The second round of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki saw the 2025 grand-finalists remain unbeaten. However, both the Blues and Matatū were pushed to the limit by the vastly improved Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua.
Blues: 27 v Chiefs Manawa: 26
Captain Maia Roos was blunt in her assessment of the Blues' 27-26 win against Chiefs Manawa.
“To be honest, it was pretty ugly, but we gutted it out and were able to get our processes together towards the end and I think that’s what got us the dub,” the 41-Test Black Ferns lock told Sky Sport afterwards.
When Black Ferns and Manawa hooker Vici-Rose Green mauled over to make it 22-21 after an hour, the visitors looked likely to cause an upset. However, five minutes later, Manawa and Black Ferns centre Justine McGregor was yellow-carded inside her own 22. The Blues then had a scrum with a one-player advantage. Faultless execution of draw and pass saw Black Ferns Sevens winger Jaymie Kolose score in the corner. Kolose has 13 tries in 21 games for the Blues.
The lead changed three times in a tense affair. When the Blues built phases, they were menacing. Black Ferns Katelyn Vahaakolo and Mererangi Paul were especially threatening, both scoring tries. Paul left the field just before halftime for a head injury assessment and did not return. Braxton Sorensen-McGee also thrived on attack for the Blues. Vahaakolo has scored 14 tries in 20 games for the Blues and 25 tries in 20 Tests for the Black Ferns.
The hearty Chiefs best was blindside, Mia Anderson. Rose-Green is a thistle to the opposition, while captain Kennedy Tukuafu tops the competition tackle count with 35 across two games. Shyrah Tuliau-Tua'a is a handful, delivering six offloads across two games, leading the competition. In 2025, she was one of fifty players selected to attend the New Zealand Under 20 Women’s Rugby Development Camp at the NZCIS in Wellington.
The Blues have won their last five games against Manawa after losing the first four.
Blues: 27 (Mererangi Paul, Tara Turner, Aldora Itunu, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Jaymie Kolose tries; Braxton Sorensen-McGee con)Chiefs Manawa: 26 (Lonita Ngalu, Carys Dallinger, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, Vici-Rose Green tries; Dallinger 3 cons) HT: 21-17
Matatū: 18 v Hurricanes Poua:15
The Hurricanes Poua haven’t been this close to victory since they rolled Matatū 36-29 in a March 9, 2024, classic at Hnry Stadium in Wellington.
Down 15-10 with only eight minutes remaining, a boil over loomed at a blustery Maidstone Park until the Hurricanes badly fumbled inside their 22. A minute later, Matatū earned a penalty, and Black Ferns first-five Hannah King slotted her second penalty. Her trusty boot played a key role in Matatū’s victory, as did Black Ferns lock Laura Bayfield with her disruption and expertise in the line-out. The Hurricanes have won only a third of their line-out possession across two games.
Still, the Poua refused to lie down and in the 77th minute, two-Test Black Ferns Angel Mulu powered over following multiple phases. By coincidence, Black Fern #236 grew up at the same numbered house in Porirua.
Making headway into the wind was an attritional slog, but not even a full-scale gale can stop Kaipo Olsen-Baker from going forward. The Black Ferns No.8 was outstanding. With 27 tackles, 39 carries, 2 clean breaks, 9 defenders beaten and 94 metres gained, she ranks in the top five of five important statistical categories. Fellow try scorer Lailanie (Binky) Muamua is a product of the Linwood Rugby Club.
Poua lock and co-captain Sam Taylor is another one racking up decent numbers. Iritana Hohaia looked far more assertive in her regular position of halfback. Last week against the Blues, she played fullback.
Matatū leads the Poua 4-3 in matches between the two sides.
Matatū: 18 (Binky Muamua, Kaipo Olsen-Baker tries; Hannah King con, 2 pens) Hurricanes Poua: 15 (Iritana Hohaia, Angel Mulu tries; Renee Holmes con, pen) HT: 12-0