Our Super Rugby preview series continues with a look at the New Zealand conference, which last year provided both the champions in the Highlanders and the runners-up, the Hurricanes.
Last season
The Hurricanes had the best season record of any team last year with 14-2 seeing them top the New Zealand conference and the league table. However despite a 20-point win over the Brumbies in the semi-finals, they were shocked from within their own conference in the final.
That team was the Highlanders, who themselves finished second in the New Zealand conference on 11-5 for the year, equal best with the Waratahs behind the Hurricanes, but they still had to fight their way into the final from the qualifier up. They stunned the Hurricanes with a 21-14 victory in Wellington to win their first Super Rugby title.
The Chiefs were also one of the stronger teams in the league with a record of 10-6, but they bowed out to the Highlanders in the qualifiers, losing 14-24.
The Crusaders finished seventh overall and just missed out on finals, a disappointing result no doubt considering they had the second best points difference in the league (+143) behind the Hurricanes (+170).
The Blues were the only team in the New Zealand conference to lose more than they won – and they were very disappointing, particularly for the first half of the year, finishing with a 3-13 record and only narrowly avoiding the bottom of the table.
The squads
Hurricanes
In: Loni Uhila, Hugh Renton, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Pita Ahki, Ngani Laumape.
Out: Tolu Fahamokioa, Ben Franks, John Schwalger, Brayden Mitchell, Jeremy Thrush, Adam Hill, Chris Smylie., Frae Wilson, Willis Halaholo, Rey Lee-Lo, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Sam McNicol.
Full Hurricanes Squad for 2016
Mark Abbott, Pita Ahki, Leni Apisai, Vince Aso, Beauden Barrett, Otere Black, James Broadhurst, Dane Coles, Geoff Cridge, Chris Eves, Michael Fatialofa, Vaea Fifita, Callum Gibbins, Jamison Gibson-Park, Reggie Goodes, Willis Halaholo, Iopu Iopu-Aso, Cory Jane, Tony Lamborn, Ngani Laumape, Christian Lloyd, James Marshall, Motu Matu’u, Ben May, Nehe Milner-Skudder, TJ Perenara, Matt Proctor, Hugh Renton, Hisa Sasagi, Ardie Savea, Julian Savea, Brad Shields, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Blade Thomson, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Loni Uhila, Tennessee Va’a, Victor Vito, Jason Woodward.
Highlanders
In: Siua Halanukonuka, Luke Whitelock, Liam Squire, Matt Faddes, Rob Thompson.
Out: Ma’afu Fia, Kane Hames, Pingi Tala’apitaga, Jackson Hemopo, Joe Latta, John Hardie, Nasi Manu, Scott Eade, Fumiaki Tanaka, Shaun Treeby, Trent Renata, Kurt Baker.
Full Highlanders Squad for 2016
Alex Ainley, Marty Banks, Richard Buckman, Shane Christie, Liam Coltman, Elliot Dixon Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Jason Emery, Gareth Evans, Matt Faddes, Malakai Fekitoa, Tom Franklin, Ross Geldenhuys, Siua Halanukonuka, Jackson Hemopo, Josh Hohneck, James Lentjes, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Craig Millar, Waisake Naholo, Patrick Osborne, Hayden Parker, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Dan Pryor, Mark Reddish, Josh Renton, Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Liam Squire, Fumiaki Tanaka, Rob Thompson, Sio Tomkinson, Ryan Tongia, Teihorangi Walden, Joe Wheeler, Luke Whitelock.
Chiefs
In: Nepo Laulala, Atunaisa Moli, Hiroshi Yamashita, Nathan Harris, Dominic Bird, Sam Henwood, Mitchell Karpik, Tom Sanders, Taleni Seu, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Glen Fisiiahi, Toni Pulu, Chase Tiatiam, Sam McNicol.
Out: Jarrod Firth, Jamie Mackintosh, Ben Tameifuna, Quentin MacDonald, Rhys Marshall, Brian Alainu’uese, Michael Fitzgerald, Matt Symons, Mitchell Crosswell, Ross Filipo, Liam Messam, Sean Polwart, Liam Squire, Kayne Hammington, Hosea Gear, Bryce Heem, Tom Marshall, Tim Nanai-Williams, Marty McKenzie.
