2025 Match Highlights, Post Match Interviews, Match Reviews
Super Rugby Aupiki Round Three Matatū v nib Blues 7 - 28 Win
The nib Blues wāhine started strong, showing their physicality early with dominant carries and relentless defence. Their patience paid off in the 24th minute when Sylvia Brunt broke through after a well-executed midfield scrum move, dotting down to open the scoring. Brunt was at it again soon after, latching onto an offload to grab her second try and extend the lead. The Matatū responded quickly, narrowing the gap to 14-7 at halftime.
The second half saw the nib Blues turn up the tempo. A stunning length-of-the-field team try, featuring a brilliant break from Ruahei Demant and slick interplay between Atlanta Lolohea and Jaymie Kolose, ended with Braxton Sorenson-McGee turning the final defender inside out to cross the line. The forwards then stamped their authority, powering over from a rolling maul with Lolohea bagging the final try of the match.
Our wāhine showed their class and determination, with the forwards laying a dominant platform that allowed the backs to shine. Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Maama Vaipulu were relentless, carrying with intent and disrupting Matatū’s rhythm, making it difficult for them to gain any real momentum. On attack, Sorenson-McGee and Brunt were electric, constantly threatening out wide and combining for three crucial tries. It was a performance built on power, precision, and flair - proof that this team is only getting stronger.
Next up, the nib Blues take on Chiefs Manawa in another massive clash. With momentum building, our wāhine will be eager to keep their winning streak alive.
Super Rugby Pacific Round Five Chiefs v Blues 32 - 31 Loss
Saturday night’s clash between the Blues and Chiefs was another epic battle, picking up where they left off in their opening Super Rugby Pacific encounter. The Blues pushed the competition leaders to the limit but ultimately fell just short, losing 32-31 in a match that had spectators on the edge of their seats.
The Chiefs struck first with a try in the corner and a penalty goal. With the Blues getting off the mark in the 32nd minute after sustained pressure inside the 22 when AJ Lam finished off a well-worked attacking move.
This week’s play of the game saw Mark Telea, in full-flight, latch onto a pinpoint pass out wide, somehow managing to get the ball down one-handed while airborne, defying gravity to close the gap to 15-12 at halftime.
The Blues carried that momentum into the second half. Sam Nock’s clever chip-and-chase set up Patrick Tuipulotu to charge at the line, forcing a yellow card for the Chiefs. With the extra man advantage, Corey Evans’ sharp footwork saw him slice through for a brilliant try, putting the Blues ahead for the first time.
The Chiefs struck back with two quick tries to regain the lead, but the Blues weren’t done. Marcel Renata bulldozed over to bring the game back within reach setting up a dramatic finish. With time running out, Stephen Perofeta delivered a pinpoint cross-field kick to Rieko Ioane, who gathered and scored, giving the Blues a chance to steal victory. But in a cruel twist, debutant Xavi Taele’s conversion attempt agonisingly struck the upright, leaving the Blues just short.
Despite the loss, the Blues looked much improved. They found their form in the second half and brought it tooth and nail to this impressive Chiefs side. Telea and Evans were ever-threatening on attack, with Telea carrying for 63 metres and scoring a fantastic try, while Evans carried for 80 metres, also crossing the line for a try of his own.
The loose forward trio of Anton Segnar, Dalton Papali’i, and Cam Christie showed their dominance on both sides of the ball, combining for 93 running metres and 31 tackles. Stephen Perofeta was influential off the bench, sparking some life in the attack late in the match. It was great to see him return from injury and make an impact.
It doesn’t get any easier, and tonight showed we can hang with the best in the competition. With a showdown against our famous rivals, the Crusaders, looming next week at Eden Park, the stage is set for another epic battle.
Super Rugby Aupiki Round Two nib Blues v Chiefs Manawa 24 - 22 Win
The Blues wāhine set the stage, overcoming early adversity after being reduced to 13 players midway through the first half. Despite trailing 12-0 after 30 minutes, they showed grit and determination to grind out a dramatic win on home soil.
