Super Rugby Aotearoa

Highlanders re-sign lock Pari Pari Parkinson for 2022

Pari Pari Parkinson, the 203cm, 130kg lock, has re-signed for another year until the end of the 2022 campaign, following the signature of halfback Folau Fakatava announced last week.

“It’s been a frustrating few years in a way, with injuries but I am hopeful with the body now in good shape that I can get some good performances under my belt and push on from here,” the 24-year-old said in a statement.

“I had options to move on but in the end I believe I will get the best out of myself by staying with the Highlanders.

Blues players Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Kurt Eklund cited for foul play

Tu’ungafasi was yellow carded by referee Paul Williams for slamming his shoulder into Scott Barrett’s chin late in the match, however, the citing commissioner has deemed it met the red card threshold for foul play.

Williams let Eklund off the hook with a penalty for lifting Crusaders wing Sevu Reece and flipping him on to the turf, but Eklund’s wrestling-style move has also been deemed to have met the red card threshold.

Mo'unga magic underpins Crusaders win

Mo'unga scored 28 points - a try, four conversions and five penalties - with Jack Goodhue, Codie Taylor and Sevu Reece also crossing for the Crusaders.

A big crowd had turned out at Eden Park hoping to see the home side snap a 12-match losing streak against the Crusaders going back to 2014, but the reigning champions took their chances clinically to extend their lead at the top of the standings.

Chiefs snap losing streak with stunning comeback win

The visitors trailed 26-7 at half-time but ran in four converted tries after the break to avoid the ignominy of posting the longest losing streak by a New Zealand Super Rugby team.

Damian McKenzie started at fullback but orchestrated the victory from the playmaker role and converted all five tries as the visitors beat the Hurricanes for the first time since 2018.

Centre Chase Tiatia sparked the comeback after coming off the bench to score a try in the 57th minute and then play a part in a brilliant move that led to another for halfback Brad Weber a minute later.

Rivalry revived as Blues host Crusaders at Eden Park

     

Encounters between the powerhouses were highlights of the early days of professional rugby but the fixture lost its lustre as the Blues struggled and the Crusaders thrived.

The Blues have been revived after a decade in the doldrums, however, and Leon MacDonald's side are viewed by many as the only team that can prevent the south islanders from taking a fifth successive Super Rugby title.

Chiefs inject Kaleb Trask at No 10 for Hurricanes clash

Fit-again playmaker Kaleb Trask has been handed the keys, and plenty of responsibility, at No 10 for the dance of the desperates (both 0-2) at Sky Stadium, with Bryn Gatland dropping out of the 23 altogether, despite having impressed his coaches in his two outings so far.

Trask, 22, has nine caps to his name after debuting last season, but had been sidelined at the start of this year with a knee injury.

Highly rated halfback Folau Fakatava re-signs with the Highlanders until 2023

After an impressive Mitre 10 Cup campaign with Hawke's Bay, Fakatava has made a strong start to the Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign sharing halfback duties with All Black Aaron Smith.

Fakatava said Smith's guidance has been a huge help to his development as a player and he's enjoying living in Dunedin.

NZ referees boss defends TMO after blunders last weekend

Williams, the TMO for both Super Rugby Aotearoa round 3 matches in Christchurch and Auckland, came under public scrutiny for botched decisions in the games between the Crusaders and Chiefs last Saturday night and the Blues and Highlanders the following day.

Despite the mistakes, Williams will still referee the blockbuster game between the Blues and Crusaders in Auckland on Sunday afternoon.

Williams played a lead role in the high-profile errors in round 3 of SRA.

Crusaders lock in second rower Mitchell Dunshea with a new contract extension

It no doubt comes as welcomed news for both Crusaders and All Blacks fans, with the 25-year-old having been on the cusp of an All Blacks debut last year.

Despite not initially being involved in Ian Foster’s plans, Dunshea was called into the squad as an injury replacement for fellow Crusaders second rower Quinten Strange.

In fact, he was one of four locks from the Super Rugby side to have been involved in the national setup last year, alongside regulars in Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock.

Crusaders' tackle machine Tom Christie dislocates shoulder

The Crusaders have confirmed Christie, who was forced to leave the field during the second half of the 39-17 win over the Chiefs in Christchurch last Saturday night, will have to undergo “further investigation and specialist review’’ over the next few days to determine the appropriate management of the injury.

Further details will be revealed this week, but judging by the discomfort Christie appeared to be in during the Super Rugby Aotearoa match at Orangetheory Stadium, he’s expected to be scratched from the game against the Blues at Eden Park.