McKenzie turns on magic show in impressive display
It was the Damian McKenzie show in Hamilton last night as the Chiefs tuned up for next weekend’s quarterfinals. But after the Hurricanes defeated the Crusaders, the Chiefs will finish sixth and face the Stormers in Cape Town, as they did in 2016.
The Chiefs fullback was in magical touch, scoring one try in an 18-point haul, setting up two, kicking five goals and delivering an amazing three accurate reverse passes.
McKenzie was central to all that was good from the Chiefs, but there was just not enough patience or solid structure, other than a dominant scrum, where Kane Hames did severe damage to the Australians.
However, it was more than enough for New Zealand sides to finish 25-0 versus their transtasman counterparts in 2017, a remarkable statistic.
The home team did what they had to do to defeat an undermanned but committed Brumbies at FMG Stadium before 13,753 fans. It was not always fluent, and they often laboured in their quest for a bonus point, but it didn’t have to be fluent in every facet when McKenzie was in full swing.
“We were chasing a win. A bonus point would have been outstanding. Bonus points have eluded us at times this season. But we’re happy to blow out some cobwebs after time off,” said Chiefs captain Aaron Cruden. “We were really positive with our intent. We try to play some expansive rugby but have to find the balance between that and rolling our sleeves up.”
The Brumbies have won the Australian conference with a 6-9 record, and while the likes of flanker and captain Scott Fardy toiled manfully and they scored a sweetly-taken try to centre Nigel Ah Wong, they were never seriously going to threaten victory by resting several of their main men, nor missing 18 tackles (the Chiefs missed just three), half of them, it seemed, on McKenzie.
Wing Henry Speight, back on his old provincial stomping ground, had few opportunities. But the Brumbies did bring the shoulder to the breakdown wheel and used the rush defence that has been such a talking point in New Zealand rugby over the past few weeks.
Liam Messam was a late scratching due to injury, but even with two opensides in Lachie Boshier and Mitch Karpik, the Chiefs were not able to force many turnovers.
Michael Leitch did well in his final home game before returning to Japan, scoring a try, while Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Cruden and James Lowe, plus coach Dave Rennie, were all involved in their final home game before heading abroad.
The Chiefs will welcome back their battered All Blacks Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick and Anton Lienert-Brown for the quarter-final.
They will need them to inject some urgency and accuracy because this at times loose display will not cut it in the playoffs.
Stephen Donald replaced a limping Charlie Ngatai at halftime for his 100th Super Rugby appearance but his cutout passes bore little fruit.
Chiefs 28 (D. McKenzie, S. Alaimalo, M.
tries; McKenzie 2 cons, 3 pens) Brumbies 10 (N. Ah Wong try; W. Hawera con, pen). Halftime: 13-10.