Another big weekend of SR Aotearoa

With two superb rounds already under the belt, Super Rugby Aotearoa is back for Round 3 with two humdingers on the cards as the Crusaders tackle the Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday before the Highlanders travel to Eden Park on Sunday where Leon MacDonald’s Blues lie in wait.

The Crusaders, as predicted, have enjoyed a fiery start to the competition and now find themselves perched atop the log, as yet unbeaten, with a total of 9 points.

The Chiefs will have their hands full as they attempt to stem the red tide which approaches them as Scott Robertson’s influence continues to bring the potential of his players to fruition.

The Chiefs are ravenous for a victory in Super Rugby Aotearoa – a goal they have yet to achieve after enduring a painful and winless 2020 campaign. They kicked off the current season with 39-23 loss to the Highlanders in Hamilton. The Chiefs looked good in the early stages, slotting two penalties for a 6-3 lead before the Highlanders picked up a yellow card – the ensuing numerical disadvantage was swiftly capitalised on by Sam Cane’s men as they dotted down the match’s first try to make it 13-3. The Chiefs added another to put themselves firmly in the driver’s seat, but it was to be a very different second half as the Highlanders took control of the game, scoring four tries and snubbing the possibility of a Chiefs victory.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders put the Hurricanes to the sword – 33-16 in Christchurch. Codie Taylor was once again in sublime form, scoring two tries and scooping the man-of-the-match award.

After their dominant second half performance last weekend, the Highlanders will go toe-to-toe with the Blues who will be fresh from their bye in Round 2 and confident after commencing their campaign with a 31-16 victory over the Canes.

The Highlanders stumbled in Round 1 against the Crusaders but pulled things right the next weekend against the Chiefs. Interestingly, that game had a similar mould of the second encounter in 2020 wherein the Highlanders put together a superb second half comeback to snatch victory from Warren Gatland’s Chiefs.

The Blues are looking impressive once again. The pressure they exerted over the Canes in Round 1 was intense and, in the end, proved too much for the men in yellow to handle.

One would think that the Blues will have the upper hand on their home-turf and in front of their passionate fans, but the Highlanders, as they have shown, are more than capable of springing a surprise. Aaron Smith and co. may enjoy the underdog tag this weekend but will be well aware of the enormity of the challenge in front of them.