The Silver Fern

@Bovidae said in Auckland v Waikato:

Four wins in a row over Auckland as well, which looks to be Waikato's best winning streak.

Equals.

Waikato won 4 in a row over Auckland 1954-55

1954 won 23-9 (Ham); won 14-13 (Auck)

1955 won 24-13 (Ham); won 17-14 (Auck).

Counties Manukau should be defending the Bruce Robertson Trophy in this match.

Updated squad list:

Hookers
Shaun Kempton, Highlanders/Southland
Manumaua Letiu, Crusaders/Canterbury
Eli Oudenryn, Crusaders/ Ta$man

Props
Robson Faleafā, Blues/Auckland
Dane Johnston, Chiefs/Taranaki
Sika Pole, Blues/Auckland
Israel Time, Hurricanes/Wellington (replacing Tamiano Ahloo)
Logan Wallace, Hurricanes/Manawatu

Locks
Jayden Sa, Chiefs/Taranaki
Josh Tengblad, Highlanders/Otago
Aisake Vakasiuola, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty

Loose Forwards
Mosese Bason, Hurricanes/Manawatū
Micah Fale, Chiefs/Waikato
Oli Mathis, Chiefs/Waikato
Xavier Treacy, Crusaders/Canterbury
Caleb Woodley, Blues/Auckland
Finn McLeod, Crusaders/Canterbury

Halfbacks
Ollie Burra, Crusaders, Canterbury (replacing Charlie Sinton)
Dylan Pledger, Highlanders/Otago
Jai Tamati, Hurricanes/Manawatū

First five-eighth
Will Cole, Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay
Rico Simpson, Blues/Auckland

Midfield
James Cameron, Crusaders/Canterbury
Tayne Harvey, Highlanders/Southland
Cooper Roberts, Crusaders/ Ta$man
Jack Wiseman, Chiefs/Taranaki

Outside Backs
Maloni Kunawave, Crusaders/ Ta$man
Harlyn Saunoa, Blues/Auckland
Stanley Solomon, Hurricanes/Wellington
Frank Vaenuku, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty

Co Head-Coaches
Jarrad Hoeata and Alex Robertson

Scrum Coach:
Craig Dunlea

Defence Coach:
Dave Dillon

New Zealand Under 20s match schedule:

Monday 30 June, 6:30am NZT
New Zealand v Italy – Stadio San Michele, Calvisano

Saturday 5 July, 4:00am NZT
New Zealand v Georgia – Stadia Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana

Thursday 10 July, 4:00am NZT
New Zealand v Ireland – Stadio San Michele, Calvisano

TBC
Playoff matches

Tuesday 3 June
Super Rugby Pacific reaches new heights in 2025
The latest metrics out of Super Rugby Pacific reveal the competition has surged in popularity and engagement in 2025, on the back of a season featuring record high scores, more competitive contests and thrilling finishes.

Data from the now-completed regular season confirms Super Rugby Pacific encounters are faster than ever before, with reduced stoppages and quicker restarts of play, and have produced more unexpected results.

Positive trends in on-field metrics sourced from data provider Opta have been matched by strong growth in viewership, match attendance and digital engagement.

OFF-FIELD METRICS
Total match attendance across the competition has increased 6 per cent year-on-year, defying a reduction in total regular season games from 84 to 77.
In Australia, Stan Sport has confirmed a 27 per cent increase in average audience across the regular season, while average free-to-air audiences on Nine grew by 13 per cent.
In New Zealand, more than 1.83 million people have tuned in on Sky Sport and Sky Open, while digital viewership on Sky Go and Sky Sport Now grew by more than 19 per cent.
In Fiji concurrent viewership on the Walesi App peaked at 395,436 – more than a third of the Fijian population.
Super Rugby Pacific became the first domestic rugby competition in the world to achieve a total social media following of 2.5 million, driven by a 25 per cent increase in year-on-year follower growth.
More than 70,000 fans played Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific, making more than 4.5 million player trades across the season.