On the stroke of half-time, they finally got on the board. Katelyn Vaha’akolo burst down the right side of the field from opposition territory, weaving through defenders and bobbing inside and out to score a fantastic individual try.
The nib Blues kept their foot on the gas to begin the second half, rumbling forward with powerful carries. The Chiefs Manawa defence was caught napping as Ruahei Demant snapped the ball off the back of the ruck to dot it down under the posts, tying things up.
After conceding a try in the 57th minute to Renee Holmes, the Blues wouldn’t score again until the 67th. A handling error in midfield gave our wāhine a prime opportunity to launch a counterattack. Vaha’akolo burst into the 22 down the right touchline, freeing up space on the left. The ball was sent wide where Jamie Kolose crashed over, tying things up again.
When the Chiefs slotted a penalty goal in the 77th minute, it looked as though the visitors were poised for victory but Portia Woodman-Wickliffe had other ideas. In the dying stages, she was fed the ball just outside the 22, where she broke tackle after tackle, crossing the chalk down the right edge and stealing the game at the death.
The nib Blues backline was outstanding in the contest, with Woodman-Wickliffe and Vaha’akolo making numerous impactful plays and scoring two of the better tries you’ll see this season! Demant was a workhorse in the middle of the park, and Maama Vaipulu led the physical battle with several strong carries.
It was another impressive win for the nib Blues, continuing their unbeaten start to the season. They face another challenge next week in Nelson as they take on the unbeaten Matatū - you won’t want to miss it!
Super Rugby Pacific Round Four Blues v Brumbies 20 - 21 Loss
The Blues backed up the wāhine gritty performance with a nail-biter against the Brumbies, but despite a strong start, they couldn’t hold on as the visitors clawed their way back to snatch a 21-20 win at Eden Park, the first in 12 years.
The Blues were on fire early, with Beauden Barrett looking at home in his prized first-five jersey for the first time this season. He was asking plenty of questions of the Brumbies' defence and facilitating the Blues' attack. His brilliance was rewarded with a five-pointer, as he slid through the defensive line just outside the 22, accelerating through a hole to put the boys up 10-3.
The Brumbies responded quickly to level things up, and from there, it was a real arm wrestle. The Blues looked more threatening on attack, but small errors and strong breakdown work from the visitors kept the game on a knife edge.
The play of the game came late in the first half, when Cole Forbes found a gap from deep in our own half and made a massive run into the Brumbies' 22. From there, the boys were patient, working through a couple of phases before Angus Ta’avao powered over for the try.
Minutes later, the boys were on the front foot again. Finlay Christie sold a dummy and tipped the ball onto Cameron Suafoa, who made a charging run into the 22. He found Mark Telea on the outside, who fired it back inside to Rieko Ioane, crossing for his 50th Super Rugby try and giving the Blues a 20-10 lead at half-time.
Tragically, Barrett had to leave the game at half-time with a fractured arm, and the Blues' attack struggled to regain its rhythm. The Brumbies chipped away with an early penalty goal and followed it up with a try, bringing the game within two points at 20-18.
The boys defended valiantly throughout the second half, halting raid after raid from the Brumbies. But after a dominant scrum by the visitors in the dying moments earning them a penalty and a shot at goal, the Brumbies took a 21-20 lead and stole the game.
Beauden Barrett was electric in the first half, carrying for 65 metres and manipulating the Brumbies' defence with ease. Forbes was a standout on attack, notching up 78 metres and providing a massive break that led to Ta’avao’s try. Suafoa and Anton Segnar were defensive workhorses, combining for 49 tackles and carrying hard through the middle of the park.
It was a tough result, but the boys will be eager to bounce back next week as they look to get back to winning ways as they take on the red hot Chiefs in Hamilton, don’t miss it.
