The road to the Super rugby race title literally goes by Hamilton this year, with FMG Stadium Waikato hosting the grand final on March 25.
But it looks like it will be heading there metaphorically as well, as witnessed by this weekend’s two opening round matches.
Defending champion Chiefs Manawa made the loudest statement of the four participating teams on Saturday, scoring 48 unanswered points their 53-21 victory over Hurricanes Poua.
A large crowd greeted the two teams at Levin Domain for the first major women’s rugby game played in New Zealand since last year’s Rugby World Cup final on November 12.
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The Chiefs no longer have the sevens stars that helped them win the inaugural Aupiki crown last March – and helped the Black Ferns beat England last November – but they seemed undaunted by their need to reinvent themselves.
Matātu, meanwhile, began their campaign by recording their first win, 33-31 over the Bluesthough they needed a last-minute conversion miss from Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant to avoid being taken to golden point extra time.
The South Islanders led the Blues 33–14 five minutes into the second half at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, but conceded three tries and scored none in the final 35 minutes, as the Aucklanders came home to a wet sail.
Willie Walker’s team will take heart from their strong finish, but now have the imposing task of trying to stop the Chiefs juggernaut at North Harbor Stadium next Saturday.
Matatū, meanwhile, has a second home game in a row, this time at Ngā Puna Wai in Christchurch, and will face a hurting Hurricanes side.
If Chiefs Manawa and Matatū both win again next weekend, it will set up a blockbuster encounter between two undefeated teams at FMG Stadium Waikato the following weekend.
But both the Blues and the Hurricanes Poua will have something to say about that prospect, having shown some promising signs of their own despite being condemned to losses in the end.
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Matatu scored four tries in the first half but only sealed their victory over the Blues when a conversion was missed after the horn.
The Hurricanes stormed out to a 21-5 lead in Levin, but it was one-way traffic from there, with the Chiefs scoring eight unanswered tries and Black Ferns hooker Luka Connor grabbing a hat-trick.
The Chiefs came out on top just before half-time and captain Kennedy Simon told Sky Sport afterwards that they had to “give it up to Hurricanes Poua”.
“It’s a physical team, they have a lot of experience and they just caught us on that short side”.
“For us, the messages were just not to rush, to keep calm and follow our processes.”
The later game on Saturday also featured a comeback attempt, but in the case of the Blues, it fell just short.
Matatū led Dunedin 19-0 after half an hour, with Rosie Kelly’s kicking play in the first five playing a big part in getting them to the top.
After the Blues struck back for the first time, the South Islanders pushed their lead back to 19 points, but went scoreless for the final 35 minutes as the Blues finished off the strongest of the two teams.
In the end, the result was determined by Renee Holmes converting four of Matatū’s five tries, while Demant was only able to convert three of the Blues – she missed on her fourth and fifth tries as they fell an embarrassing two points short of tying the scores Pull.
Super rugby race
Round 1 results
At Levin Domain: Chiefs Manawa 53 (Luke Connor 3, Tanya Kalounivale, Kennedy Simon, Chelsea Bremner, Georgia Daals, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Dhys Faleafaga Tries; Tenika Willison 3, Hazel Tubic con) Hurricanes Poua 21 (Rhiarna Ferris tries; Carys Dallinger 3 con). HT: 22-21.
At Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin: Mathematics 33 (Kendra Reynolds, Alana Bremner, Martha Mataele, Di Hiini, Lucy Jenkins tries; Renee Holmes 4 con) Blue 31 (Grace Gago, Jaymie Colossus, Katelyn Vaha’akolo, Sophie Fisher tries; Ruahei Demand 3 con). HT: 26-14. Yellow card: Alana Bremner 49′
Points
Chiefs Manawa 5, Matatū 5, Blues 2, Hurricanes Poua 0
Match schedule round 2
Saturday March 4, 2:05 pm: Blues vs Chiefs Manawa; North Harbor Stadium, Auckland
Saturday March 4, 4.35 pm: Matatu against Poua Hurricanes; Water Springs, Christchurch