The stars of the Black Ferns returned in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition last weekend, and demonstrated why they are the reigning Rugby World Cup champions.
Aupiki translates to “the ascent to the upper most realm” in Maori, and the competition is a bridge between the domestic Farah Palmer Cup competition, and reaching the Black Ferns.
The four team competition will first be contested over three rounds, before a first vs second play off final. The competing teams include Super Rugby franchises the Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes, and well as a combined side called Matatu.
Matatu are a combined squad of Crusaders and Highlanders stars, that are building the women’s game on New Zealand’s South Island. Matatu presented their strength in their first-ever Aupiki home match, with an entertaining opening round win against the Blues.
The end-to-end contest ended 33-31 in favour of the South Islanders, with a 10 try thriller sharing five tries per side. Matatu’s tries came from Kendra Reynolds, Alana Bremner, Martha Mataele, Di Hiini and Lucy Jenkins. The Blues Women saw Grace Gago, Katelyn Vaha’akolo and Sophie Fisher all score, along with a brace for Jayme Kolose.
It all came down to the conversions, and Rugby World Cup winner Renee Holmes kicked the four crucial kicks, to edge Matatu in front for the win.
Chiefs Manawa look set to retain their Super Rugby Aupiki title, after coming back from a 16-point deficit, to run riot on Hurricanes Poua for a 53-21 win. The Hurricanes established a strong lead through Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate and Ayesha Leti-I’iga’s tries, yet the Chiefs turned the momentum for an impressive comeback victory.
Black Ferns hooker Luka Connor drove over for a hat-trick of tries, as the Chiefs Manawa set-piece was too powerful for the Wellington side. Tanya Kalounivale, Kennedy Simon, Chelsea Bremner, Georgia Daals, Arihana Marino-Tauhinu, and Dhys Faleafaga, also got on the ever-gowing score-sheet for the Chiefs. Rhiarna Ferris scored a consolation try for Hurricanes, as the Chiefs lead was now far too great.