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Monday Musings: Kicks In The Teeth, Wahs' Worries, Pistol Fires Shot
Alex Chapman • June 23rd, 2025 7:50 am
Sevu Reece, Will Jordan and Macca Springer celebrate winning the Super Rugby Pacific Final | Photo: John Davidson/Photosport
Walt Disney once said “All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realise it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”
Given where they were a year ago, perhaps it’s a fitting quote for the Crusaders, and yet a cruel one for the Chiefs, that when the final whistle blew in Christchurch on Saturday, their captain had blood all over his face, after a third consecutive kick in the teeth.
What more can be said about the heartbreak they must still be feeling? And will feel for a fair while longer. Just as it leaves their heads it will re-enter, and towed behind with it, the sick and sinking feeling of “oh, that’s right.” And having to farewell their coach who turned around the franchise, with another trophyless season.
The Crusaders too may not be feeling flash, though, the combination of sore faces from smiling, aching guts from laughing, the bodies still bruised and battered, and yes, the sore heads from a couple of beverages, will all be worth it.
Crusaders coach Rob Penney | Photo: John Davidson/Photosport
So many stood up for the red and blacks as they went from the base camp of last year to the pally peak of Everest once again.
But here’s a trio to consider.
If you go through the history of first-five’s of Super Rugby title winning teams, it’s hard to find one who wasn’t a star or at least in the conversation to be in an international squad.
The big names stand out: Spencer, Merthens, Larkham, Carter, Cruden.
In ‘07, Derick Houggard, who played for South Africa eight times, had already run out for the Springboks as the Bulls lifted the trophy, while Morne Steyn, Lima Sopoaga, and Richie Mo’unga all made their international debuts in the years they won Super for the first time. The same applies to Harry Plummer, with his one match for the All Blacks last year as the Blues ended their drought.
The story of Rivez Reihana though is unlike those.
A former Chiefs player, who was given opportunities last year with the Crusaders, though struggled to consistently impress. They then signed a 34-year-old former Wallaby, before handing the keys to someone three years Reihana’s junior, who if not for a ruptured ACL, may have started at Addington.
Or, would they even had been there?
And yet, as Reihana was about to be interviewed on TV, it was Taha Kemara who ran over, grabbed him, and gave him a hug filled with so much pride and passion, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re brothers.
By then, David Havili had been picked up off the turf, having moments earlier collapsed to his knees and pointed to the sky. The skipper overcome by emotion before being overwhelmed by some of his teammates.
Alongside Reihana, the midfielder was the co-pilot of a backline that both served up and defused aerial assault after aerial assault, while also having his own moments of brilliance, particularly around tactical kicking and chases.
Also, Will Jordan, wow.
But a backline can do little, without front foot ball.
By definition, a newel is an “upright post about which the steps of a circular staircase wind or a post at the foot of a straight stairway or one at a landing.”
To go away from the definition and put it in layman’s terms, they aren’t flashy, perhaps forgotten about, but crucial to the stability of the more recognised parts.
Fletcher Newell’s surname has an extra L on the end - though in this case, he was the one handing out the L.
Clearing out breakdowns, lifting lineout jumpers, and that tiresome work in those deep, dark, disturbing places that so many of us, let’s be honest, don’t really understand - front rows.
By the end he was hobbling around, with it since revealed he played with a grade-two MCL injury.
And now we wait to see if he, and others, will make the All Blacks squad when it’s named at midday today.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
WAHT THE HECK
Unfortunately, that was the sort of loss the Warriors tend to have and it seemed some fans had forecast and feared. An opposition team without five of their big names, and the lesser-known ones, the Penrith pups, wanting to show they can bark.
The Warriors right edge continues to be the target of opposition, while the 20-1 ineffective tackles is a big flashing light in the stats list.
Overall, and as coach Andrew Webster said afterwards, they “just didn’t play well.”
Thankfully for the Wahs, they’re guaranteed to be in the top four for at least another week, though a loss to the fifth-placed Broncos on Saturday, will see the gap close again.
The aspect potentially more concerning than the loss, could end up being the injury blows.
Photo: Georgia Schofield/Photosport
PISTOL GOES BANG
Some may have rolled their eyes, or at least laughed, at the timing of the announcement that Peter Burling has said “sí” to signing with Luna Rossa. It wasn’t just at 6:30pm, but at 6:30pm on a Friday. On a public holiday.
But, perhaps that timing is also a reflection of Burling; under the radar, understated. Wanting to say something without the fuss and furore that would’ve come with it being at, for example, 10am on a Wednesday.
There will be, and already has been, the comparisons to Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth, who nearly 25 years to the day, set sail for Swiss waters.
Except unlike the pair, Burling doesn’t leave with the syndicate boss pleading for him to stay, or Kiwis angry at him jumping ship.
While it’s not the best barometer for logic or emotional maturity, social media seems relatively supportive of Burling’s move.
Kiwis love Burling.
Perhaps it’s the way he’s gone about it, having already made the call to leave Team New Zealand who he gave so much to and brought so much success for.
It’s that sort of break up where you say goodbye, maybe shed a tear, and then leave.
That’s it.
Or at least publicly, that’s how it seems.
Whether Team NZ is happy with their ex being with someone new. Who knows, they may be relieved he won’t be able to sail, instead seemingly having an off-water role.
But as one source suggested, Burling was “undervalued” at Team New Zealand, and is now set for life.
His legacy won’t be tarnished, if anything it could now grow.
A kick in the teeth for sailing fans? Perhaps not.
Tune into Alex Chapman on Sport Nation Mornings this week from 9am to midday.
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