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OPINION: Things Power rankings are back now that each team has played once in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
It’s a new season, but the second round followed a familiar story from last year’s competition.
The Crusaders are already clear favorites for their fifth straight title after another clinical performance to dispatch the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Sunday.
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Chiefs co-captains Sam Cane and Brad Weber will have to inspire their team after falling for a 10th straight loss.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are still looking for their first victory in Kiwi competition after an alarming second-half meltdown in last Friday’s loss to the Highlanders in Hamilton.
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* Super Rugby: Codie Taylor, the slimmest, meanest and fittest Crusaders hooker
* Super Rugby Talking Points: Do the Chiefs need to move Damian McKenzie to No. 10?
The defending champs host the hapless Chiefs on Saturday.
If the Chiefs’ new coach, Clayton McMillan, wasn’t sure how difficult it would be to revive them, Highlanders hat-trick hero Jona Nareki made it clear that his confidence is fragile after jumping through their porous. defense with ease.
Things Ignore the ladder and rank all five teams after each round.
Second round: Friday, Chiefs 23-39 Highlanders; Sunday, Crusaders 33-16 Hurricanes.
1. CRUSADERS (2-0)
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Codie Taylor scoring his try for the Crusaders against the Hurricanes.
Two games, two wins. The Crusaders were rusty against the Highlanders at Dunedin in the first round, but the red and black machine hummed on their return home, a 33-16 win over the Hurricanes.
Champion Scott Robertson, who got their revenge after the Canes snapped their long winning streak at home last year, remains the benchmark, sitting very well in their position. With All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor in great shape, who can stop them?
2. BLUES (1-0)
The Blues had the bye in the second round, but they still appear to be the only team capable of getting close to the Crusaders after being their closest rivals last season.
Their 31-16 win against the Canes in the capital in the first round was good enough to earn them second place in the standings, but they will be challenged by the Highlanders, who will face them in Auckland on Sunday.
3. HIGHLANDERS (1-1)
What an impressive performance from Nareki, who dragged the Highlanders off the grass and took off to inspire the Southerners to their convincing comeback victory.
Of course, there are weaknesses the Chiefs exploited when the Highlanders were under immense pressure in the first half of Friday’s 39-23 success, but anything is possible if gamebreakers like Nareki find space. Your confidence will be through the roof for another trip north against the Blues.
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Jona Nareki scoring his hat-trick against the Chiefs.
4. HURRICANES (0-2)
The Hurricanes have to chew up two straight losses with their goodbye this weekend and the beating from the Crusaders looked ugly as they were down 33-6 with more than 30 minutes to go.
They turned their season around last year in an identical position after two rounds and held on as the Crusaders advanced, with Captain Ardie Savea leading from the front with an impressive run that almost led to a wonderful getaway attempt, but it was difficult. . day though.
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Hurricane Captain Ardie Savea in charge against the Crusaders.
5. CHIEFS (0-1)
The Chiefs will say their first 30 minutes against the Highlanders were positive for another loss. Maybe they are right.
However, the way they got out of tackles and lowered their heads once the Highlanders gained momentum was alarming. This weekend could turn sour quickly if the Crusaders smell blood against a flank reeling from 10 successive losses.
