Latest news with #DuPlessisKirifi
News24
14 hours ago
- Sport
- News24
Du'Plessis Kirifi, named after ex-Bok skipper Morne, one of five All Blacks debutants
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson on Monday named five debutants in a 33-man squad skippered by Scott Barrett for three Tests against France, as Dalton Papali'i, Ethan Blackadder and David Havili missed out. The new faces include forwards Brodie McAlister, Ollie Norris, Fabian Holland, and Du'Plessis Kirifi, along with wing Timoci Tavatavanawai. Flanker Kirifi, who played for the Hurricanes, is known after former Springbok captain Morne du Plessis. Kirifi's father, Polaiu'amea (Jack) - a long-time flanker for Auckland club Ponsonby - played against Morne du Plessis in a world club tournament in France. He liked the name so much he dropped in an apostrophe and gave it to his eldest son. Back in 2020, Kirifi, now 28, revealed that he had received a message from Du Plessis. 'He got wind of [my name] and put together a little video and sent it to me when I was in South Africa last year, so that was pretty special of him to connect that way. I felt very privileged and blessed,' Kirifi told New Zealand's Stuff website. 'He just said 'gidday mate, Morne here, I've been following your career', and he gave me a few tips and tricks and wished me all the best. He told me to work hard and stay humble.' Rob Houwing | Rain could thwart Bok 'festival' but carry hidden blessings for Rassie Meanwhile, Robertson said the line-up for Tests next month in Dunedin, Wellington and Hamilton was a balance of 'continuity and opportunity'. 'Around three-quarters of the players named today were part of our squad for the 2024 northern tour, which is important because we want to continue to build on the rugby we were playing at the end of last year,' he said. 'We have balanced that with an exciting group of new and returning players who have performed during Super Rugby Pacific. 'For the five uncapped players this is a particularly special day,' he added. 'These players have all impressed us with their talent and work ethic and have earned their opportunity to be part of this All Blacks squad.' The All Blacks also welcome back hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho and centre Quinn Tupaea, who have not featured since 2023 and 2022 respectively. Scott Barrett retains the captaincy, with brother Jordie and veteran flanker Ardie Savea his deputies. 'Scott's leadership is hugely valued in this group, and well complimented by Ardie and Jordie,' said Robertson. 'They will play a vital role, along with the wider player leadership group, in supporting the transition of the new players into the environment and imparting their experience to ensure the squad is set up for success.' New Zealand squad: Forwards: Codie Taylor (Crusaders), Samisoni Taukei'aho (Chiefs), Brodie McAlister (Chiefs), Ethan de Groot (Highlanders), Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders), Ollie Norris (Chiefs), Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes), Fletcher Newell (Crusaders), Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes), Scott Barrett (Crusaders, capt), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), Tupou Vaa'i (Chiefs), Fabian Holland (Highlanders), Samipeni Finau (Chiefs), Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika), Du'Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes), Wallace Sititi (Chiefs), Luke Jacobson (Chiefs) Backs: Cameron Roigard (Hurricanes), Cortez Ratima (Chiefs), Noah Hotham (Crusaders), Beauden Barrett (Blues), Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Rieko Ioane (Blues), Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs), Billy Proctor (Hurricanes), Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders), Caleb Clarke (Blues), Sevu Reece (Crusaders), Will Jordan (Crusaders), Ruben Love (Hurricanes)
Economic Times
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Economic Times
Brumbies enter Super Rugby semis; Can they finally break the New Zealand curse?
The ACT Brumbies have maintained their position as Australia's sole representative in the playoffs, advancing to the semifinals for the third consecutive season. The ACT Brumbies have secured their spot in the Super Rugby semi-finals, reigniting hopes of ending their long-standing struggles against New Zealand sides in the playoffs. After beating the Wellington-based Hurricanes 35-28, the Canberra-based team now faces the ultimate challenge — overcoming a Kiwi opponent, something no Australian team has done in the playoffs for a long time. The record for Australian teams in playoff matches in New Zealand now stands at 0-20 after the Queensland Reds were beaten 32-12 by the Crusaders in the odds, the Brumbies carry belief, momentum, and a desire to rewrite history. But the bigger question is - Can they finally break the New Zealand hoodoo and march into the Super Rugby final? The Brumbies have maintained their position as Australia's sole representative in the playoffs, advancing to the semifinals for the third consecutive season. The Chiefs will host the Brumbies in Hamilton for the upcoming semifinals, following their narrow 20-19 defeat to the Blues from Auckland, who sealed the contest by converting a try after the full-time siren. Despite the loss, the Chiefs advanced to the next round as the highest-ranked losing side, though they relinquished their top position to the Crusaders. The contest between the Brumbies and Hurricanes could have been inconsequential if both the Crusaders and Chiefs had won their respective playoff matches. In such a scenario, both teams playing in Canberra would have advanced to the semifinals, either as the victor or as the highest-ranked defeated Hurricanes' championship aspirations have now been thwarted in Canberra three times in the past four years, following their quarterfinal losses to the Brumbies in 2022 and 2023.'We didn't get the job done tonight. That Brumbies team really took it up a notch and showed why they've been so successful here,' Hurricanes captain DuPlessis Kirifi said. 'We're just looking at the Chiefs in Hamilton next week,' Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said. 'But we're hoping that the Blues can knock off the Crusaders and we come back here in two weeks for a grand final.'
