Blues upset chiefs, Hurricanes knocked out
It was another big weekend of Super Rugby with the Blues beating the Chiefs 20-19 in a thrilling last-minute victory in Hamilton. Rugby writer and commentator Tony Johnson spoke to Corin Dann.
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Otago Daily Times
43 minutes ago
- Otago Daily Times
Maroons spurred on by jibes
Maroons captain Cameron Munster scores in the tackle of Blues player Jarome Luai in the second State of Origin game in Perth on Wednesday night. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Cameron Munster has revealed how public criticism of Billy Slater galvanised Queensland, admitting he was personally hurt by jabs taken at his coach in the lead-up to their State of Origin II victory. Slater's roller-coaster 42nd birthday ended with a 26-24 win on Wednesday night, 12 hours after he issued a public apology for a comment regarding the late Paul Green. The win has set up a decider in Sydney on July 9, with life breathed back into a series that appeared destined to be won by New South Wales after their dominant game one. Slater has come under fire from all quarters in the past three weeks, with Wednesday night always looming as a referendum on his decision to axe Daly Cherry-Evans. Questions have also circled around Queensland's performances and Slater's own future, with no Maroons coach having ever kept the job after two straight series losses. He was also labelled a "grub" by former NSW forward Aaron Woods, prompting his controversial response on Tuesday at an outdoor press conference in Perth's CBD. The criticism was also enough to spur on the Maroons, with Munster revealing how players wanted to stand up and play for the former Queensland fullback. "When you have someone jabbing at him like that, it really hurts. It hurts me personally," Munster said. "And when someone's having a jab at someone in your own backyard, you stand up on your back and want to get up and fight. "We needed to do that tonight. We were backs against the wall, no-one gave us a chance. "I love him, and I just want to do the best thing for Queensland, and the best thing for him, because he's not doing this for him, he's doing it for Queensland." Munster himself was brilliant, scoring a try and named man of the match after starring in Queensland's 26-6 first half. But the new Queensland captain is well aware the Maroons must be much better in Sydney, after letting NSW back into the game after the break and ending with four tries to their five. Regardless, Munster said the criticism of Slater for the Maroons' 18-6 series-opening loss at Suncorp Stadium last month was unwarranted. "He's our coach, and he's done everything he can to tick the boxes for us, and we didn't perform for him in game one," Munster said. "He got a lot of slack for it, and a lot of stuff in the media, and he didn't deserve it. "He's given us a great game plan, and we didn't execute in game one, and we did it tonight in the first half." — AAP
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Football: Auckland City trounced by Benfica in second heavy Club World Cup defeat
Auckland City FC goalkeeper Nathan Garrow (R) clears against Benfica. Photo: photosport Auckland City's slim hopes of advancing through the pool stage at the FIFA Club World Cup are over after a second humbling defeat, trounced 6-0 by Benfica. The Navy Blues capitulated in the second half after trailing the Portuguese side 1-0 at the interval, in a performance which followed up a 10-0 thrashing from German giants Bayern Munich in their opener . The results mean Auckland City have no chance of qualifying for the knockout stage, and will only be playing for pride in their final match against Argentina side Boca Juniors on Wednesday morning (NZT). This morning's match featured a delay of more than two hours at halftime due to a heavy storm, at which stage Auckland trailed 1-0. At that stage they had defended more stubbornly than the rout against Bayern Munich, led by a series of quality saves by goalkeeper Nathan Garrow. SL Benfica's Angel Di Maria and Auckland City FC's Haris Zeb. FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025, S.L. Benfica v Auckland City FC, Inter & Co Stadium, Orlando, Friday 20 June 2025. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Photo: photosport The dam burst on the stroke of halftime when former Manchester United star Angel di Maria converted from the penalty spot. The lengthy halftime delay may have affected semi-professional Auckland's focus as Benfica's mountain of attacking raids started to find creaks in the defence. Vangelis Pavlidis and Renato Sanches added goals soon after the break, before Leandro Barreiro scored in the 76th and 78th minutes and Di Maria converted a second goal from the spot to round out the scoring. - RNZ / Reuters Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
NRL: NZ Warriors v Penrith Panthers - what you need to know
