Chiefs Manawa make loudest statement as new Super Rugby Aupiki season begins

The road to the Super Rugby Aupiki title will literally go through Hamilton this year, with FMG Stadium Waikato hosting the grand final on March 25.

But it looks like it will go there metaphorically as well, on the evidence of the two matches in this weekend’s opening round.

Defending champions Chiefs Manawa made the loudest statement of the four competing teams on Saturday, scoring 48 unanswered points in their 53-21 win over Hurricanes Poua.

A strong crowd greeted the two teams at Levin Domain for the first major women’s rugby match played in New Zealand since last year’s Rugby World Cup final on November 12.

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* Matatū trade blows with Blues before narrowly claiming first Super Rugby Aupiki win
* Luka Connor scores hat-trick as Chiefs Manawa power to huge win over Hurricanes Poua
* ‘Praying and praying’: Black Ferns prop Santo Taumata reflects on nervous Rugby World Cup moment
* Super Rugby Aupiki: Jackie Patea-Fereti steps up to lead way for Hurricanes Poua

The Chiefs no longer have the sevens stars who helped them win the inaugural Aupiki crown last March – and who helped the Black Ferns beat England last November – but they appeared undaunted by their need to reinvent themselves.

Matatū meanwhile began their campaign by registering their first win, 33-31 over the Blues, though they needed a last-minute conversion miss by Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant to avoid being taken to golden point extra time.

The South Islanders lead the Blues 33-14 five minutes into the second half at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, but conceded three tries and scored none in the final 35 minutes, as the Aucklanders came home with a wet sail.

Willie Walker’s team will take heart from their strong finish, but now have the imposing task of trying to stop the Chiefs juggernaut at North Harbour Stadium next Saturday.

Matatū meanwhile have a second straight home match, this time at Ngā Puna Wai in Christchurch, and will be up against a hurting Hurricanes outfit.

If Chiefs Manawa and Matatū both win again next weekend, it will set up a blockbuster encounter between two unbeaten teams at FMG Stadium Waikato the following weekend.

But both the Blues and Hurricanes Poua will have something to say about that prospect, after showing some promising signs themselves despite eventually being consigned to losses.

The Hurricanes stormed out to a 21-5 lead in Levin, but from there it was one-way traffic, with the Chiefs scoring eight unanswered tries and Black Ferns hooker Luka Connor grabbing a hat-trick.

The Chiefs got their noses in front just before halftime and captain Kennedy Simon told Sky Sport afterwards they had “to give it up to Hurricanes Poua”.

“They’re a physical team, they’ve got a lot of…