Historic long-term rivalries, playoff statistical hurdles and pressure to secure home ground advantages are adding intrigue to the first playoffs of DHL Super Rugby Pacific in 2026 at the weekend.<\/p>\n
Hurricanes (1) v Brumbies (6), Hnry Stadium, Wellington, June 5, 2026, 7.05pm<\/p>\n
Regular season winners, the Hurricanes, have plenty of reasons to be prepared for the challenge the Brumbies will provide in the first of the DHL Super Rugby Pacific playoffs in Wellington on Friday.<\/p>\n
Resting key players in their final regular season game last week against the Crusaders resulted in a 47-14 loss, their worst result in a decade, while their playoff record against the Brumbies features three consecutive losses in their most recent meetings. However, in their only playoff game in Wellington in 2015, the Hurricanes won 29-9.<\/p>\n
The Brumbies need to achieve a breakthrough of their own in the game, as they have never won a playoff game in New Zealand in their nine attempts.<\/p>\n
Returning to full strength, the Hurricanes will field a front row of props Pasilio Tosi and Xavier Numia with hooker Asafo Aumua. Caleb Delany and Warner Dearns will lock while co-captain Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi returns from a shoulder injury to spearhead the loose trio, where Brad Shields will be on the blindside flank with Peter Lakai at No8.<\/p>\n
Cam Roigard and Ruben Love will resume their partnership at halfback and first five-eighths. Jordie Barrett is over a hamstring injury and will join Billy Proctor in the midfield with Kini Naholo on the left wing, Josh Moorby on the right and Callum Harkin at fullback.<\/p>\n
Coach Clark Laidlaw said, \u201cWe\u2019re delighted with the squad we\u2019ve been able to name this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re expecting the best version of the Brumbies. They\u2019ve got a heap of experience around playoff rugby, whether that\u2019s their coaches or players.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re where we want to be and are certainly ready to play. We\u2019ve had a lot of bodies at training. They\u2019re fit and healthy, with great competition at training.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Brumbies have a good set piece, their lineout maul is often a real weapon, they\u2019ve got smart halfbacks around their kicking game, and they have good variation when they move the ball. And they\u2019ve got a lot of experience in the playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Brumbies are also looking to overcome a last-round loss after going down 19-21 to Moana Pasifika at home last week.<\/p>\n
But they have made only two starting changes to the team. Hooker Lachlan Lonergan will start, and Luke Reimer will start on the flank of the scrum.<\/p>\n
Coach Stephen Larkham knows that while history has seen the Brumbies dominant in games at home, crossing the Tasman is a different prospect, and the Hurricanes beat them 45-12 during the Super weekend in Christchurch.<\/p>\n
Confidence from previous results should not be a factor, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cConfidence doesn\u2019t last very long. It might get you into the game, but the reality of the game will either take your confidence away or maintain it. It\u2019s not something we\u2019re going to speak about.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might be in some players\u2019 heads, but the most important thing is that they stay connected on the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a good record against New Zealand teams over the last couple of years over here, so we want to treat it like any other away game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crusaders (3) v Blues (4), ONE NZ Stadium, Christchurch, June 6, 4.35pm<\/p>\n
Getting up to pip the Blues for third place, and to claim a home playoff against them, was a mark of the depth of belief in the defending champion Crusaders.
However, some key injuries have hit the side.<\/p>\n
Props Fletcher Newell and Seb Calder have been forced out. George Bower will move to tighthead prop with Finlay Brewis on the loosehead. Gus Brown is in line for a debut from the bench.<\/p>\n
At first five-eighths Taha Kemara will start while Braydon Ennor has been named on the bench.<\/p>\n
Coach Rob Penney said it was the younger players who showed their worth in the last games of the regular season, helping the Crusaders get through.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had 11 debutants this year. We\u2019ve had to go deep into the squad, but it creates a well for coming seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a number of people you could name who are hitting form at a good time. We\u2019re getting the cohesion you need, and we\u2019re in a good frame of mind without being cocky.<\/p>\n
Penney is wary of the Blues, despite their recent run of losses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll be disappointed with the last three or four weeks, but they\u2019re capable. If you give them an inch, they\u2019ll take a mile.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll be hurting [after their loss to the Chiefs]. They\u2019ve got some big names back. They\u2019ll be a threat.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Blues have been strengthened from the side beaten by the Chiefs in their last game through the return of lock and captain Patrick Tuipulotu and hooker Bradley Slater.<\/p>\n
They will be without first five-eighths Beauden Barrett, who is still hampered by a quad strain, with Stephen Perofeta starting again.<\/p>\n
Veteran prop Ofa Tu\u2019ungafasi will become the most capped Blues player in his 164th game, passing Keven Mealamu\u2019s mark. And hooker Eli Oudenryn, who debuted last week, has retained his place on the bench.<\/p>\n
Coach Vern Cotter said finals rugby reflected a side’s group dynamic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve worked hard to get here, and now it\u2019s about embracing the challenge that comes with a high-stakes game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Crusaders have consistently been one of the benchmark teams in this competition, and we know what awaits us in Christchurch.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe key is staying focused on our roles, bringing energy to the contest and backing the work we\u2019ve put in throughout the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chiefs (2) v Reds (5), FMG Stadium, Hamilton, June 6 2026, 7.05pm<\/p>\n
Seven All Blacks have returned for the Chiefs for their qualifying final against the Reds in Hamilton.<\/p>\n
Captain Luke Jacobson will return to openside flanker, and Damian McKenzie is back at first five-eighths after recovering from a concussion.<\/p>\n
In the pack, the only non-All Black is prop Sione Ahio, as locks Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa\u2019i are reunited while prop Ollie Norris, hooker Samisoni Taukei\u2019aho and blindside flanker Simon Parker return.<\/p>\n
McKenzie, who is playing his 149th Super Rugby game, said, \u201cAt the start of the year, you want to get to this end of the season and be in contention. We\u2019ve put ourselves in contention, and now it\u2019s about focusing on what\u2019s in front of us. The boys are excited to rip into this weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt speaks volumes about the depth we have here. We have the mindset of the next man up, and when guys get an opportunity, they make the most of it.<\/p>\n
The Reds know they need to overcome a 0-21 Australian record in playoffs on New Zealand soil going into the weekend. Their last two playoff games resulted in 0-28 losses to the Chiefs and 0-27 to the Crusaders.<\/p>\n
Coach Les Kiss said, \u201cWe\u2019re a team now that handles those things a lot better. These boys are hungry for a win, and want to take another step forward. That\u2019s the mission. We\u2019ve got to stand up and then let\u2019s see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Missing from action will be utility forward Seru Uru, who has a back injury, and second five-eighths Hunter Paisami, who has a knee injury. Filipo Daugunu and Joe Brial will replace them, respectively. Hooker Josh Nasser and fullback Jock Campbell are back from a week\u2019s rest.<\/p>\n
Although wet conditions are forecast for Hamilton, lock Jock Canham believes the Reds can cope with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a plan, got belief, got confidence. It\u2019s a big game for them [the Chiefs] as well. They don\u2019t want to be a team that loses at home. We can scare them. It\u2019s got the makings of a classic contest.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Historic long-term rivalries, playoff statistical hurdles and pressure to secure home ground advantages are adding intrigue to the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":713819,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,760,85],"class_list":["post-713818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-rugby","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=713818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713818\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/713819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=713818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=713818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=713818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}