Matatu

With just seconds left on the clock in the Super Rugby Aupiki final, Matatū felt their chances of dethroning Chiefs Manawa slip away. Holding a two-point lead ...

“I’ve probably struggled the last few weeks and haven’t put out the performances that I wanted to. It looked like that result was nearly out of the question early in the contest. But they stepped up when it mattered most, with 23 points from fullback Renee Holmes leading the side to their first title.

The Super Rugby Aupiki seasoned wrapped up Saturday with an exhilarating match between the undefeated Chiefs Manawa and the underdog Matatu.

The dying moments provided edge-of-your-seat action as the Manawa strung phases together to get deep into the Matatu half. The conversion was too challenging of an angle for Tenika Willison though which left a two-point lead for Matatu. The kick was another long one from out wide but Holmes was composed and slotted the three-pointer. Matatu regained the lead as Once in position, the dominant Manawa forwards took their opportunities and had 19 points in the opening 18 minutes. Matatu then roared into life through some dynamic and physical carries from Amy du Plessis.

The underdogs came back a 19-nil deficit after as many minutes, to beat the previously-undefeated champions, the Chiefs Manawa, 33-31.

The first Super Rugby Aupiki final is a North Island, South Island battle and involves the only team to never lose in the competition and resurgent Matatū, ...

This season the Chiefs won a shootout 46-38. A few days later, they played at the same venue in the competition proper, and the Chiefs won a cliffhanger 17-15. The Chiefs with their big, ball-carrying forwards often bully ahead and have lethal wingers to boot.