Super Rugby Pacific Round One | Three Key Takeaways | Strong Aussie Start
Super Rugby Pacific Round One | Three Key Takeaways | Strong Aussie Start
Round one of Super Rugby Pacific 2025 three key takeaways as Ardie Savea debuts for Moana Pasifika and Joseph Sua'ali'i debuts for the Waratahs.
Round one of Super Rugby Pacific reminded the world just why the Southern Hemisphere’s premier rugby competition is must watch action.
Starting with a pair of belters on Friday, with the Crusaders overcoming a fourteen-point deficit to down the Hurricanes in Christchurch. This was backed up by a dramatic late victory for the Waratahs over the Highlanders in Sydney, with Joseph Sua’ali’I proving why Rugby Australia broke the bank to secure his signature.
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Saturday would see the action remain at a world-class level with four brilliant clashes, the last of which saw the Western Force go coast-to-coast to secure an overtime victory against Ardia Savea’s Moana Pasifika.
Now done and dusted, here are three key takeaways from round one of Super Rugby Pacific.
Cream Remains Atop
Blessed with intriguing clashes across the board, one fixture stood tall as the clear leader in terms of quality. Unsurprisingly, it was the matchup between last year’s finalists, the Blues and the Chiefs in Auckland. Picking up right where they left off last season, the two sides played at a test match intensity from the off, with neither willing to bow to the other’s pressure. Coming out hot, the defending champs took a well-deserved 14 – 6 lead into half-time courtesy of tries by Dalton Papali’I and A.J. Lam. Former World Player Of The Year Beauden Barrett converted both scores with the Blues seemingly in cruise control. The second half would prove to be an equally bruising affair, but it was the Chiefs who were able to move through the gears. Breaking the deadlock was fullback Damian McKenzie, who raced over in the 52nd minute. The All Blacks playmaker would miss the conversion to leave his side adrift by one point. Ten minutes later the visitors would take their first lead since the 13th minute when winger Leroy Carter crossed with McKenzie adding the extras. Still firmly in the balance with less than ten minutes to play, McKenzie sealed the deal with his second try before adding the final points of the match with the conversion to seal a 25 – 14 win. Ironically, this clash was set to pit McKenzie and Barrett head-to-head as the All Blacks first choice flyhalves, but in the end, both men started in the 15 shirts and looked exceptional. Overall, this fixture, whilst at times clunky, showed the clear divide between these two sides and the rest of the competition defensively and at set piece time.
The Savea Impact
How can one quantify a generational talent? This is a question the sports world has been asking for centuries. One thing is for certain: you know class when you see it, and few players in world rugby are classier than All Blacks star Ardie Savea. On the pitch, the former World Player Of The Year is a titan, whilst off it, he is the ultimate professional and gentleman. Thus, his offseason move from the Hurricanes to Moana Pasifika was rightly lauded as a watershed moment for the new franchise. His impact on Tana Umaga’s squad was immediately obvious as he played a key role in getting his squad two scores in front with less than eight minutes to play. Unfortunately for Moana, they would be undone by two sublime tries by the Western Force, who, twenty years ago, were in Moana’s position as the new kids on the block. Despite the final result, Savea and Co proved they are not going to be easy outs in 2025. Quite the opposite; in fact, they look every bit like a potential playoff team with a dominant set-piece and an electric, x-factor-laden backline. Despite what a few experts felt about Savea’s move potentially hampering his All Blacks ambitions, the move has instead heightened Savea’s role as a player who lifts those around him.
Australian Resurgence
Starting with a perfect 3 – 0 record is about as good as we have seen from Australian Rugby in, well, ever, really. Adding to this impressive start was the manner in which the Australian sides went about their business. Starting with the Waratahs, who stunned the Highlanders with a last-gasp 37 – 36 victory in Sydney. Front and centre to the action was mega offseason signing Joseph Sua’ali’I, who started his club life in the same manner as his test life with an impressive individual display in a team victory. Speaking post-match, Tahs’ head coach Dan McKellar was quick to temper expectations for the rockstar 21-year-old, "I thought he was good. You'd like to see the ball in his hands more. But he got into space a couple of times and looked dangerous. So that'll come the more he learns his role within our attack."
This result was backed up by the Brumbies becoming the first Australian team to win in Fiji when they fronted up against a rampant Drua side in Suva. Stephen Larkham’s side would squeak by 36 – 32 to get their season off to the perfect start. Speaking post-match, stand-in captain Ryan Lonergan, who scored a try of his own, said, “So proud, to be able to play six debutants, and they go out there and show that kind of heart at the end to be able to claw back that deficit, it’s a credit to them. They worked so hard through the pre-season, they’ve just been grinding behind the scenes and for them to now get the chocolates here at the end, I’m so happy. Our set-piece there at the end, really sort of got us back there in the game and a couple of good tries to Lukey Reimer there that I’m sure we won’t stop hearing about.” Adding to the impressive nature of the victory was Larkham’s decision to rest several key Wallabies players by leaving them at home in Canberra.
Finally, the Western Force matched the energy of their Sydney rivals with a moment of magic by Wallabies flyhalf Ben Donaldson. Going through twenty-six phases with the clock firmly in the red, the Perth side celebrated their twentieth anniversary with a potentially new era beginning victory. Digging deep, the Force had to overcome a two-score deficit with eight minutes to play for Donaldson to seal the deal. To his credit, the 25-year-old showed plenty of grit himself by powering through a nasty rolled ankle, which he sustained early in the second half. For the Perth side, they will need to rectify their scrum issues with Moana taking them to the cleaners on several occasions. Nevertheless, they look stronger across the board than at any point since the heydays of Matt Giteau and Nathan Sharpe.
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