Super Rugby Pacific 2023: Team by Team

SYDNEY : Team-by-team preview of the new season of Super Rugby Pacific, which kicks off on Friday. (Listed in order of last season's finish on regular season standings):

AUCKLAND BLUES

Best finish: Champions (4) - 1996, 1997, 2003, 2021 (Trans Tasman)

Last year: Runners up (15-2)

Coach: Leon McDonald

Captain: Dalton Papalii

Last year's loss to the Crusaders in the final snapped a 15-match winning streak and hit the Blues hard. The Auckland powerhouse will be out for revenge this year and should again be among the frontrunners.

CANTERBURY CRUSADERS

Best finish: Champions (13) - 1998-2000, 2002, 2005-6, 2008, 2017-2019, 2020-21 (Aotearoa), 2022

Last year: Champions (14-3)

Coach: Scott Robertson

Captain: Scott Barrett

A supreme winning culture and a seemingly endless supply of young talent make the Christchurch-based powerhouse perennial favourites to land the title and this year is no different.

WAIKATO CHIEFS

Best finish: Champions - 2012, 2013

Last year: Semi-finals (11-5)

Coach: Clayton McMillan

Co-captains: Sam Cane, Brad Weber

Damian McKenzie returns after a sabbatical in Japan to bring pace and creativity to a backline that lacked a bit of both when it came to the crunch last year.

ACT BRUMBIES

Best finish: Champions - 2001, 2004

Last year: Semi-finals (11-5)

Coach: Stephen Larkham

Captain: Allan Alaalatoa

The Brumbies will be expected to continue to set the standard for Australian rugby despite the departure of coach Dan McKellar and a string of Wallabies.

WELLINGTON HURRICANES

Best finish: Champions - 2016

Last year: Quarter-finals (8-7)

Coach: Jason Holland

Captain: Ardie Savea

They possibly lack a bit of squad depth but the Hurricanes have some world class players, most notably loose forward Savea and centre Jordie Barrett.

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