Super Rugby Aupiki Round One Hurricanes Poua v nib Blues 10 - 50 Win
We were treated to two exciting matches with the nib Blues setting the stage as they ran over the Hurricanes Poua 50-10 to get their title defence underway.
We got stuck in early, bringing physicality in the collisions and driving into Hurricanes territory. Ruahei Demant spotted space on the edge of the ruck, picked her gap, and sliced through to open the scoring.
The pressure kept building. After a high tackle resulted in a yellow card for Angel Mulu, Demant slotted a penalty to extend the lead. With the Hurricanes on the back foot, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe turned on the magic slicing through defenders to spark the next try. Braxton Sorensen-McGee burst free from deep and when the ball found Woodman-Wickliffe on the edge, there was no stopping her.
The second half began just as strongly. Camped inside the Hurricanes 22, Demant spotted another gap and raced under the sticks to push the lead to 24-0. Moments later, slick hands spread the defence thin, with Sorensen-McGee showing her blistering pace to finish in the corner.
The Hurricanes would break the duck with their first try in the 61st minute, but from there, the floodgates opened for the nib Blues. Grace Gago got in on the action, finishing a slick move down the right-hand side. A dominant scrum in the 71st minute laid the platform for Syliva Brunt to crash over, and the girls finished things off as Gago grabbed her second from a powerful lineout drive, bringing up the big 50 on the scoreboard.
There were standout performances all over the park - Woodman-Wickliffe was electric, racking up 136 running metres and beating six defenders. Sorensen-McGee was sensational on debut, gaining 80 metres and leaving five defenders in her dust.
It was an impressive start to the competition for the defending champs and it sets the stage for an exciting grand final rematch this weekend against the Chiefs Manawa at Eden Park on Friday.
Super Rugby Pacific Round Three Hurricanes v Blues 29 -33 Win
The boys followed it up with a gutsy 33-29 win over the Hurricanes, a thrilling battle from the opening hooter to the final whistle.
Looking to strike early, the Hurricanes were met by a formidable Blues defence. The first points went to the hosts with a Harry Godfrey penalty after 10 minutes, but it wasn’t long before the boys made their mark.
The forward pack went to work, building pressure inside the Hurricanes' 22. Back to back infringements saw Xavier Numia sent to the bin, and the boys pounced. They were too powerful for the seven-man scrum, earning a penalty try and sending another Canes front-rower to the naughty chair.
The Hurricanes slotted a penalty before the Blues hit back. Strong carries had the team marching upfield, and when Patrick Tuipulotu broke the line, Ricky Riccitelli was right there to dive over to extend the lead to 14-6.
A slick individual try from Godfrey followed, along with a pair of penalty goals, which narrowed the gap. However the Blues held onto a slender 21-19 lead until the break.
Midway through the second half, the Hurricanes grabbed the lead with a try from Kini Naholo, but the Blues weren’t done. After 20 minutes of fierce goal-line defence, the Blues finally got to attack. The forwards muscled up, with Hoskins Sotutu sneaking around the right edge to cut the deficit to a single point, setting the stage for the play of the game.
From deep in our own half, Beauden Barrett split the defence and fired a wide ball to Caleb Clarke, who weaved through defenders before the ball swung across to Mark Telea. With plenty still to do, Telea turned on the afterburners and scorched down the right touchline to score the match winner. Pure magic!
How good was Mark Telea? The electric winger ran for 82 metres, beat five defenders, and scored the try that sealed the game. Beauden Barrett was instrumental with his vision and pace, while Josh Beehre was enormous in the forward pack racking up a massive 25 tackles and carrying hard all night.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was a huge step up, and the boys showed their championship quality to take down the Canes on their home turf. This weekend, we’re back under the lights at Eden Park for another epic double-header as the nib Blues face the Chiefs Manawa, and the Blues take on the Brumbies. You won’t want to miss it see you there!