Matatū and Blues book place in Super Rugby Aupiki final
Matatū to host 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki Final
Matatū secured hosting rights after earning a four-try bonus point in their thrilling 38-29 loss to the Blues, while Hurricanes Poua’s record-breaking 47-33 victory over Chiefs Manawa was not quite enough to lift them into the decider.
Hurricanes Poua 47, Chiefs Manawa 33
Hurricanes Poua 47: Neve Anglesey, Hinemaringi Scott, Ayesha Leti-I’iga 2, Wikitoria Viljoen 2, Iritana Hohaia tries; Renee Holmes 6 conversions.
Chiefs Manawa 33: Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, Leomie Kloppers, Olivia Holten, Jade Coates, Holli O’Sullivan tries; Ariana Bayler 3 conversions, O’Sullivan conversion.
Halftime: 42-19.
Poua complete record-breaking regular season
Hurricanes Poua continued their record-breaking season with a breathless 47-33 victory over Chiefs Manawa at a sunny and boisterous Maidstone Park.
The Poua secured a fourth consecutive win and posted their highest score in a single Super Rugby Aupiki match, subduing the spirited visitors in a contest featuring 12 tries and four lead changes.
The opening quarter was among the most even and exciting periods of the season, with both teams scoring three tries while playing with ambition, skill and aggression.
Poua openside Neve Anglesey opened the scoring from a rolling maul in the fourth minute. She then passed to centre Hinemaringi Scott for the Poua’s second try in the 15th minute and helped create a 37th-minute score for Wikitoria Viljoen following some deception at the lineout. Anglesey also made 10 tackles in the first half.
Manawa winger Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a was electric, making five line breaks. Her elusiveness, combined with willing carries from the Chiefs forwards, helped the visitors build a 19-14 lead through tries to Tuliau-Tua’a, lock Leomie Kloppers and blindside flanker Olivia Holten.
Intercept sparks Poua surge
The turning point came in the 25th minute with the Poua trailing 19-14. A loose pass near halfway was intercepted by Black Ferns winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga, who raced away to score.
The Manawa scrum then began to wobble and their lineout became increasingly insecure. When Black Ferns hooker Vici-Rose Green was shown a yellow card in the 33rd minute, it triggered an avalanche.
The Poua ruthlessly engineered a lineout try for Viljoen before halfback Iritana Hohaia scored her fourth try of the season after recovering the ball from a dominant tighthead scrum.
Poua struck again shortly after halftime, winning another scrum against the head before several powerful forward carries created space for Viljoen to score her fifth try in five matches.
Manawa fight until the finish
Both teams emptied their benches and Manawa found renewed energy. Prop Te Urupounamu McGarvey made several powerful carries, Tuliau-Tua’a continued to show her immense potential, and Chyna Hohepa and debutant Finau Mafi refused to yield.
A try to hard-running lock Jade Coates in the 49th minute closed the gap to 47-26. Six minutes later, replacement halfback Holli O’Sullivan produced an excellent support line after Tuliau-Tua’a left the Poua defence scrambling with a weaving 60-metre run and a brilliant offload.
The Poua were tiring and Manawa were resurgent, but the visitors were denied another try in the 72nd minute when Mafi’s effort was ruled out by the television match official.
Replacement hooker Nicole Purdom was then shown a yellow card for a dangerous cleanout on Poua lock Stacey Niao, while Te Rauoriwa Gapper also produced a try-saving tackle on Tuliau-Tua’a.
From the 25th minute until the 47th, the Poua pack was almost untouchable. Tegan Willocks was pinpoint with her lineout throwing, Angel Mulu was devastating both in tight and in wider channels, and Sam Taylor continued to establish herself as the young heartbeat of a pack that has improved considerably since the opening round.
Renee Holmes has now kicked 24 of her past 27 attempts at goal.
Chiefs Manawa captain Ariana Bayler was left to rue her side’s missed opportunities.
“We created plenty of good moments, just not enough of them,” Bayler said.
Gapper praised both the opposition and the Poua supporters after the match.
