Making its return, we bring you Super charged, in which we preview the main talking points ahead of Round Two’s Super Rugby Aotearoa action.

Chiefs v Blues

Like most New Zealand derbies, there should be plenty of thrilling action in this encounter between two highly entertaining sides and although it’s still early days, there is plenty at stake between New Zealand’s North Island rivals.

The Chiefs are a team on a mission. After losing their tournament opener, against the Highlanders in dramatic fashion in Dunedin last weekend, they will be determined to get their campaign back on track against a Blues outfit, who hit the ground running with a excellent all-round display in their victory over the Hurricanes in Auckland.

Despite that defeat, Warren Gatland’s charges will be quietly confident of securing their maiden Super Rugby Aotearoa triumph as they claimed a 37-29 victory against the Blues when these teams got this year’s truncated Super Rugby tournament underway at Eden Park at the end of January.

Adding to that, the Chiefs have not lost to the Blues in Hamilton since 2011 and since that match – which the Blues won 16-13 – they have dominated this fixture, winning 15 out 17 matches with the Blues winning just once – 23-8 at Eden Park last year – and the teams drew 16-16 at Eden Park in 2017.

Despite those statistics, the Blues will be keen to continue where they left off against the Hurricanes last weekend. Under the guidance of head coach Leon MacDonald, they have become a competitive unit and apart from impressing in their opener, they also did well in Super Rugby this year and finished that campaign by winning five out of seven matches.

A victory this weekend, will be a momentous one for the Blues as it will be there fifth straight away win – after also beating the Waratahs, Bulls, Stormers and Hurricanes on the road – which will be a new club record for the Auckland-based side.

Hurricanes v Crusaders

The current Super Rugby champions get their Aotearoa campaign off and running after having a bye in Round One and they will fancy their chances of overturning the Wellington outfit. Following an inauspicious opening to their season before it was suspended, matters don’t seem to have improved for Jason Holland’s men, despite the enforced break.

A 30-20 defeat to the Blues at Eden Park last weekend displayed their deficiencies as they struggled for fluency and lacked the game control in the second period. Although they showed up well at the scrum, their lineout was a mess and a clinical Crusaders side will no doubt be ready to pounce.

Of course, the ‘Canes are slightly more battle-hardened having got that match under their belt, but that won’t bother the visitors. Scott Barrett’s absence is a blow but that is offset by the return of Sam Whitelock, who had signed a deal in Japan but has decided to play in this new competition following the issues created by the Covid-19 crisis.

While there isn’t too much difference in quality between the respective backlines, it is up front where the Christchurch team often take control. The likes of Owen Franks, Jordan Taufua and Kieran Read may have departed, but Cullen Grace and Michael Alaalatoa stepped up superbly in the early part of the year.

Interestingly, these two teams were set to go head-to-head on March 20, the week after Super Rugby was postponed, so it’s rather apt that the Crusaders’ first game back is against the Hurricanes. Following five victories in six, Scott Robertson’s charges would have been favourites there and it is difficult to see any other result on Sunday.

Holland may not have had the brilliant Ardie Savea at his disposal back then, who was still recovering from a serious injury, but the inspirational All Black will need to produce a huge performance if they are to upset the dominant force in the southern hemisphere this weekend.

Player to watch – Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)

Talking of the 44-times capped New Zealand international, it is a big game on a personal level for the back-rower. Having returned from injury in time for their Super Rugby Aotearoa opener against the Blues, Savea is handed his first start of the year versus the Crusaders.

He failed to alter their fortunes off the bench last weekend but the 26-year-old will be a focal point of their pack on Sunday. Named at number eight, instead of his favoured position at openside, the 2019 World Player of the Year nominee will have plenty of responsibility on the carrying front.

In a pack which has lacked out-and-out power and the type of dynamism required to get over the gain line, Savea can provide that providing he is match fit and on form. Alongside the similarly influential Vaea Fifita, those two will be crucial if they are to halt the Crusaders juggernaut and kick-start their Aotearoa campaign.

TEN OF THE BEST | Afternoon footy was back in 2019! So it would be rude if we didn’t include this beast of a try from Ardie Savea in our top 10 countdown! ? pic.twitter.com/k3L0DoTlcM

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) December 25, 2019

One-v-one battle to watch – Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) v Beauden Barrett (Blues)

As two of the game’s best attacking weapons, these All Blacks number 15s will be expected to give their respective sides much needed momentum from the back.

After missing last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan through injury, McKenzie has done well since returning to action and came to the fore with some sterling performances for the Chiefs in Super Rugby before that tournament was brought to a premature halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 25-year-old was at the forefront of his side’s attacking efforts in that 28-27 loss to the Highlanders in Round One and also caught the eye with a fine goal-kicking display. He eventually finished with a 17-point haul after succeeding with four penalties, a conversion and a drop-goal.

Adding to that, he also made his presence felt in the wide channels, finishing with 50 metres gained from nine runs which included an offload.

?‍Plenty of flair ?in the 1⃣5⃣ shirts ? in Round 2 of @SuperRugbyNZ as Damian McKenzie & @beaudenbarrett line-up at full-back on Saturday.

Build up to @ChiefsRugby v @BluesRugbyTeam is live on @SkySports Action & Main Event from 07.30 ???

Tale of the tape ? pic.twitter.com/vbJ1n5REDd

— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) June 18, 2020

Meanwhile, Barrett slotted in seamlessly at the Blues as he proved to be a real threat on attack in their home triumph over the Hurricanes.

The two-time World Player of the Year was a handful with ball in hand and he combined brilliantly with other attacking threats in the Blues back-line like Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clark and Mark Telea.

His attacking performance saw him gaining 62 metres from seven runs with one defender beaten against his former team and he will be determined to build on that effort this weekend.

Although he did not play in his preferred fly-half role, Barrett was in the first receiver position a few times in his debut and his playmaking ability came in handy in unlocking the Hurricanes defence. Blues fans will be hoping for a similar effort against the Chiefs.

Subplot to watch – The battle of the back-rows

As four brilliant New Zealand teams prepare to face-off, there will be plenty of players hoping to impress as they vie for international selection. While the aforementioned Damian McKenzie v Beauden Barrett contest is perhaps the most thrilling to watch in the Chiefs-Blues match, the most interesting comes in the pack, and specifically the back-row.

They are perhaps not household names to the wider rugby public but some of them could well be in a year’s time. There are prospective All Blacks aplenty as Luke Jacobson, Lachlan Boshier and Pita Gus Sowakula go head-to-head with Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii and Hoskins Sotutu.

While Sowakula is Fijian-born, the 25-year-old qualifies for New Zealand and has impressed for the Waikato-based outfit, but goes directly against the outstanding youngster Sotutu. The Blues man has ousted Ioane from the number eight position and, with the national team looking for someone to replace Kieran Read, he may well be that person.

Alongside him is Papalii, who is on the fringes of the international squad, and of course the exceedingly talented Ioane. Brother of Rieko, he has not yet fulfilled his exceptional natural ability after bursting onto the scene in the 2015 World Rugby U20 Championship and you feel it is a matter of now or never for the powerful ball-carrier.

That duo will look to exert their influence over the Chiefs flankers, but they will have their hands full against Boshier and Jacobson. The former has been the big surprise this season, going from good player to All Blacks bolter, while the latter is looking to get back to his best after concussion issues curtailed the tail end of his 2019 campaign.

Two stacked teams! Which side looks better?#SuperRugbyAotearoa pic.twitter.com/BZ49ouBSOe

— Super Rugby (@SuperRugbyNZ) June 19, 2020