Analysis: Comebacks, drama in a superb start to Super Rugby 2025

Analysis: 1News sports writer Patrick McKendry runs the rule over Super Rugby's opening weekend which was high on quality and entertainment.

A highly entertaining round one was notable for comebacks, with all five winners fighting back from deficits to take the points.

It began with the first match on Friday night when the Crusaders came back from 14-0 down to beat the Hurricanes 33-25 in Christchurch.

At the next match in Sydney, the Waratahs beat the Highlanders 37-36 with a converted try after the 80 minutes were up. Incidentally, the Waratahs were the only winning side from the weekend to have a halftime lead.

The Brumbies fought back to beat the Drua in Fiji 36-32; the Chiefs beat the Blues 25-14 despite trailing 14-6 at halftime; and, in perhaps the biggest comeback of all, the Force beat the desperately unlucky Moana Pasifika 45-44 thanks to a try from 70m from Ben Donaldson.

How Moana, with Ardie Savea playing a hugely important role as skipper, lost after leading 44-31 with six minutes remaining will likely occupy the team’s thinking this week ahead of their round two match against the Reds in Brisbane.

Few leads were safe over the weekend – a neutral spectator’s dream and a defence coach’s nightmare.

It was also a round for New Zealand sevens stars making the transition to 15s – Leroy Carter from the Chiefs and Caleb Tangitau from the Highlanders – both beginning the season with a bang.

A bold statement, perhaps, and the Crusaders will face better teams than a below-strength Hurricanes – as early as next Friday, in fact, when they play the Chiefs in Hamilton.

But the red and blacks attacked and defended with a structure not evident last year and will clearly be tougher to break down.

They were deserved victors against the Hurricanes, with virtually every player contributing. Hooker Ioane Moananu, replacement halfback Kyle Preston, first-five Taha Kemara, midfielder David Havili and outside backs Sevu Reece and Will Jordan were standouts.

Crusaders fans aren’t used to mediocrity and, after watching their team win only four out of 14 matches in 2024, a good start in round one was critical – a sentiment expressed afterwards by coach Rob Penney.

Damian McKenzie’s two tries from fullback when he ghosted past Rieko Ioane and then Mark Tele’a from close to the line caught the eye as the Chiefs fought back against the Blues.

But almost as significant was Cortez Ratima’s extraordinary cover tackle on Tele’a in the second half. Tele’a, one of the best finishers in the game, appeared certain to go over in the corner for a try he has scored many times before – only for little Ratima to deny him with a last-ditch effort that was probably 90% determination and 10% technique.

Before this repeat of last year’s grand final, there were question marks about how much the Blues had evolved from their forward-oriented crash-and-bash style which proved so hard to beat. However, the Chiefs showed that if Vern Cotter’s men can be matched up front they can be stopped.

The Blues have too much backline firepower to be stopped for long but this was a significant result for the Chiefs and the wider competition.

They played their part in a 99-point classic in Perth and while they were eventually broken after 26 phases and more than 83 minutes by Ben Donaldson’s breakaway try and conversion, they scored six tries – some of which were scintillating – and, just as importantly, their set piece appeared solid.

They were vulnerable to the rolling maul but Moana Pasifika attack with such verve and skill that they will cause problems for every team this year.

They also now have a first-five in Jackson Garden-Bachop who provided stability and coolness – as evidenced by his dropped goal to extend his team’s lead to 17-3 in the first half. He is a valuable addition to the squad.

The Waratahs, Force and Brumbies all won in round one (the Reds had a bye), and it’s clear that the demise of the Rebels has provided a lift in terms of quality and depth to at least three of the other Australian teams.

The Brumbies’ victory in Suva was particularly impressive. The Fijians have built an enviable record at home and playing rugby at HFC Bank Stadium in February is not the most pleasant of propositions.

They got home with two converted tries in the final 10 minutes – a testament to their self-belief and fitness in the heat.