Potential over-rode experience as the Highlanders' upset win over the defending champion Crusaders kicked off DHL Super Rugby Pacific 2026 in impressive style in Dunedin.
Moana Pasifika also opened with an impressive away win over the Fijian Drua, while the Waratahs signalled they will be a more competitive force with a dominating win over the Reds in Sydney.
DHL Super Rugby Pacific 2026 Round One results were:
Highlanders 25 Crusaders 23
Old-fashioned tenacity, defensive pressure and goal-kicking combined to set the Highlanders on their winning way in the competition opener in Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium. Refusing to lie down, even when the Crusaders unloaded their All Blacks-laden bench early in the second half, the Highlanders thrilled their home supporters by grabbing three well-earned tries, two of them spectacular backline efforts. Wing Caleb Tangitau scored the first on the back of fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, getting space on the outside, allowing Tangitau to put his speed to use. Then, at a crucial stage of the second half, centre Jonah Lowe crossed for the third, after his earlier break resulted in prop Angus Ta'avao scoring.
Wing Jona Nareki and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens took advantage of second five-eighths Timoci Tavatavanawai's determined break, before Lowe was rewarded for his support play. Hard work by loose forwards Sean Withy and Te Kamaka Howden, and constant setting up by halfback Folau Fakatava and first five-eighths Cameron Millar, brought its reward, not so much as hoped for in the breakdown but in defensive tackles that jolted the ball loose from the Crusaders' hands. Oliver Haig stood up well at lock while the Highlanders' bench with Vevini Lasaqa, Will Stodart and Tanielu Tele'a made their contribution. In the end, however, it was Millar who secured the win with a 45m penalty goal two minutes from time.
The defending champion Crusaders were off their game as a combination, with handling errors especially contributing. They also scored two neat tries, a solo blindside run from an unguarded ruck by halfback Noah Hotham and a typically well-timed piece of finishing by Will Jordan. But they went down to a hungrier unit on the night.
Highlanders 25 (Caleb Tangitau, Angus Ta'avao, Jonah Lowe tries; Cameron Millar 2 con, 2 pen) Crusaders 23 (Noah Hotham, Will Jordan tries; Rivez Reihana con, 2 pen; Taha Kemara con, pen). HT: 8-10
Waratahs 36 Reds 12
Sydney fans got value for money at Allianz Stadium when the Waratahs secured an impressive first-up win over great rivals the Reds. A five-point first-half lead belied how close the action had been. Both teams scored a try apiece, one each in the last three minutes of the half. Wing Max Jorgensen's first came after a fruitless Reds chip kick ahead near the halfway line. The Waratahs ran it back, and Jorgensen was given just enough space to use his speed and sidestep to run away for a try. But the Reds responded with a turnover ball just inside the Waratahs' half. That play took them five metres out from the line, where flanker Joe Brial ran in a try. The Reds had earlier scored through wing Tim Ryan off an intercept play.
The contest remained live until the last 15 minutes. Waratahs’ power play up front saw replacement prop Isaac Kailea extend the lead before a marvellous cross-kick from replacement five-eighths Jack Debreczeny found flanker Charlie Gamble on the sideline. He took the ball, kept in the field of play, when tackled, before finding Jorgensen supporting with a perfect pass that put the issue beyond doubt. Replacement halfback Teddy Wilson put the bonus point icing on the kick when getting the ball down at a goal-line ruck.
Waratahs 36 (Clem Halaholo, Max Jorgensen 2, Isaac Kailea, Teddy Wilson tries; Lawson Creighton 4 con, pen) Reds 12 (Tim Ryan, Joe Brial tries; Harry McLaughlin-Phillips con). HT: 17-12
Fijian Drua 26 Moana Pasifika 40
Moana Pasifika took it to the Fijian Drua through their loose forwards, unleashing a powerful starting surge at Lautoka to take charge of the contest. But as the Drua came back in the second half, Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga said he took pride in the way his players responded, achieving their goal of being efficient with their energy. A strong drive at the line by No8 Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa opened the try scoring, followed soon after by dynamic captain and flanker Miracle Fai'ilagi. Seven minutes later, Fai'ilagi was more direct, getting a full head of steam when running around the back of a lineout to blast his way over for his second try to be up 21-0 after 17 minutes.