“The Chiefs wanted to finish their season with a bang. They were on and they were taking us wide, which we had previewed,” she said.
“They got one, we got one, but we were building. It was good that everyone in the squad got game time.
“We’re glad we could turn it on for our people. They’re amazing.”
Referee: Todd Petrie.
WATCH: Hurricanes Poua v Chiefs Manawa, Round 6 Super Rugby Aupiki Highlights (available in selected territories)
Blues 38, Matatū 29
Blues 38: Ruahei Demant, Jaymie Kolose, Taufa Bason, Braxton Sorensen-McGee 2, Katelyn Vahaakolo tries; Sorensen-McGee 4 conversions.
Matatū 29: Kaipo Olsen-Baker 2, Maia Davis, Charntay Poko, Binky Muamua tries; Davis 2 conversions.
Halftime: 21-19.
Blues stars deliver under pressure
When the Blues needed their biggest names most, their stars delivered to earn the defending champions an opportunity to retain their title.
Matatū dominated possession and territory for long periods but failed to convert several opportunities in a costly lapse during their pursuit of a fifth victory of the season.
However, their five tries secured the bonus point required to earn hosting rights for the final at Te Kaha, One New Zealand Stadium, next Saturday afternoon.
With Matatū trailing 26-24, Binky Muamua made a clean break before Grace Brooker knocked the ball on over the try line. The Blues survived and responded with ruthless attacking potency.
In the 66th minute, the Blues elected to move the ball wide from a scrum five metres from their own line rather than clear conventionally.
World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Braxton Sorensen-McGee carried strongly towards halfway before linking with Katelyn Vahaakolo, who breezed past the final defender to score her Aupiki-record 17th try after coming off the bench.
Sorensen-McGee landed the sideline conversion and finished with four successful kicks from six attempts.
Blues bench makes its mark
The Blues replacements made a major contribution to the victory.
Black Ferns XV flanker Taufa Bason entered the contest early and ran amok, scoring a try and producing several trademark surges.
The Blues were forced to make 47 more tackles than Matatū during the first half but still carried a slender 21-19 advantage into the break.
Matatū No.8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker crossed twice to take her season tally to eight, having now scored in every match of the 2026 campaign.
While Matatū patiently built phases, the Blues were lethal on counterattack and punished mistakes.
A Ruahei Demant charge-down and 25-metre regather opened the scoring for the Blues. The Black Ferns co-captain was in ominous form throughout.
In the 26th minute, Sorensen-McGee sliced through the defence from a lineout before delivering a perfectly weighted skip pass to Jaymie Kolose.
Sorensen-McGee added another conversion from the sideline before Bason scored from a lineout, powering through the defence and grounding the ball beneath the posts.
Sorensen-McGee finds her best
Sorensen-McGee showed she could create space in the tightest of areas. Her footwork and strength allowed her to wriggle over for an improbable try after a deft pass from Maia Ross in the 45th minute, extending the Blues’ lead to 26-19.
Two minutes later, Sylvia Brunt’s clearing kick was charged down by Brooker. Amy du Plessis kicked the loose ball towards the 22 before Charntay Poko swooped to score.
Vahaakolo’s long-range try would have sunk a lesser team, but Matatū continued to rally. A bullet pass from Maia Joseph was taken at close range by Binky Muamua, who crossed for Matatū’s fifth try.
Vahaakolo and Bason continued to cause problems, with another long-range breakout involving the pair allowing Sorensen-McGee to finish the scoring.
It was Sorensen-McGee at her brilliant best after a season that had not always reached the extraordinary heights of her breakout 2025 campaign.
Brooker was delighted Matatū had secured hosting rights for the final but frustrated by her team’s lack of accuracy.
Blues captain Maia Ross, meanwhile, celebrated her 100th first-class appearance with a memorable victory.
“I’m really happy right now,” Ross said.
“It’s been a challenging season for us, but the grit, determination and desire to be better have taken us this far. We have another week to build.”
Referee: Marcus Playle.