Full Chiefs Squad for 2016
Michael Allardice, Johan Bardoul, Dominic Bird, Sam Cane, Aaron Cruden, Stephen Donald, Hikawera Elliot, Glen Fisiiahi, Siegfried Fisiihoi, Mitchell Graham, Nathan Harris, Sam Henwood, Andrew Horrell, Mitch Karpik, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tevita Koloamatangi, Nepo Laulala, Michael Leitch, Anton Lienert-Brown, James Lowe, Pauliasi Manu, Rhys Marshall, Damian McKenzie, Sam McNicol, Atunaisa Moli, Charlie Ngatai, Augustine Pulu, Toni Pulu, Brodie Retallick, Tom Sanders, Taleni Seu, Shaun Stevenson, Seta Tamanivalu, Chase Tiatia, Siate Tokolahi, James Tucker, Latu Vaeno, Ma’ama Vaipulu, Sam Vaka, Brad Weber, Sonny Bill Williams, Hiroshi Yamashita.
Crusaders
In: Michael Alaalatoa, Tim Boys, Peter Samu, Marty McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, Ben Volavola, Sean Wainui, Sione Fifita, Mitchell Hunt.
Out: Nepo Laulala, Tim Perry, Dominic Bird, Richie McCaw, Luke Whitelock, Billy Guyton, Willi Heinz, Dan Carter, Colin Slade, Tom Taylor, Nathaniel Apa, Nafi Tuitavake, Israel Dagg.
Full Crusaders Squad for 2016
Michael Alaalatoa, Scott Barrett, Tim Boys, Jed Brown, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Dunshea, Andrew Ellis, Owen Franks, Sione Fifita, Leon Fukofuka, Kieron Fonotia, Robbie Fruean, Ben Funnell, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Alex Hodgman, Mitchell Hunt, Jone Macilai, Marty McKenzie, Johnny McNicholl, Joe Moody, Richie Mo’unga, Nemani Nadolo, Tim Perry, Kieran Read, Ged Robinson, Luke Romano, Peter Samu, Jordan Taufua, Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, Jimmy Tupou, Ben Volavola, Sean Wainui, Sam Whitelock.
Blues
In: Quentin MacDonald, Hoani Matenga, Gerard Tuioti-Mariner, Tanerau Latimer, Kara Pryor, Billy Guyton, Sam Nock, Rieko Ioane, Rene Ranger, Male Sa’u, Matt Duffie.
Out: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Angus Ta’avao, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, William Lloyd, Cullum Retallick, Hayden Triggs, Chris Viu, Luke Braid, Joe Edwards, Brendon O’Connor, Airi Hunt, Jamie Booth, Jimmy Cowan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Daniel Bowden, Simon Hickey, Pita Ahki, Hamish Northcott, Francis Saili, Matt Vaega, Frank Halai, Charle Piutau.
Full Blues Squad for 2016
Josh Bekhuis, Matt Duffie, Joe Edwards, Afa Fa’atau, TJ Faiane, Charlie Faumuina, Piers Francis, Blake Gibson, Billy Guyton, Bryn Hall, Rieko Ioane, Akira Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Tanerau Latimer, Ben LamTevita Li, Michael Little, Steve Luatua, Quentin MacDonald, Sione Mafileo, Hoani Matenga, Nic Mayhew, Matt McGahan, George Moala, Matt Moulds, Melani Nanai, Sam Nock, James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Kara Pryor, Jack Ram, Rene Ranger, Male Sa’u, Scott Scrafton, Jordan Trainor, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Gerard Tuioti-Mariner, Patrick Tuipulotu, Matt Vaega, Lolagi Visinia, Namatahi Waa, Ihaia West.
Prospects for 2016
The big question in 2016 will be what the Hurricanes can do to recover from their unexpected loss in the final – and whether or not the Highlanders back up their title win with another run at the prize.
The Chiefs and the Crusaders will both be hoping take that next step that can bring them up from being in or close to the finals to being title contenders, while the Blues will just want to do anything to improve on a woeful 2015.
It’s a tough one to predict. The Blues’ roster has gone a big cleanout, and realistically they could be anywhere between 15th and first.
Similarly, the Crusaders are a squad full of talent, but are up against seriously good teams. The conference will cannibalise itself to some degree, so predictions are very hard.
Prediction:
Hurricanes 1st
Chiefs 6th
Highlanders 8th
Crusaders 14th
Blues 15th
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