It is the first time Super Round will be held in New Zealand. It followed a round in which the table tightened dramatically, and the playoff picture became more complicated. Three of the five games in Round 10 were won by teams below their opponents in the standings at the start of Round 9.
Defending champions the Crusaders have lost their last two matches and sit precariously in sixth place, the final playoff spot. The NSW Waratahs are two points behind in seventh, aiming for an upset in the opening fixture on Friday.
The Crusaders blew a 19-0 lead to lose 31-26 in Perth to the Western Force. The Waratahs were not convincing against Moana Pasifika but did enough to win 29-14 in Sydney.
Despite leading for 65 minutes, the Hurricanes were knocked off their perch by the Chiefs 22-17 in a wild extra-time finish in Hamilton. The Fijian Drua stunned the ACT Brumbies in the biggest upset of the season, 33-28 in Canberra.
The Blues handed the Highlanders a fourth defeat in five games at Eden Park but nearly lost a 47-26 lead, eventually holding on by seven.
With six rounds remaining, only Moana Pasifika seem unlikely to make the playoffs, but they still can.
Round 11 DHL Super Rugby Pacific fixtures
Friday April 24, 7:35 pm
Fixture: Crusaders (6) v New South Wales Waratahs (7)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Crusaders to Watch: Christian Lio-Willie, Leicester Fainga’anuku
Waratahs to Watch: Pete Samu, Max Jorgensen
Saturday April 25, 5:05 pm
Fixture: Brumbies (4) v Hurricanes (2)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Hurricanes to Watch: Warner Dearns, Cam Roigard
Brumbies to Watch: Rob Valetini, Tom Wright
Saturday. April 25, 7:35 pm
Fixture: Blues (3) v Reds (5)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Blues To Watch: Sam Darry, Zarn Sullivan
Reds To Watch: Fraser McReight, Filipo Daugunu
Sunday, April 26, 2:00 pm
Fixture: Highlanders (9) v Moana Pasifika (11)
Referee: Todd Petrie (New Zealand)
Highlanders to Watch: Ethan de Goot, Timoci Tavatavanawai
Moana Pasifika to Watch: Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, Solomon Alaimalo
Sunday, April 26, 4:30 pm
Fixture: Chiefs (1) v Fijian Drua (8)
Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)
Chiefs to Watch: Josh Lord, Damian McKenzie
Fijian Dura to Watch: Etonia Waqa, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula
Super Round History
Super Round was held for the first time on the weekend of April 22-24, during Round 10 of the 2022 competition, at AAMI Park in Melbourne. In 2023 and 2024, it was also held in Melbourne as part of Round 2 on the first weekend of March.
Ten Fast Facts
The First Super Round match was won 51-27 by the Chiefs over the Waratahs on April 22, 2022. The first try was scored by All Blacks and Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho. The referee was Nic Berry from Australia. Winger Jonah Lowe scored four tries, the only player to achieve that feat in the Super Round.
The Chiefs have scored the most points, with 152; the Highlanders, the fewest, with 59.
The Hurricanes' 39-33 win over the Reds in 2023 was achieved in golden point extra time with a try to replacement prop and future All Black Pasilio Tosi. The odds on that outcome were so long they didn’t exist on the TAB. In a wild match, the Hurricanes led three times; the Reds, four. The scores were level on five other occasions. It was the Hurricanes’ 200th away game (93 wins). The Hurricanes also beat the Reds 30-17 in 2022, with Bailyn Sullivan scoring two tries.
The biggest win is 71-20 by the Queensland Reds over the Western Force in 2023. The Reds have never scored more than 71 points in a game.
Crusaders and All Blacks first five-eighth Richie Mo’unga kicked 13 goals from 13 attempts in both his matches.
Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs), Lachlan Lonergan (Brumbies), Jackson Pugh (Western Force), Leicester Fainga'anuku (Crusaders), Timoci Tavatavanawai (Moana Pasifika/Highlanders), and Sevu Reece (Crusaders) are among those who have scored tries in consecutive matches.
Hoskins Sotutu is the only forward to score a hat-trick of tries for the Blues in their 37-29 win over the Highlanders in 2024.
The NSW Waratahs beat the Crusaders 37-24 in their last Super Round match. Tane Edmed kicked 17 points with four conversions and three penalties from seven attempts. The Waratahs have won only eight of 26 matches with Nic Berry as referee, but one of those was a 43-40 win over the Crusaders in 2024. The Crusaders have won 11 out of 16 with Berry as referee.
The Crusaders, with 100 wins in 122 matches at Apollo Projects Stadium and 76 wins in 93 matches at the old Lancaster Park, have more wins in their home city of Christchurch than any team in Super Rugby history.