The Warriors and Panthers will line up without their travel-weary Origin stars. Photo: RNZ Warriors v Panthers Kickoff: 5pm Saturday, 21 June Go Media Stadium, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ Sport Penrith Panthers have traditionally been among the Warriors' toughest opponents through their time in the NRL, with the head-to-head record favouring them 32-19, plus a draw. The Warriors have even struggled to defend their home patch against them, with the Panthers enjoying a 14-11 edge on the road and they are deadlocked 10-10 at Mt Smart. Their biggest margin of victory came in 2013, when Kiwis Isaac John and Lewis Brown - both former Warriors - scored five tries between them in a 62-6 Penrith victory in Sydney. That was the Warriors' biggest-ever defeat, until their 70-10 Anzac Day debacle against Melbourne Storm in 2022. The Warriors enjoyed their biggest win in 2001, when Francis Meli, Justin Murphy, Logan Swann and Clinton Toopi all had try doubles in a 52-8 result at home. Current Panthers coach Ivan Cleary kicked 6/10 conversions for the Warriors that day. Penrith have won eight of the last nine meetings, dating back to 2019 - the last time these two teams met in Auckland - but the makeshift Warriors took the honours last year, with an upset 22-20 win at 'Magic Round' in Brisbane. Fullback Taine Tuaupiki scored a late try and converted for the win. Both teams are coming off bye weeks and both have lost after their previous byes this season. The Warriors (10-3) have won back-to-back outings across the Tasman, since their last loss to Canberra Raiders at home. They lost co-captain Mitch Barnett to a season-ending knee injury against South Sydney, but produced probably their best performance - especially in a 28-0 second half - against Cronulla Sharks. Ivan Cleary has taken the Warriors to two Grand Finals - one as a player and one as a coach. Photo: This fixture will mark the start of a very favourable schedule that includes four home games and a bye over the next seven weeks. After winning their season-opener against the Sharks at Las Vegas, Penrith (5-1-7) lost five straight and sat at the foot of the NRL table, but two wins and the bye have helped boost their standing to ninth, just a point outside the playoff cut halfway through the season. Those wins only came against Parramatta Eels (16th) and Wests Tigers (13th), and they were preceded by a loss to Newcastle Knights (15th), so they're not exactly hitting their straps yet. Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Moala Graham Taufa, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Eagan, 10 Marata Niukore, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Jacob Laban, 13 Erin Clark Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Jackson Ford, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith Reserves: 18 Sam Healey, 22 Ed Kosi With Origin II played in Perth on Wednesday, players involved in this game could not fly back across Australia and then the Tasman in time to recover, so Kurt Capewell will miss his first game of the season. That's probably just as well - the Warriors wouldn't want to lose a second player to injury, trying to back up from the rep showcase. With Rocco Berry and Ali Leiataua still sidelined, his place in the centres has been taken by Moala Graham Taufa, who will join Souths next season. Wayde Egan returns, after missing the Sharks game with a hip complaint, but Sam Healey remains among the reserves, just in case. Winger Ed Kosi is still in the gameday squad, which suggests there's an outside chance Roger Tuivasa-Sheck may yet revert to the midfield. Te Maire Martin will bring up his 100th NRL game against Penrith. Photo: Photosport Te Maire Martin is named for his 100th NRL game, which is some achievement, after he 'retired' in 2020 with a brain bleed. Panthers: 1 Daine Laurie, 2 Thomas Jenkins, 3 Izack Tago, 4 Casey McLean, 5 Paul Alamoti, 6 Blaize Talagi, 7 Brad Schneider, 8 Moses Leota, 9 Mitch Kenny, 10 Lindsay Smith, 11 Scott Sorenson, 12 Isaiah Papali'i, 13, Matt Eisenhuth Interchange: 14 Trent Toelau, 15 Liam Henry, 16 Luron Patea, 17 Luke Garner Reserves: 18 Luke Sommerton, 19 Jack Cole Much to Cleary's disgust , Penrith are far more depleted by the Origin logistics, with son Nathan, captain Isaah Yeo, winger Brian To'o, fullback Dylan Edwards and second-rower Liam Martin all unavailable. Prop Lindsay Smith was called into the NSW squad and travelled to Perth, but didn't take the field, so he will take his place in the starting line-up. The Panthers should be used to covering for their rep stars at this time of the season and have enough depth to ambush unprepared opponents. Their gameday squad features Kiwis Moses Leota, Scott Sorenson, Isaiah Papali'I, Luron Patea, Casey McLean and Trent Toelau. Without Cleary, Blaize Talagi will be called on to stamp his class on the game, something he has already done this season - his first at the Panthers. He scored 11 tries in 19 appearances for Parramatta last season and showed his ability in Penrith colours, when he scored a try and assisted on four in the 30-30 draw with North Queensland. Of Māori descent, Casey McLean made his Kiwis debut against Papua New Guinea, scoring four tries on the wing. Playing at centre, he's scored six tries in 10 outings for Penrith this season. "It's going to be different. I'm not sure what it's going to feel like, because I've never experienced it before. It's one of those things that you'll find out on gameday." - Penrith prop Moses Leota, looking forward to facing former teammate James Fisher-Harris "Still got some fond memories and some people there I've got a lot of respect for, particularly Ivan, but that's kind of dwindled now. I'm just glad that the fans get the champions at our stadium." - Warriors coach Andrew Webster , not emotional about facing his old club Webster will have his troops geed up for this one, with former Panthers Fisher-Harris, Egan and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on board. The Wahs are locked in right now and could put up a score.
