in.

Jordan is surely an All Black in waiting and is arguably the most exciting back three player in the competition so far.

Despite George Bridge not being available, the ‘Saders could still afford to leave Sevu Reece on the sidelines and unleash him on the tiring opposition.

He climbed off the bench to bag a sensational diving try himself, but their backline stocks are something else.

David Havili had a solid game at fullback, Leicester Faingaanuku was constantly off his wing looking for work, but their most integral man has to be Jack Goodhue.

The mulleted genius is an all action player, capable of doing everything and anything in that centre channel alongside trickster-in-chief Richie Mo’unga at fly-half.

Great defensively, a superb playmaker with a wicked step and strength, Goodhue is the main part of a Crusaders spine that makes them function.

Despite the praise being rightly lauded on the Christchurch outfit’s back division, their tight five ain’t too shabby either.

A pack containing Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Michael Alaalatoa and Sam Whitelock (with Scott Barrett out for four months) is fearsome at set piece and around the park, constantly outworking their opponents and popping up in attack.

In Tom Christie at 7, they also seem to have unearthed their very own version of Ardie Savea in the outside channels.

The youngster, a former New Zealand U20s Word Cup winner and captain, bagged two tries in a solid display, linking the forwards to the outside backs well while doing his dirty work over the ball.

If any team finishes above the Crusaders in the final standings, The Flanker thinks they will have won the whole damn thing.

Dogged Highlanders fight well against the Crusaders, but rely on lynchpin Aaron Smith

When he exited the Forsyth Barr Arena at the 70 minute mark, 53% of the Highlanders play’s were coming off their mercurial scrumhalf Aaron Smith.

His sensational passing is unrivalled in rugby, not to mention Smith made the break to set up Ngane Punivai to give the Highlanders a 14-8 lead they were, ultimately, unable to cling onto.

If you have the best 9 of his generation in your team, it makes sense to get him into the game as often as possible. Smith is a little general, manoeuvring his pack around the field and leading them in attack.

However his backline, in particular fly-half Mitch Hunt, need to alleviate pressure off their leader by stepping up to the plate and getting their hands on the ball more often.

The Highlanders only had 36% of the ball in the game and 33% of the territory, with Hunt often guilty of handing the pill back to their opponents with some aimless kicking.

Aaron Smith makes a break during the Highlanders 40-20 loss to The Crusaders

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Although they defended well, you give that much ball to the best franchise in the competition (not to mention back to back Super Rugby champions) they will eventually grind you down.

Up front, flanker Shannon Frizell reminded everyone, and All Blacks coach Ian Foster, he is still very much in the mix for more international honours.

Along with his twisting, bashing, stretching try, in which he must have had three Crusaders players clinging on his back, the big number 6 made 19 tackles and a some key turnovers in a stunning display in a losing cause.

Fear not Highlanders fans, this is a good side with some promising players and you won’t have to play the champs every week.

Chiefs left scratching their heads again as they forget how to win

In a last chance saloon game for both sides, with a win for either would see them keep their slim Super Rugby Aoteroa title hopes alive, the Chiefs stuttered to a poor defeat against 14-man Hurricanes.

Much was expected of the Waikato team when arguably greatest coach in the world, Warren Gatland, arrived to take the reigns earlier this year.

However, they are 0-4 and left pondering again how another game got away from them.

With 70 points netted over four games, scoring doesn’t seem to be the issue but rather keeping them out at the other end.

The Hurricanes ran into a 20-3 lead at halftime with Kobus Van Wyk scoring an early try, while Du'Plessis Kirifi also crossed and Jordie Barrett landed a penalty from 60 metres just before the break.

By this stage, it is almost game over, with the Chiefs defence shambolic. Damian McKenzie lost his head for Van Wyk’s try, leaving the South African winger acres of space to take his time when dotting down.

Even with ‘Canes lock Scott Scrafton sent off in the 65th minute, the Chiefs were left chasing the game despite McKenzie making up for his earlier error with some quick thinking to win a penalty try.

The Chiefs dominated the ball, territory, metres made and penalty count, but could still not break down a Hurricanes team hanging onto their well earned lead.

Gatland and defence coach Tabai Matson need to go back to the drawing board this week. Cut out the silly errors, along with the 28 missed tackles, and they will get back to winning ways.

Jordie replaces Beauden as the main man at never-say-die Hurricanes

Massive penalty goal aside, Jordie Barrett was instrumental in his team’s priceless win. Stepping in at first receiver time and time again, it was his floated pass that unlocked the Chiefs defence for their opening try.

With Beaudy not really replaced since his move to the Blues, both incumbent number 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop and junior Barrett Jordie are vying to fill the massive void left by his departure.

Barrett, just back from a shoulder injury, will need to lead this youthful team along with stalwart All Blacks scrum half TJ Perenara.

With the attacking work done in the opening 40 minutes, this was about defensive resilience for the Canes as they repelled a second half onslaught from the Chiefs.

Previously mentioned lock Scott Scrafton received his marching orders on 65 minutes after picking up two cynical yellows, with the second for not being 10 yards back perhaps avoidable.

All Black Dane Coles at hooker was solid at set piece and led by example, but this was a display built by the back-rowers.

Jordie Barrett nails a monster 60m penalty on the stroke of half time in the Hurricanes 25-18 win

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Blindside flank Reed Prinsep got through 21 tackles alone while his openside partner Du’Plessis Kirifi was a perfect foil as he gave opposite number Sam Cane a torrid time at the breakdown numerous times.

At 8, Ardie Savea was simply everywhere. He took it to the gameline to make precious metres for his side while he remained at his ferocious best in defence.

Although their hopes of winning the title may be slim, expect the Hurricanes to be kingmakers as they will, undoubtedly, cause an upset or two in the later stages of the competition.

Round 5 could see title decided as Blues travel to Crusaders

With Beauden Barrett’s much publicised move to Japan in 2021 now confirmed, the Blues may never have a better chance to pick up their first silverware since 2003 than in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Next weekend’s mouthwatering clash against the Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch could be a title decider, even though it would only be the mid point in the competition.

With the two teams not meeting again until Round 10, the final weekend of matches, this is an opportunity to land a psychological and physical blow.

As the Highlanders showed, the Crusaders are not invincible and pockets of space can be found in their imperious defence.

Otere Black and Barrett have an excellent partnership already, leading counter attacks and nudging their team into the opposition half with their game management.

Their pack, lead by Patrick Tuipulotu, are going to have to soak up a lot of Crusaders pressure and put in a big defensive shift, which they should relish.

When they get chances to break or run from deep, the Blues need to back themselves to take the game to the Crusaders and not hand back easy possession.

For the men in Red and Black, as we mentioned last week, they are simply chock full of X-Factor gamechangers and may just have too much quality for a rejuvenated Blues.

Either way, it’s set to be a humdinger you don’t want to miss.