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Brumbies enter Super Rugby semis; Can they finally break the New Zealand curse?
Third consecutive semis for Brumbies Live Events Heartbreak for Crusaders! (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The ACT Brumbies have secured their spot in the Super Rugby semi-finals, reigniting hopes of ending their long-standing struggles against New Zealand sides in the beating the Wellington-based Hurricanes 35-28, the Canberra-based team now faces the ultimate challenge — overcoming a Kiwi opponent, something no Australian team has done in the playoffs for a long record for Australian teams in playoff matches in New Zealand now stands at 0-20 after the Queensland Reds were beaten 32-12 by the Crusaders in the odds, the Brumbies carry belief, momentum, and a desire to rewrite history. But the bigger question is - Can they finally break the New Zealand hoodoo and march into the Super Rugby final?The Brumbies have maintained their position as Australia's sole representative in the playoffs, advancing to the semifinals for the third consecutive Chiefs will host the Brumbies in Hamilton for the upcoming semifinals, following their narrow 20-19 defeat to the Blues from Auckland, who sealed the contest by converting a try after the full-time the loss, the Chiefs advanced to the next round as the highest-ranked losing side, though they relinquished their top position to the contest between the Brumbies and Hurricanes could have been inconsequential if both the Crusaders and Chiefs had won their respective playoff matches. In such a scenario, both teams playing in Canberra would have advanced to the semifinals, either as the victor or as the highest-ranked defeated Hurricanes' championship aspirations have now been thwarted in Canberra three times in the past four years, following their quarterfinal losses to the Brumbies in 2022 and 2023.'We didn't get the job done tonight. That Brumbies team really took it up a notch and showed why they've been so successful here,' Hurricanes captain DuPlessis Kirifi said.'We're just looking at the Chiefs in Hamilton next week,' Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said. 'But we're hoping that the Blues can knock off the Crusaders and we come back here in two weeks for a grand final.'
Mint
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Brumbies Super Rugby playoff journey continues: Can they break the New Zealand hoodoo?
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The ACT Brumbies will become the latest Australian team to take on the New Zealand playoff hoodoo in Super Rugby after beating the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra. The record for Australian teams in playoff matches in New Zealand now stands at 0-20 after the Queensland Reds were beaten 32-12 by the Crusaders in Christchurch. The Brumbies will face the Chiefs in Hamilton in next weekend's semifinals after the Chiefs were beaten 20-19 by the Auckland-based Blues who scored and converted a try after the fulltime siren. The Chiefs still progressed to the next playoff round as the highest-ranked loser but have lost top seeding to the Crusaders. The match between the Brumbies and Hurricanes might have been a dead rubber if the Crusaders and Chiefs, the top-two seeds, both had won their playoff matches. Then, both teams in Canberra would have progressed to the semifinals either as the winner or highest-ranked loser. The Hurricanes title hopes have now foundered in Canberra in three of the last four years after they lost to the Brumbies in quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023. 'We didn't get the job done tonight. That Brumbies team really took it up a notch and showed why they've been so successful here,' Hurricanes captain DuPlessis Kirifi said. The Brumbies again are the last Australian team standing in the playoffs after reaching the semifinals for the third straight time. 'We're just looking at the Chiefs in Hamilton next week,' coach Stephen Larkham said. 'But we're hoping that the Blues can knock off the Crusaders and we come back here in two weeks for a grand final.' Brute force and home advantage were key factors in the Crusaders' win over the Reds. The Reds had to come from 23 degrees and fine weather in Brisbane to 4 degrees and a rain-soaked pitch in Christchurch. While they anticipated the conditions and tried to replicate them in training, they couldn't fully prepare for a match played in conditions in which the Crusaders excel. 'Typical Christchurch weather: cold, wet and dark and we love it,' said Crusaders scrumhalf Noah Hotham whose brilliant second half try spelled the end of the Reds' hopes and improved the Crusaders winning record in home playoffs to 30-0. The Reds couldn't match the power of the Crusaders' scrum and conceded penalties which gave the Crusaders a footing in Reds territory. At the same time, the Reds took too long to match the Crusaders' numbers at breakdowns. Captain David Havili was a force in the collision area which the Crusaders also dominated. 'They were all over us at the breakdown and collision area and we just couldn't get into our cycle,' Reds captain Tate McDermott said. 'They're really good at disrupting your ball and slowing it down and they did a good job of that.' Hotham may have helped his All Blacks chances with a strong individual performance behind a dominant pack. As Rieko Ioane faced the television cameras after the Blues beat the New South Wales Waratahs to qualify for the Super Rugby playoffs, the Blues and All Blacks center said 'as the saying goes, shouldn't have let us get one.' In 2004 the Boston Red Sox came from 3-0 down to beat the New York Yankees and win their first World Series in 86 years. At 3-0 down Sox outfielder Kevin Millar said 'don't let us get one.' And in the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference finals, the Boston Celtics were 3-0 down against the Miami Heat. 'Don't let us get one,' Celtics player Jaylen Brown said before his team rallied to force game seven. From Ioane, it was prophetic. After 'getting one' by making the playoffs in sixth place, the Blues have now stretched their defense of the Super Rugby title into the semifinals. The Chiefs were favored to win Saturday after beating the Blues twice during the regular season. But the Blues kept their season alive with a converted try after the fulltime siren.
