Rugby enthusiasts in Taupō have a full day of elite youth rugby to look forward to tomorrow as the 2025 Super Rugby Under 20s Tournament continues with four matches at Owen Delaney Park.
The action begins at 1:05 pm when Fiji takes on the NZ Barbarians in a playoff match between quarterfinal losers. The Barbarians will be looking to bounce back after their 59-19 defeat to the Chiefs in today's quarterfinal.
In that opening day clash, the Chiefs dominated from the outset with co-captain Charlie Sinton opening the scoring with a powerful finish. "The co-captain has been all energy. Extremely fast to all breakdowns," noted the Sky Sport commentator as Sinton set the tone for his team's performance.
The Chiefs quickly established a commanding 31-12 halftime lead before extending their advantage in the second half. Winger Taniela Maisiri was the star performer, completing a hat-trick with several clinical finishes that showcased his pace and positioning.
"He is just untouchable this afternoon. Maisiri is just Johnny on the spot. Everything is flowing his way and he doesn't need much to find his way to the tri-line," the Sky Sport commentator observed during Maisiri's stellar performance.
Despite tries from Leon Tuiloma, Marshall Blakely and Tai Mildon for the Barbarians, the Chiefs' superior forward dominance and clinical backline execution proved too much for their opponents. Kade Manuel and Mason Verster also showed moments of individual brilliance for the Barbarians but couldn't change the outcome.
At 3:05 pm tomorrow, the Highlanders will face Moana Pasifika in another playoff match between teams that failed to progress to the semi-finals.
The main attractions come later in the day with two highly anticipated semi-final clashes. At 5:05 pm, the Waikato University Chiefs, buoyed by their dominant quarterfinal performance, will take on the Hurricanes in what promises to be an exciting encounter between two form teams.
The day's action concludes at 7:05 pm when the Crusaders meet the Blues in the second semi-final showdown.
All matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 1, but local fans are encouraged to attend in person and experience the atmosphere at Owen Delaney Park as the future stars of New Zealand rugby showcase their talents.
