Page 3 - Soane Vikena News Today

After a disappointing Aotearoa campaign, the Auks head into Super Rugby Trans-Tasman with a chip on their shoulder.

Sky Super Rugby Transtasman: Blues coach Leon MacDonald misses training ahead of Rebels clash in Melbourne 13 May, 2021 02:50 AM 5 minutes to read NZ Herald Focus Sports Cheree Kinnear gives everything you need to know ahead of Super Rugby Transtasman. Video / NZ Herald NZ Herald Focus Sports Cheree Kinnear gives everything you need to know ahead of Super Rugby Transtasman. Video / NZ Herald Liam Napier is a sports writer for NZMELiam.Napier@nzherald.co.nz Leon MacDonalds absence from training ...

Beyond that, where does his test future lie? In the black of New Zealand or the white of Fiji? At 26 years old, the skilful and tough Fijian is in his prime and may feel the All Blacks door is closing if he doesn’t make Ian Foster’s squad this year. One thing is certain, though. His talents deserve the bigger stage that test rugby offers. He’ll be 28 when the next Rugby World Cup rolls around in 2023, and he could make a serious impact in that tournament. He deservedly takes the No 8 ...

Chiefs - B Sullivan try; Gatland 4 penalty goals, conversion Click here for a full match wrap and highlights Full time 80 mins - Blues try to AJ Lam The Blues will get one final chance with a lineout seven-metres out. Its messy from but the home side cleans it up. Nock fires a pass wide to Sotutu who draws a defender before offloading to Lam who crashes over for his second of the evening.  Black cant convert the try as the siren goes.  (BLU 39-19) 79 mins  Its all going wrong for the Chiefs ...

Aaron Goile05:00, May 01 2021 Michael Bradley/Getty Images Chiefs prop Sione Mafileo believes their stunning scrum turnaround was about the pack engaging more as a unit. New Chiefs prop Sione Mafileo has lifted the lid on the secret to the team’s stunning scrummaging transformation, saying some of the players had been trying to do too much of their own thing rather than working as a pack. In mirroring the side’s remarkable change in fortunes with now a place in next weekend’s Super Rugby...

Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan elects for mass changes for dead rubber Blues clash 29 Apr, 2021 04:30 AM 4 minutes to read Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu and Blues wing, midfield back Rieko Ioane on the teams 29-6 loss to the Crusaders. Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu and Blues wing, midfield back Rieko Ioane on the teams 29-6 loss to the Crusaders. Multimedia Sport Journalist Saturday nights regular season finale against the Blues is taking a back seat for the Chiefs ...

“I’m so excited. Especially for Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika. Its such a good addition to Pacific Island rugby as a whole. Its a starting point, Im sure they will learn. Ive heard a few players overseas trying to come back for that as well. Its going to be the start of something great,” Mataele said. Should the teams have their final business plans ticked off, and Rugby Australia’s approval, Moana Pasifika are set to be based in South Auckland, at least initially, while the Drua wil...

Things have eased on the injury front for the Chiefs, who were without 10 players only a few weeks ago, although they did lose midfielder Quinn Tupaea for up to eight weeks with a knee injury last weekend. Chiefs co-captain Sam Cane ruptured a pectoral muscle against the Blues late last month and won’t feature again this year. The Blues haven’t lost any key players to season-ending injuries during the season, but did lose hooker James Parsons to concussion-enforced retirement ahead of the...

Hannah Peters/Getty Images Patrick Tuipulotu and the Blues have big ambitions in 2021, but as always will have to get past the Crusaders first. Leon MacDonald gets them. A lot. You know the people, rushing up to him at the supermarket, or the café, or in the street, full of hope and excitement, proclaiming: “This is our year.” The Blues coach tends to smile and nod reassuringly. He loves the optimism as much as he treasures the support. Who is he to point out how tough that pathway is and...