The tenth round of Super Rugby Pacific saw a draw for the first time in any match in five years. The Crusaders survived a storm in Christchurch to inflict heartache upon the Blues. The Chiefs and Brumbies further underscored their title-winning credentials.
Here are four of the best performers from round ten of Super Rugby Pacific.
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders)
It’s almost unheard of for a starting tighthead prop to play an entire 80 minutes. Indeed, All Black Fletcher Newell had never done it in 36 previous appearances for the Crusaders or at any time in his senior first-class career.
On the first occasion, the Rangiora Ramrod lasted the distance, he was legendary. With the Blues ahead 22-19, Newell won two scrum penalties in the 71st and 80th minutes, which presented James O’Connor with the chance to kick the equalising and match-winning penalty goals. O’Connor has kicked 288 goals from 379 attempts in his Super Rugby career.
The Crusaders’ victory was built on the simmering scrum and gladiatorial defence, making 110 more tackles than the Blues. Ethan Blackadder topped the count with 26. Dentist Christian Lio-Willie had 17 and scored a try. Newell contributed 13, which is a significant number in his position.
The last time Newell played 80 minutes of rugby at any level before Friday night was on June 13, 2019, when the New Zealand Under 20s were beaten 25-17 by South Africa. Newell’s senior first-class debut was for Canterbury in a 43-24 win against North Harbour in the 2020 NPC.
Penalties 
Emoni Narawa (Chiefs)
Emoni Narawa delivered a timely reminder of his All Blacks credentials in the same week 19-Test incumbent Mark Tele’a announced he’s leaving New Zealand for Japan next season.
Narawa scored a try and made more line breaks than anybody in the Chiefs’ 46-10 slaying of the Highlanders in Hamilton. The two-Test All Black carried 11 times for a gain of 52 metres, kicked effectively six times, and both his tackles resulted in turnovers. The Chiefs won the second half 33-0.
Narawa has covered centre for Bay of Plenty and the Chiefs, for whom he has scored 26 tries in 42 appearances (33 wins).
The Chiefs have beaten the Highlanders 24 times in 42 matches, with their margin of victory on Saturday the best they have achieved. The previous record was a 50-19 win in 2001. In that Rotorua match, present-day assistant coach Roger Randle scored a try playing on the wing. Briefly an All Black, Randle scored 141 tries in 188 first-class games.
22m Entries
Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)
It was hard to remain attentive during the Brumbies’ 24-0 blanking of Moana Pasifika. It was easily the most boring game of the season, and indeed for 40 minutes was on target to pass the Highlanders’ 6-0 victory over the Crusaders in 2009 as the lowest scoring Super Rugby match.
Things livened up somewhat with four second-half tries, though two were scored from dull lineout drives.
Nonetheless, holding the highest-scoring team before the start of the round to zero is noteworthy. It’s the first time it’s happened to Moana Paskika in their 51-match history
Captain Allan Alaalatoa spearheaded the Brumbies’ stingy defensive display, making a match-leading 19 tackles in 56 minutes. The Brumbies scrum gradually gained ascendancy, while the lineout operated at a hundred per cent, pilfering five from the hosts.
The last time the Brumbies held an opponent to nil was when they beat the Force by the same scoreline at Leichhardt Oval in 2020.
When the Brumbies beat the Cats 64-0 in 2000, the entire Brumbies starting XV were Wallabies. Striling Mortlock scored 24 points, and Owen Finegan scored three tries.
Peter Lakai (Hurricanes)
If Lakai’s body of work after 80 minutes was excellent, the ten minutes he produced in extra time of the first Super Rugby draw since 2020 were extraordinary.
Following an exhaustive attack from the Force, Lakai charged down a Ben Donaldson drop goal attempt and then booted the ball deep into the opposite 22 as the Hurricanes launched their salvo to win.
Lakai carried with immense courage and frequency before deputising at halfback when replacement Ere Enari and first five Ruben Love were briefly missing. Lakai was the Hurricanes’ top tackler with 14 and carrier with a dozen.
It would be remiss when honours were shared not to acknowledge the Force. Openside Carlo Tizzano was a beast again with a game-high 23 tackles and a break which almost resulted in him scoring a try in a ninth consecutive match this season. He still holds the Super Rugby Pacific record with eight. As his name suggests, Harry Potter can be wizardry. His two linebreaks and 150 meters gained by boot illustrate his growing impact in Perth.
