OPINION:
After four rounds of Super Rugby Aotearoa, Patrick McKendry ranks New Zealand's contenders and pretenders.
1. Crusaders
Latest result: Crusaders 43 Blues 27
Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa power rankings: Are the Crusaders even better than last year?
Can anyone stop the Crusaders? Photo / Photosport
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Record: 4-0
Last week: 1st
Playing this Crusaders team is a bit like wrestling an octopus in a telephone box slowly filling with water. They have attacking weapons all over the place - especially on the counter - that you have to keep an eye on and even if you feel you're getting on top, they can simply hold on and drown you with their defence. They proved with their suffocating job on the Blues that they're easily the best team in the competition, and more dominant than they were last year.
Biggest mystery:
Who's going to beat them?
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Problems on the horizon:
Complacency? Unlikely given the mental stimulation they are clearly getting from their coaching team headed by Scott Robertson, plus the intense competition for places.
Special mention:
Codie Taylor and Richie Mo'unga will get enough headlines this week and beyond. So here's a shout-out to Crusaders blindside flanker Ethan Blackadder for a huge 80-minute effort, especially on defence.
2. Chiefs
Latest result: Chiefs 35 Hurricanes 29
Record: 1-2
Last week: 5th
The big movers on this list featured in a rip-roaring comeback in Wellington which would have excited everyone apart from anyone connected with the Hurricanes franchise and the club's supporters and possibly some Highlanders' fans who may have wanted the Chiefs to claim Super Rugby's record losing streak by themselves. It ended at 11 consecutive defeats – shared with the southerners.
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Biggest mystery:
How to consistently get the best out of Damian McKenzie, a proverbial bee in a bottle against the Hurricanes. Is it at fullback or first-five? Kaleb Trask did well initially at No 10 but then made a few bad errors and the Chiefs looked better with McKenzie running the show in the second half.
Problems on the horizon:
They have too much talent to be considered a poor team, and yet there is a fragility in this Chiefs side which may not be dispelled by a single victory. They also host a Blues team next Saturday night who will probably run on to the field with the players' ears still ringing from a few harsh words following an occasionally clueless defeat to the Crusaders.
Special mention:
Fullback Chase Tiatia is a player who can run a little hot and cold but he was approaching boiling point with his impact off the reserves bench for the Chiefs against his former team.
3. Blues
Latest result: Blues 27 Crusaders 43
Record: 2-1
Last week: 2nd
And so there we have it, a fairly definitive answer on where the Blues are at; ahead of the chasing pack but still well behind the champions who taught them a huge lesson at Eden Park about how to control a game through calm decision making.
Biggest mystery:
Why do the Blues keep making dumb decisions such as hooker Kurt Eklund's in body slamming Sevu Reece to reverse a penalty the Blues had won?
Problems on the horizon:
That's almost certainly the Blues' chance of a home final gone. If they are to win the competition this year they will have to do it via a final in Christchurch. The Crusaders have never lost a playoff game at home.
Special mention:
Kurt Eklund did well to score two tries in the second half. Pity about the rush of blood a little later.
4. Highlanders
Latest result: Bye
Record: 1-2
Last week: 3rd
The Highlanders appeared a bit ragged before their bye and should be far better for it this week.
Biggest mystery:
Who will win the battle of the two weakest packs in the competition when they host the Hurricanes in Dunedin?
Problems on the horizon:
They rely a lot on Jona Nareki, attacking-wise. Time for playmakers Josh Ioane and Mitch Hunt to pull the strings a little more decisively.
Special mention:
Halfback Folau Fakatava has re-signed with the Highlanders despite Aaron Smith's presence there until at least 2023. Fakatava clearly thinks he can develop quicker playing back-up to Smith than he can elsewhere. No matter what you think about the wisdom in that, it says something about head coach Tony Brown's powers of persuasion.
5. Hurricanes
Latest result: Hurricanes 29 Chiefs 35
Record: 0-3
Last week: 4th
An epic second-half collapse from the Hurricanes against the Chiefs puts them in a battle for the wooden spoon in 2021.
Biggest mystery:
How they coughed up four converted tries in the final 24 minutes, even allowing for Damian McKenzie's brilliance.
Problems on the horizon:
They need leadership and quickly; Dane Coles' return from injury can't come quickly enough. They are building their own concerning losing streak.
Special mention:
Wing Salesi Rayasi, with two tries and 12 tackles from 13 attempts, did just about everything asked of him. He is a big talent; the problem is, how much better could he be at the Blues or Crusaders?
