Super Rugby Pacific winners and losers: Joseph Suaalii stars for ...

The 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season got underway on Friday and here are Planet Rugby’s winners and losers from the Crusaders and Waratahs’ triumphs over the Hurricanes and Highlanders.

In Christchurch, the Crusaders claimed a 33-25 victory over the Hurricanes in their New Zealand derby before the action moved to Sydney where the Waratahs beat the Highlanders 37-36 in a thriller.

Waratahs v Highlanders

Winners

Joseph Suaalii

The code hopper was one of the Waratahs‘ stars in their narrow triumph over the Highlanders as he showed his class with a stunning all-round display in his new position at full-back. As expected, Suaalii was outstanding in the air and proved dangerous on attack from the back. On one of those occasions, he set up fellow Wallaby Max Jorgensen’s try with a mazy run before being stopped just short of the whitewash.

Max Jorgensen

The young flyer was one of the Waratahs’ standout performers in a ding-dong battle with the Highlanders in which the lead changed hands nine times. Jorgensen always looked dangerous on attack as he tested the Highlanders’ defence with his superb attacking skill-set and was rewarded with that try after Suaalii laid the groundwork in the build up.

Dave Porecki

The Wallabies hooker made a triumphant return to action after recovering from a serious Achilles injury which kept him on the sidelines throughout 2024 with his last match played at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Porecki impressed against the Highlanders as he shone in the execution of his core duties and was a willing ball carrier which culminated in him crossing for one of the Waratahs’ five tries.

Siosifa Amone

The young tighthead prop had big boots to fill when he replaced the ‘Tongan Thor’ Taniela Tupou in the 56th minute but he delivered a barnstorming performance as he scored two well-taken tries. The 22-year-old took the fight to the visitors in Sydney as he first crossed the whitewash from close quarters five minutes after entering the fray and completed his heroics when he scored what proved to be the match-winning try in the game’s dying moments.

Sam Gilbert

The experienced utility back started at full-back for the Highlanders and produced a fine all-round performance as he was solid at the back when dealing with the high ball, did his bit with ball in hand – where he gained 31 metres – while also keeping his team in the match with his goal-kicking as he slotted three conversions and a penalty.

Caleb Tangitau

Despite receiving a yellow card late in the first half, the former New Zealand Sevens representative came back strongly as the match progressed with an outstanding attacking performance. The 21-year-old proved a real handful to the Waratahs defence and finished with a match-high 124 metres gained after completing four clean breaks which saw him beating seven defenders and score two tries.

Losers

Mitch Dunshea

The experienced second-row was sent to the sin bin on the half hour-mark after his shoulder connected with Porecki’s head in a tackle and his time on the sidelines proved costly for the Highlanders. The visitors were leading 12-3 at the time but the Waratahs made full use of their numerical advantage as a converted Rob Leota try and a Tane Edmed penalty gave them a 13-12 lead at half-time.

Timoci Tavatavanawai

The Highlanders’ co-captain made an impressive start to this encounter and scored their second five-pointer in the first half but despite continuing to be a willing ball carrier, he became less influential during the rest of the match. That was because Tavatavanawai was kept in check by his opponents and in the end he only gained 13 attacking metres.

Jack Bowen

He finished on the winning side and actually slotted the match-winning kick but that was an easy effort and he will want to forget this match in a hurry after a brain fade which could have cost his team the game. Shortly after entering the fray in the 64th minute, Bowen kicked the ball directly into touch just outside his 22 and the Highlanders took a quick throw-in at the resulting lineout and their efforts were rewarded when scored his second try.

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Crusaders v Hurricanes

Winners

Kyle Preston

This match will live on long in the 25-year-old’s memory as he made his Super Rugby Pacific debut during the early stages of the game after Noah Hotham limped off with an injury and took his chance with both hands. After 80 minutes, Preston played a major role in his team’s win as he slotted in seamlessly after coming on and was the home side’s hero as he crossed for a hat-trick of tries.

Sevu Reece

The All Blacks flyer hit the ground running in Christchurch as he delivered a brilliant attacking performance and scored one of the Crusaders‘ five tries and finished with a brilliant assist in the build up to one of Preston’s tries.

Will Jordan

Although he did not cross the whitewash, the prolific All Blacks try-scorer was a constant threat with ball in hand and asked plenty of questions of the Hurricanes defence. Jordan caught the eye with a fine assist for Reece’s five-pointer and finished with 108 metres gained from 15 runs which included three clean breaks and five defenders beaten.

Ethan Blackadder

The fact that the All Blacks back-rower got through the game without getting injured was a win in itself as his career has been decimated by injuries in recent years. Blackadder came to the fore with an impressive all-round performance especially on defence where he put his body on the line with great physicality during an 80-minute shift.

Kini Naholo

The Hurricanes could so easily have won this game as they were competitive for the full 80 minutes and Naholo was one of the players who led from the front with a brilliant attacking performance. The 25-year-old gained 58 metres from 10 runs which included two clean breaks and a well-taken try.

Jacob Devery

With the Hurricanes’ first choice hooker Asafo Aumua currently sidelined due to injury, Devery took advantage of a rare Super Rugby Pacific start with a solid attacking performance. The 26-year-old impressed from the outset as he scored a brace of tries early on an continued to shine on attack and defence as the match progressed during a 67-minute stint on the field.

Rob Penney

After leading his team to their worst ever Super Rugby campaign in 2024, the Crusaders boss deserves plenty of credit for steering his team to victory in this match. There was obviously plenty of pressure on Penney ahead of the campaign and the situation was worsened with 13 Crusaders sidelined through injury. Despite those obstacles, Penney did well and this result should be a confidence booster for him and his players.

Losers

Noah Hotham

After making his Test debut last year, following a fine season in a poor Crusaders campaign, all eyes were on Hotham ahead of his battle with fellow All Blacks scrum-half Cam Roigard. However, things went pear-shaped for Hotham as he only lasted eight minutes in Christchurch before hobbling off with an ankle injury.

Cam Roigard

Despite Hotham’s early departure, Roigard battled to stamp his authority on this game. Roigard finished 2024 as the All Blacks’ first choice number nine which meant he was closely watched by the Crusaders defence, who kept him in check throughout.

Callum Harkin

The Hurricanes full-back had a solid game as he was safe under the high ball and did what was expected of him on attack and defence but his overall performance will be overshadowed by a missed shot at goal late in the game. In the 77th minute, he lined up a penalty kick from 38 metres out which would’ve earned his team a losing bonus-point but that proved costly as he was off target off the kicking tee.

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