Five storylines ahead of Round Six of Super Rugby Pacific including desperate Crusaders hosting Damian McKenzie-less Chiefs
Crusaders wing Sevu Reece, Waratahs head coach Darren Coleman and Blues centre Rieko Ioane.
The 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season is in full swing and there are several entertaining encounters set to take place this weekend.
Ahead of the Round Six action, Planet Rugby has selected five storylines to follow in the various clashes.
Desperate Crusaders host Damian McKenzie-less Chiefs
After a golden period under the guidance of Scott Robertson, when they won seven successive Super Rugby titles between 2017 and 2023, the Crusaders find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they are currently propping up the table after suffering five defeats in a row – against the Chiefs, Waratahs, Fijian Drua, Hurricanes and Blues.
That opening loss to the Chiefs was a repeat of last year’s Super Rugby Pacific final and if one compares that encounter to all the Crusaders’ other matches played so far this season, it was arguably their best performance as their opponents clinched a narrow 33-29 victory on that occasion.
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney must be wondering if their campaign would have turned out differently if they had won that match and he will be happy that the Chiefs will come to Christchurch for the rematch without their star player Damian McKenzie.
The 28-year-old has been in excellent form in Super Rugby this year but it is indicative of the Crusaders’ current precarious situation that Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has opted to rest the diminutive playmaker for Friday’s trip to Christchurch.
That could be interpreted as the Chiefs not seeing the Crusaders as a threat due to their current woeful form, although McMillan has indicated that it’s not the case but merely because of rest protocols for All Black players.
Despite that explanation, Penney and his troops will be desperate to exploit McKenzie’s absence and notch their maiden win of the campaign.
Fijian Drua set to continue fine home form
The Drua have continued where they left off in 2023, when they advanced to the tournament’s knockout rounds, by delivering competitive performances in all their matches.
The Pacific islanders have lost three of their five matches played so far – against the Blues, Moana Pasifika and Chiefs – while they have won both their home matches – against the Crusaders and Waratahs.
Their home form in 2024 builds on their record in 2023 when they also delivered excellent performances in their backyard – especially during the latter stages of the league phase of the competition – and those displays played a big part in the Drua reaching last year’s Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals.
In fact, the last time they lost a home match was a Round 10 fixture against the Blues on April 29 last year at Churchill Park in Lautoka. Since then, they have won five consecutive home games with the Hurricanes, Moana and Reds their three scalps in 2023.
This weekend, they’re back at home against the Western Force in Lautoka and will fancy their chances of continuing their fine form in front of their loyal supporters, after beating the Waratahs at the same venue last week.
Masi Masterclass 👨🏫#SuperRugbyPacific #DRUvWAR pic.twitter.com/L9mue9QQdt
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 23, 2024
Waratahs head coach feeling the heat
Just like Crusaders boss Penney, the Waratahs‘ head coach Darren Coleman is under tremendous pressure as his side have not produced the desired results this year.
The Sydneysiders are currently languishing in 10th position in the standings with just one victory under their belt – against the hapless Crusaders in Round Two – with their other four matches ending in defeat against the Reds, Highlanders, Blues and Drua.
While they suffered a big loss in their season opener against the Reds, the Waratahs can consider themselves unlucky as their recent defeats to the Highlanders, Blues and Drua have been heartbreaking, with all three of those results decided by three points or less.
Unfortunately, as a head coach, Coleman is in a results driven business and there has been talk that the Waratahs board are likely to make a decision on his future early in the season.
They are up against the seventh-placed Melbourne Rebels in Sydney on Friday and another defeat could spell the end of Coleman’s two-year stint in charge of the team.
Rieko Ioane back to boost the Blues
All Blacks star Rieko Ioane makes his Super Rugby Pacific comeback on Saturday in a fillip for Vern Cotter’s side.
The 27-year-old is vastly experienced for his age with over a century of caps for the Blues already, making his return a welcome one, particularly when he gets added to a full flowing backline.
The centre was sidelined with a concussion for the game against the Crusaders but returns for their encounter with Moana Pasifika, where his attacking prowess will come in handy as the Blues look to mount a serious challenge for the title.
The All Blacks star joins Bryce Heem in the Blues midfield while Caleb Clarke and Mark Telea start on the wing with Stephen Perofeta at fly-half, making up a lethal backline to potentially run wild against Moana Pasifika.
Reds and Brumbies set for thrilling Aussie derby
The 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season has seen the Australian sides being far more competitive with three of the eight play-off spots filled by teams from Down Under and the two leading rivals clash this weekend in what is sure to be a blockbuster game.
Stephen Larkham’s Brumbies are the top-placed Australian side and look really potent at the moment on the back of a stunning performance last time out where full-back Tom Wright sparkled, as did Noah Lolesio at 10, and both will be crucial again. The Canberra-based side have been in the semi-finals in the last two editions and will see this year as a chance to challenge for the title with perennial winners, the Crusaders, looking worse for wear so far this season.
The Reds are undergoing some big changes this season with Les Kiss at the helm. The Queenslanders have taken well to their new coach and look brilliant so far this season with the exception of their poor effort against the Western Force last time out. Still, two losses from five is not a bad return and they will be desperate to build on that and stake a claim for the top of the Australian pile.
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