Crusaders the clear favourites
Wrap up the inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa title in a big bow and send it to Scott Robertson already, because his Crusaders are the undisputed kings of the Kiwi derby.
Stuff has compiled a derby record of each Kiwi side since Super Rugby started, and the Crusaders are a mile ahead, while the Highlanders are the only side not to have a positive win-loss record against any team.
The most one-sided Kiwi games in Super Rugby’s history are Crusaders v Highlanders and Crusaders v Blues, while the men from Christchurch also have strong winning tallies against the Hurricanes and Chiefs.
But there is a warning for Crusaders fans: since 2011 (when the double round of derbies began), the Chiefs have beaten the Crusaders more often than they have lost, with a 11-10 record.
New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie started that trend when his famously aggressive Chiefs side started to get under the skin of the Crusaders, and the Chiefs’ 25-15 win in Hamilton in February showed they haven’t lost that ability.
Nonetheless, if you are looking at overall Kiwi derby records – and that is how Super Rugby Aotearoa will be won – the Crusaders are in a class of their own. They have beaten the Highlanders 26 times, and lost only 11. They have owned the Blues, beating them 24 times and losing only 11.
And they have an excellent record against the Hurricanes, collecting 23 wins, 12 losses and two draws.
Overall, their record against the Chiefs is 21-15 – it’s just their post-2011 record that will be causing Robertson some frustration.
The other rivalry that jumps out is between the Chiefs and Blues, because the men from Hamilton have caused the Blues untold misery with 21 wins, 11 losses and a draw.
If the Blues are to have any chance of winning Super Rugby Aotearoa, All Blacks
star Beauden Barrett is going to have to wave his magic wand quickly, because they also have a losing record against the Hurricanes. However, when you look at games between the Blues, Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders, the overall impression is how close they have been.
Take out the Chiefs-Blues record and there is never more than five wins separating the four teams in Super Rugby history, and there is just one win between the Blues and Highlanders.
That points to some very close games in the revised competition, which kicks on with a game between the Highlanders and Chiefs in Dunedin on June 13.
In fact, if you look at the results post-2011, the Highlanders even have a winning record against the Blues and Chiefs, and share nine wins and losses with the Hurricanes.
In other words, get ready for an unpredictable return to rugby and some tipping contest nightmares – and watch out for some true niggle in those Crusaders v Chiefs games.