Patrick Tuipulotu: You don't want to be the first NZ team to lose to the Australians

After two whitewash rounds against the Australian Super Rugby teams, a new competition has perhaps come up amongst the New Zealand teams for the trans-Tasman tournament - keeping the streak alive.

Australian Super Rugby players, coaches and fans have been handed a harsh reality check in the opening two rounds of the competition with the Super Rugby Aotearoa-winning Crusaders delivering a brutal exclamation mark with their 63-28 win over Australian champions the Reds.

Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu said part of that 10-0 start could be credited to the physicality of New Zealand teams.

Tuipulotu said the perfect start by New Zealand teams has created a new pressure though with no-one wanting to be the first to lose to an Australian team now.

The Blues will face the Brumbies at 7.15pm Saturday.

In other matches, the Hurricanes will take on the Western Force at 7.05pm Friday, the Waratahs will host the Crusaders at 5.05pm Saturday, and the Chiefs will play the Reds at 9.45pm Saturday while the Highlanders are scheduled to meet the Rebels at 2.35pm Sunday at Sir John Davies Oval Stadium.

[Source: TVNZ]