Fox Sports
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Brumbies' Super Rugby playoff journey continues: Can they break the New Zealand hoodoo?
Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The ACT Brumbies will become the latest Australian team to take on the New Zealand playoff hoodoo in Super Rugby after beating the Wellington-based Hurricanes in Canberra. The record for Australian teams in playoff matches in New Zealand now stands at 0-20 after the Queensland Reds were beaten 32-12 by the Crusaders in Christchurch. The Brumbies will face the Chiefs in Hamilton in next weekend's semifinals after the Chiefs were beaten 20-19 by the Auckland-based Blues who scored and converted a try after the fulltime siren. The Chiefs still progressed to the next playoff round as the highest-ranked loser but have lost top seeding to the Crusaders. The match between the Brumbies and Hurricanes might have been a dead rubber if the Crusaders and Chiefs, the top-two seeds, both had won their playoff matches. Then, both teams in Canberra would have progressed to the semifinals either as the winner or highest-ranked loser. The Hurricanes title hopes have now foundered in Canberra in three of the last four years after they lost to the Brumbies in quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023. 'We didn't get the job done tonight. That Brumbies team really took it up a notch and showed why they've been so successful here,' Hurricanes captain DuPlessis Kirifi said. The Brumbies again are the last Australian team standing in the playoffs after reaching the semifinals for the third straight time. 'We're just looking at the Chiefs in Hamilton next week,' coach Stephen Larkham said. 'But we're hoping that the Blues can knock off the Crusaders and we come back here in two weeks for a grand final.' Crusaders beat the chill Brute force and home advantage were key factors in the Crusaders' win over the Reds. The Reds had to come from 23 degrees and fine weather in Brisbane to 4 degrees and a rain-soaked pitch in Christchurch. While they anticipated the conditions and tried to replicate them in training, they couldn't fully prepare for a match played in conditions in which the Crusaders excel. 'Typical Christchurch weather: cold, wet and dark and we love it,' said Crusaders scrumhalf Noah Hotham whose brilliant second half try spelled the end of the Reds' hopes and improved the Crusaders winning record in home playoffs to 30-0. The Reds couldn't match the power of the Crusaders' scrum and conceded penalties which gave the Crusaders a footing in Reds territory. At the same time, the Reds took too long to match the Crusaders' numbers at breakdowns. Captain David Havili was a force in the collision area which the Crusaders also dominated. 'They were all over us at the breakdown and collision area and we just couldn't get into our cycle,' Reds captain Tate McDermott said. 'They're really good at disrupting your ball and slowing it down and they did a good job of that.' Hotham may have helped his All Blacks chances with a strong individual performance behind a dominant pack. Blues beat the odds As Rieko Ioane faced the television cameras after the Blues beat the New South Wales Waratahs to qualify for the Super Rugby playoffs, the Blues and All Blacks center said 'as the saying goes, shouldn't have let us get one.' It was a nod to history. In 2004 the Boston Red Sox came from 3-0 down to beat the New York Yankees and win their first World Series in 86 years. At 3-0 down Sox outfielder Kevin Millar said 'don't let us get one.' And in the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference finals, the Boston Celtics were 3-0 down against the Miami Heat. 'Don't let us get one,' Celtics player Jaylen Brown said before his team rallied to force game seven. From Ioane, it was prophetic. After 'getting one' by making the playoffs in sixth place, the Blues have now stretched their defense of the Super Rugby title into the semifinals. The Chiefs were favored to win Saturday after beating the Blues twice during the regular season. But the Blues kept their season alive with a converted try after the fulltime siren. ___ AP rugby: recommended
