The Super Rugby Aupiki final on Saturday will feature a surging Blues against a seemingly stumbling Chiefs Manawa.
The Waikato-based franchise lost their last two round-robin matches while the Blues haven’t lost since a 10-17 setback to Manawa on March 9.
With victory, the Blues will repeat the feat of southerners Matatū by going from last to first in the space of a season. What happened to the defending champions? Was the Hurricanes Poua haka worth it? Who is Aupiki’s best player?
Blues the benchmark
A majority of the Blues roster was involved in Auckland’s stunning 39-27 upset of Canterbury in the Farah Palmer Cup Premiership final last year. The momentum has continued at Super Rugby level, with the Blues twice edging Matatū, piling 93 points on Poua, and producing their best display in a 40-26 rout against Chiefs Manawa in Hamilton.
Blues fullback Patrica Maliepo said before the FPC Premiership final in Christchurch that an affirmation session with a mental skills advisor proved the catalyst for the Auckland Storm to break the shackles and play fearless rugby.
“We were in a room and asked to talk about each other’s superpowers. What are the best things we see in our teammates,” Maliepo recalled.
“The point was to stop us from getting all worried and stressed… My superpower is triple threat. I can kick, pass, and carry.”
Winger Katelyn Vaha’akolo has scored six tries and run for more metres (605) than any player in Aupiki. Her solo try from halfway in the 27-17 victory over Matatū might become a contender for Sky Sport Try of the Year.
First-five Krystel Cottrell is the leading points scorer with 45 and scored crucial tries in both games against Matatū, where her 17 tackles also showed an admirable doggedness. Her combinations with Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant are experienced and threatening.
Blues captain Maia Roos might be the most cheerful bully going; always smiling but physically imposing. She ranks sixth in tackles (74) and fifth in lineouts claimed (13). Maama Vaipulu has claimed 23 lineouts, and her abrasive athleticism will be attracting interest from Black Ferns selectors.
Following maternity leave, tighthead prop Aldora Itunu is showing the form that saw her win a Rugby World Cup with the Black Ferns in 2017. Chryss Viliko is similarly damaging and has continued her growth.
Manu Samoa legend and Blues forwards coach Census Johnstone (60 Tests) said in March: “With Auckland last year I kind of knew we were going to win the final. We built confidence and momentum that allowed the girls to express themselves. The growth was massive. It wasn’t dissimilar to winning teams I’ve been part of. A lot of the women’s game is about getting the mental side right.”
The Blues are peaking. Are the Chiefs regressing?
Matatū eliminated
Defending champions Matatū lost their first four consecutive matches, ruling them out of contention for the final. Captain Alana Bremner insisted the camaraderie in the group was strong and two wins to finish vindicated that sentiment.
In Saturday’s 22-20 victory against Chiefs Manawa, the Chiefs had made 95 tackles compared with the hosts’ 11 after 30 minutes yet it was 12-12.
Matatū led for a combined 56 minutes on average and were level for 68 minutes in the four matches they lost. So, where did it go wrong?
“Our losses have been by close margins which is exciting for the development of Aupiki. In tight games we’ve been on the wrong side of winning crucial moments, be that a making an error attacking, throwing an intercept, or a referees’ call going against us,” Bremner said.
“I appreciate leadership comes with responsibility, so I’ve been trying to lead by example while leaning on others more often for advice. I don’t know it all, but working collaboratively ensures we all learn and grow.”
Physically Matatū lacked the muscle of the finalists. Matatū conceded four tries from rolling mauls in their third-round 38-22 loss to Manawa and against the Blues were bullied at times, especially for most of the final 20 minutes in their first-round defeat to the Auckland-based side.
It’s been two years since Kendra Cocksedge retired and her presence is still sorely missed. Although Roise Kelly and Liv McGoverne had some positive moments, neither established themselves as a game driver at first-five.
On a brighter note, Grace Brooker and Amy du Plessis were potent in midfield, Bremner topped the tackle count with 85, Kaipo Olsen-Baker was a powerhouse in the early rounds and Black Ferns hooker Georgia Ponsonby eventually found her best form.
Hurricanes Poua and that haka
The Hurricanes Poua season will be remembered for the extraordinary furore their opening round haka caused. The outrage industry went into overdrive with the haka even attracting headlines 24 days after it happened when former All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara (Ngāti Rangitihi/ Te Arawa) publicly supported the now infamous ‘redneck’ haka.
At least Perenara led the All Blacks haka 51 times (38 wins) and speaks from a position of heart and authority unlike some of the self-anointed ‘rent a quote’ pundits who surfaced.
Was the haka worth it? Even with the use of deliberately inflammatory language, it’s unlikely the authors could have anticipated such a widespread response. From a political viewpoint, the message was loud and clear, striking a raw nerve that wasn’t palatable with several supporters.
After not performing a haka in the third round against the Blues, the Poua brought out an explanatory press release for their haka against Chiefs Manawa in round four, and that was after they had to clear up, they didn’t mean to offend every person who voted for the coalition Government in the first round. Judging by gate-takings, Poua hasn’t attracted new fans and anecdotally there might be some nervous discussions with existing sponsors.
The Poua’s 36-29 victory over Matatū following the most intense backlash to the haka was genuinely rousing but it wasn’t enough to suppress serious limitations. The Poua finished with a record five defeats and one fewer victory than in 2023. Poua’s biggest issue was a lack of depth on the bench and inferior fitness compared to the leading three. In the second half of matches, the Poua was outscored by 156-70. Poua ranked last in tries scored (19), clean breaks (40), metres gained (2,688), lineouts (70%), offloads (57), and tackles completed (82%).
Does a special haka improve performance? Since the introduction of Kapa o Pango in 2005 the All Blacks have won 199 of 240 Test matches, 71 out of 92 (77%) performing Kapa o Pango and 128 out of 148 (86%) performing Ka Mate. Kapa o Pango is often reserved for harder opponents though Uruguay received it at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
MVP?
Though Hurricanes Poua were last, it’s hard to look past the form of Layla Sae. The No.8 has been sensational with 21 tackles and a try in Saturday’s 41-29 defeat to the Blues. A week earlier with Poua 22-0 down against Matatū, Sae sprinted 45 metres off the back of a scrum for a try and almost did it again with another gut-busting burst. She beat the most defenders with 41 and ranked second in most tackles (84). A true leader and professional.
Who wins On Saturday?
It would be naive to write off the Chiefs who’ll have plenty of motivation after their heartbreaking loss in the 2023 final. However, if Luka Connor and Chelsea Bremner remain sidelined that’ll be a major impediment as the Chiefs’ biggest strength is their lineout drive. The loose forward trio of Victoria Edmonds, Kennedy Simon and Mia Anderson are as good as most but need to be better than they were last start against the Blues.
Ruby Tui has been in sparkling form on the wing and Grace Steinmetz is a success in her switch to second-five. Remember her uncle Paul Steinmetz was an All Blacks second five and Wellington Lions NPC winner.
The Blues are settled, confident, and fearless. Hosting the fixture is a real bonus after being second until the last round. The Blues might be celebrating their first piece of really significant silverware since the men won Super 12 in 2003.