ON-FIELD METRICS
Almost half of games (43.1 per cent) have produced winning margins of seven points or less.
Currently the second-highest scoring Super Rugby season of all time, with an average of 57.8 points per game.
A historically low average of 2.1 penalty goal attempts per game reflecting teams favouring attacking, running rugby.
Increased jeopardy within games with an average of 4.1 lead changes per match, more than half of games (54.2 per cent) having a lead change in the second half, and more than a quarter of games (26.4 per cent) a lead change in the final ten minutes.*
That jeopardy extends to match results with almost half of games (48.6 per cent) reversing a result from 2024.*
The gap of 31 competition points between the last-placed Highlanders and first-placed Chiefs is the smallest margin between first and last since 2004.
‘Hoodoos’ being broken – Queensland Reds beating the Highlanders in New Zealand for the first time since 2012, ACT Brumbies winning at Eden Park for the first time since 2013, the Hurricanes ending a six-game winless run against the Brumbies in Canberra, Moana Pasifika recording their first-ever victories over the Highlanders, Blues and Crusaders.

“The momentum is clear,” Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said.

"Across the competition, there’s a shared vision to deliver a brand of rugby that is fast, engaging and truly connects with our members and fans.

"Week after week, this season has produced edge-of-your-seat action - from high-scoring clashes to nail-biting finishes, stunning comebacks and teams rewriting history.

"From the rising TV audiences and growth in match attendance this year, to the surge in digital activity through Fantasy and social media, all signs tell us that Super Rugby Pacific is heading in the right direction.

“With the promise of an epic Finals Series ahead, we look forward to capping off this milestone season with a spectacular finale.”

Super Rugby Pacific - Shape of Game Metrics
Game Length (excluding half-time): 1h30m11s (2025), 1h31m7s (2024)
Static Time (excluding half-time): 55m09s (2025), 56m04s (2024)
Penalty Kick Time: 42s (2025), 1m8s (2024)
Conversion Kick Time: 55s (2025), 1m9s (2024)
Scrums (mark to “crouch”): 29s (2025), 45s (2024)
Lineout (mark to formed): 18s (2025), 25s (2024)
Points per game: 57.8 (2025), 53.7 (2024)
Tries per game: 8.2 (2025), 7.3 (2024)

*Data provided by Professor Dimitri Perrin, Co-Director QUT Centre for Data Science and Queensland Reds Head of Data Science

Sunday 18 May
Ardie Savea crowned 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year
Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea has claimed the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year title after establishing an unassailable lead in voting with two weeks left in the regular season.

The 31-year-old collected the maximum six votes against the Blues in Round 14, and 42 votes across the season so far, putting him beyond the reach of Tom Hooper (31 votes) and Damian McKenzie (28 votes) a fortnight out from the Finals Series.

Savea has been an imposing force for Moana Pasifika on both sides of the ball in his 10 appearances this season, scoring five tries, making over 350 post-contact metres, completing 110 tackles and winning 15 turnovers.

His impact has also been reflected in Super Rugby Pacific Fantasy, with Savea the highest-scoring loose forward in the game and for six weeks of the competition, the most picked player.

Moana Pasifika currently occupy sixth position on the competition ladder, needing one more win to lock in their first-ever Finals appearance.

“Ardie’s passionate leadership and dominant performances for Moana Pasifika this year have made an indelible mark on his teammates, his opponents and our competition as a whole,” Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said.

“He has received votes from the opposition in almost every game he has played this season, which reflects the consistency of his output and influence on his team.

“The Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year being a peer-voted award, where our players are recognised on a weekly basis by their fellow players and coaches, gives it the greatest possible significance.

“We are delighted that Ardie Savea is the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year.”

Savea will be formally presented the Player of the Year medal at Moana Pasifika’s final regular season game against the Hurricanes at Sky Stadium on Saturday 31 May.

SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR LADDER (POST ROUND 14)
Ardie Savea - 42
Tom Hooper - 31
Damian McKenzie - 28
Carlo Tizzano - 27
Timoci Tavatavanawai - 26
Langi Gleeson - 26
Fraser McReight - 26

Can confirm Devan Flanders played the whole second 40 for Havelock North v Taradale. Havelock won 38-31 against the previously unbeaten Taradale.

Devan Flanders named to play club rugby tomorrow for Havelock North v Taradale.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:

Canes players playing Club Rugby in Wellington this weekend are:

• Daniel Sinkinson (Wainuiomata)
• TJ Clarke (Petone)
• Hugo Plummer (Tawa)

Others likely playing in other regions as well.

Update on Harry Godfrey, he will likely make his return later than expected, due back round 15 against the Reds.

Pouri Rakete-Stones playing for Napier Pirates v Clive.