Gritty Chiefs snap losing streak
Chiefs fans can finally smile again after a match against the Highlanders.
The Hamilton-based team ended a six-match losing streak against the Highlanders in Dunedin last night with a gritty 24-15 win in the opening round of the season.
Considering they had been outscored 160-93 during the streak and hadn’t tasted success against the Highlanders since the third round of the 2014 season, it was an extra satisfying win for the Chiefs.
Despite living off scraps and spending the majority of the game on the back foot, they outscored the home side three tries to none.
Two of their tries were scored by winger James Lowe, who did his best Beauden Barrett impersonation, nabbing two intercept tries inside the first quarter of the match to help his side out to a handy 14-3 lead.
Hooker Hika Elliot scored the other, when he dotted down via a smooth lineout move down the short side early in the second half, though there was more than a hint of a forward pass in the movement.
Touted as the match of Super Rugby’s opening round, the fast pace and big hits ensured it lived up to expectations in front of a 17,000-strong crowd, boosted by a swarm of rowdy university students celebrating orientation week.
But the majority of them were left frustrated by the inability of the home side to cash in on all their dominance.
Despite having 61 percent of possession and 72 percent of territory in the first half, the Highlanders could only muster three Lima Sopoaga penalty goals.
While the Chiefs deserve credit for their scrambling defence, the Highlanders will rue their inability to finish off numerous breaks.
Tevita Li, Waisake Naholo and Rob Thompson all burst through to put their side hot on attack, only for a sloppy pass or handling error to let the Chiefs off the hook.
Led by No 8 Liam Messam, Elliot and big lock Brodie Retallick, there was also some typically brutal defence from the Chiefs.
They did immensely well to deny the Highlanders, a team renowned for their ability to score plenty of points, a single try.
Naholo came closest to scoring inside the first 20, but he couldn’t ground a Sopoaga cross-field kick.
The Highlanders opened the scoring with a penalty goal just a few minutes into the match, before Lowe struck against the run of play.
His first try came on the back of an Aaron Smith pass 25m out. Smith was attempting to clean up a pass Fekitoa grounded but threw it into Lowe’s waiting arms.
The Chiefs winger was at it again a few moments later, this time picking off a Naholo pass inside the 22m and again racing away.
If the two tries against the run of play didn’t jolt the Highlanders, the loss of captain Ben Smith did.
The inspirational fullback left the field about half an hour in after copping a nasty blow to the head.
Contesting a high ball with Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie, the later landed on him, slamming his head into the turf.
He stayed down for five minutes before hobbling off the field and being replaced by Matt Faddes.
A couple more Sopoaga penalties helped the Highlanders pull to within 21-15 inside the 15 minutes, but the Chiefs defended like demons down the stretch and held on to hand the Highlanders just their second loss in their last 13 games at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
It doesn’t get any easier next week for the Highlanders, who will host the Crusaders under the roof, while the Chiefs are away to the Blues. against Australia. He only returned to action at the start of the month but was whisked into the Scotland setup for the Six Nations.
After appearances from the bench he now gets a chance to start.
Hardie’s move to the starting lineup is one of five changes to the Scotland team for the game against Wales.
John Barclay will captain Scotland in the absence of Greig Laidlaw who will miss the rest of the campaign with an ankle injury.
Ali Price replaces Laidlaw at halfback.
Former Crusaders player Sean Maitland has also been ruled out with injury and has been replaced by Tim Visser on the wing.
Gordon Reid is in for Allan Dell in the front row, while Ryan Wilson comes in for Josh Strauss in another change to the loose forwards.