Gallant Chiefs hit back to down
Chiefs produce come-from-behind win again, this time over the Crusaders. Aaron Goile reports.
Call them the comeback kings.
For a second successive week, the Chiefs have produced a second-half fightback to claim a Super Rugby victory over a Kiwi rival.
This time it was the three-time defending champion Crusaders on the wrong end of it, defeated 25-15 in a typically enthralling derby in Hamilton last night.
The crowd of 13,611 at FMG Stadium Waikato was left with yet more confidence in this reinvigorated franchise under Warren Gatland, which has now taken an early lead in the New Zealand conference, following a similarly stunning second-half surge against the Blues in round one.
It was the sixth successive Kiwi derby that the Chiefs had found themselves behind at halftime.
But it was the fourth time they hadn’t lost one.
Down 12-3 early thanks to a Sevu Reece double, their defence kept them in it, and it was blindside flanker Lachlan Boshier who put in a second successive masterclass in a barnstorming, turnover-winning display.
Second-half tries to Solomon Alaimalo and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi got the home side a slender lead and they were good enough to hold on, while the Crusaders made uncharacteristic errors and ended up losing to the
Chiefs for a second time in a row, following defeat in Fiji last year.
It had all looked so promising for the visitors, as makeshift firstfive David Havili – deputising for the injured Richie Mo’unga – set up both Reece’s tries, first by foot then by hand.
The Chiefs had limited ball at the right end of the park, and just as it looked like the returning Damian McKenzie would spark them and score, a sneaky Tom Sanders turned the ball over on his own line and the Crusaders got out of jail, as the match turned on a frantic period of play.
Crusaders ill-discipline kept the home side in it though, and when the count got to 6-1 after the visitors were pinged for an early drive defending a lineout, the Chiefs took exception and the frustration boiled over, as an allin dust-up ensued.
This was the niggly rivalry everyone was familiar with. (Solomon Alaimalo, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Sean Wainui tries; Aaron Cruden 2 con, 2 pen) (Sevu Reece 2 tries; David Havili con, pen) HT: 8-12.
Referee Ben O’Keeffe handed the Crusaders a warning and the Chiefs soon narrowed the margin, with sharp backline touches from Aaron Cruden and McKenzie setting up Alaimalo to race into the left corner.
Momentum quickly shifted back the way of the visitors, though, and they spent much of the rest of the first half camped inside the Chiefs’ 22.
But somehow, they just could not extend their advantage. Reece could have had a hat-trick on the half hour but for a fine covering Cruden tackle, while fellow All Blacks flyer George Bridge would have raced in himself if he didn’t have to tidy up a fluffed Will Jordan pass.
On top of that, the Chiefs were gutsy in flying into defensive rucks and securing ball, none more so than right on the halftime siren to again deny the Crusaders and leave the hosts the happier going to the sheds, turning with the wind only 12-8 behind.
And that momentum continued immediately into the second stanza, as an attacking flurry, featuring a flamboyant behindthe-back pass from McKenzie, ended with a close-range dive over the line by Tahuriorangi, to give the Chiefs the lead for the first time.
A Havili penalty soon tied things up, and the match looked
Crusaders 15
community in the UK and more favourable time zones.
Two South Africa teams, the Cheetahs and the Kings, already play in the Pro14 tournament in Europe.
The European game is also awash with money, with venture capitalist CVC – which made a killing from Formula One – keen to get involved with both the Six Nations and European club competitions.
South Africa has a long and storied rivalry with New Zealand and the All Blacks but, eventually, money talks and interest in Super Rugby has been declining in South Africa for a number of years.
Earlier this week, Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown expressed his hope that South Africa would stay as part of southern hemisphere rugby.
‘‘I just think that South Africa and New Zealand have always had that tradition around playing each other,’’ Brown said.
‘‘Probably traditionally they are the two best nations in the world at rugby and there’s always that real physical battle against South African teams.
‘‘I think South Africa really respect New Zealand rugby as well and it would be sad if they went up to the northern hemisphere and moved their professional rugby up that way.’’
The Daily Mail report comes at a sensitive time for NZ Rugby and the 25-year-old Sanzaar alliance.
NZ Rugby is undertaking a broad review of the national game under new chief executive Mark Robinson and the outcome of that review will define the sport for the next decade. Across the Tasman, Rugby Australia is involved in negotiations for its next broadcast deal against a backdrop of poor Wallabies performances and decreasing interest in Super
Rugby.