Fiji responded in the 23rd minute when breaking from deep in their territory, with centre Tuidraki Samusamuvodre cutting back in a backline move to score. But getting back deep into Drua territory, Moana Pasifika's scrum gave them a foundation to put wing Tevita Ofa over after a long pass gave him an unopposed run to score. On half-time, Fiji pulled back the margin when flanker Kitione Salawa was on hand in support of second five-eighths Virimi Vakatawa to take a Hail Mary pass and score.
Quick hands 67 seconds into the second half created an opening for Fai'ilagi to race down the sideline to complete his hat-trick of tries. The Drua responded through their backs with fullback Ilaisa Droasese finishing a fine move. Into the final quarter, a combined Drua surge saw lock Temo Maynavanua cross under the posts to put the Drua in touch at 26-33. However, the Drua lost the ball in a tackle in their 22m area and replacement lock Ofa Tauatevalu pounced and went over from a ruck to secure the win.
Fijian Drua 26 (Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Kitione Salawa, Ilaisa Droasese, Temo Maynavanua tries; Kemu Valetini 3 con) Moana Pasifika 40 (Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Miracle Fai'ilagi 3, Tevita Ofa, Ofa Tauatevalu tries; Patrick Pellegrini 5 con). HT: 12-28
Blues 15 Chiefs 19
Thirty minutes of unproductive thrust and counter thrust between the hometown Blues and the Chiefs at Eden Park was ended with two pieces of individual class. Chiefs first five-eighths Josh Jacomb secured an outstanding 50:22 kick that allowed the Chiefs to cap a prolonged period on offence, and in the follow-up play, lock Tupou Vaa'i was able to dive over Blues tacklers to open the scoring with a try. Two minutes later, a turnover by hooker Bradley Slater allowed the Blues to get wing Caleb Clarke free. He carried play into the Chiefs' 22m where fullback Zarn Sullivan charged into a gap close to the ruck to respond with a try. It was an uncompromising first half, hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho, No8 Luke Jacobson, powerful for the Chiefs and debut flanker Torian Barnes and Slater prominent for the Blues.
Slater's surge towards the line 12 minutes into the second half created momentum for the Blues, with flanker Dalton Papali'i burrowing low to get over for a try. Into the final quarter, a rare lineout maul on the night saw Taukei'aho rewarded for his power game with a try. A Sullivan penalty put the Blues three points ahead, but it was the Chiefs who responded five minutes from time. Vaa'i fed replacement loose forward Samipeni Finau, who punched an opening and ran into space to pass to supporting replacement halfback Cortez Ratima, who scored the decisive try to claim a win.
Blues 15 (Zarn Sullivan, Dalton Papali'i tries; Sullivan con, pen) Chiefs 19 (Tupou Vaa'i, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Cortez Ratima tries; Josh Jacomb 2 con). HT: 5-5
Western Force 24 Brumbies 56
Home team, the Force, attacked through their lineout, with flanker Vaiolini Ekuasi scoring first in Perth, where temperatures of 35 degrees resulted in the game being played in quarters. But once the Brumbies got their running game going, they demonstrated their strength with No8 Charlie Cale on the end of the line to open their try scoring. Six minutes before the half-time break, Brumbies first five-eighths Declan Meredith stepped his way through the defence to score beneath the posts.
Up 14-10 at half-time, the Brumbies took complete control from early in the second half after prop Rhys van Nek powered his way over from a ruck after three minutes. Four minutes later, they went slightly wider from the ruck for halfback Ryan Lonergan to cross. But the home team pulled a try back when Argentine lock Franco Molina ran onto a centring grubber kick by fullback Ben Donaldson to score. It proved a temporary respite as the Brumbies ran from their own half with wing Ollie Sapsford breaking down the sideline and feeding Meredith inside, who ran 40m to score. In a blistering finish, flanker Carlo Tizzano scored in the 77thminute before Brumbies wing Corey Toole and Sapsford scored tries in the final moments of the game.
Western Force 24 (Vaiolini Ekuasi, Franco Molina, Carlo Tizzano tries; Ben Donaldson 3 con, pen) Brumbies 56 (Charlie Cale 2, Declan Meredith 2, Rhys van Nek, Ryan Lonergan, Corey Toole, Ollie Sapsford tries; Lonergan 4 con; Tane Edmed