The 2023 Super Rugby Pacific final had all the intensity of a Test match, and a throwback to New Zealand rugby at its toughest, writes MARK KEOHANE.
On Saturday, the Crusaders claimed a seventh straight title with a 25-20 victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton on Scott Robertson’s swansong.
The Chiefs led 20-15 early in the second half, but the Crusaders, the defending champions, fought back with Codie Taylor grabbing a converted try before Richie Mo’unga slotted a late penalty for the win.
Sixteen current All Blacks featured in the decider, which was Robertson’s last match with the Crusaders before leaving to coach the Kiwi national team, and in his TimesLIVE column, Keohane suggests the “bruising contest” is an ominous sign for the Springboks.
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“This was a throwback to New Zealand rugby at its toughest. Players scrapped for ownership of every collision, Chiefs No 8 Luke Jacobson made some monster tackles and flyhalves Damian McKenzie and Mo’unga played as generals of their attack,” he writes.
“This was a final that played out dramatically, similar to the URC final in Cape Town, the Top 14 final in Paris and the Champions Cup final in Dublin. This was the best against the best in the competition and what won the Crusaders the title was discipline and a functional lineout, in which they had more than 20 throws.
“Where the All Blacks have been vulnerable in the past few years is the back five of the pack, but lock Sam Whitelock showed there was still fire in that veteran belly of his and he, [Brodie] Retallick and Scott Barrett showed greater presence and menace than I have seen from them for a while.
“There is edge to New Zealand rugby again. The Boks be warned.”
Photo: Super Rugby website