This one is for you, Sam
The Chiefs celebrated Sam Cane 100’s match for the franchise by overcoming the Highlanders 27-22 in Hamilton on Friday.
The Highlanders had made a habit of winning this fixture until the Chiefs snapped a six-match losing streak in their only encounter last year, a 24-15 victory in Dunedin, and it was Sean Wainui’s late try that proved to be the match-winner during yet another enthralling New Zealand derby in Super Rugby.
With so much focus on Damian McKenzie playing at 10, it’s fair to stay he had an indifferent night, often looking too frenetic and rushing kicks, and the Highlanders pounced on his mistakes to fight back.
But the Chiefs, hanging on, turned the ball over when it looked certain the Highlanders would score under the posts in the dying minutes and it was the returning Charlie Ngatai who booted the ball to safety to a joyous crowd of 16,157 at FMG Stadium Waikato.
The Highlanders had to cope with the major blow of losing first five-eighth Liam Sopoaga when he hobbled off, grimacing, and clutching down the back of his right leg despite no Chiefs defender laying a finger on him.
An inexperienced Fletcher Smith was left steering the ship for the visitors up against McKenzie, who was still typically zipped around the field finding space, as the Chiefs controlled the territory and grabbed a crucial lead by the break when Solomon Alaimalo finished off an excellent move.
When Taleni Seu set free to gallop down the left, Nathan Harris scored early in the second half and suddenly the Chiefs were 20-7 ahead, but the Highlanders came roaring back to life and led in the final quarter after Patelsio Tomkinson touched down from a McKenzie mistake.
But the Chiefs were ahead again in the final 10 minutes through Wainui’s try after the Highlanders had evened up the possession and territory stakes,
The Chiefs have two New Zealand derbies coming, against the Blues and the Hurricanes, while the Highlanders are welcoming their second bye of the season next weekend after losing a third away match on the trot.
A potentially intriguing battle for rugby tragics was the contest between the two No 10s, McKenzie and Sopaga, but a bizarre injury suffered early doors ended the latter’s game.
Sopoaga was dropping out from his own 22 but immediately reached for the back of his right leg after striking the ball and went down.
The All Black was helped off the field, looking in significant pain while reaching down his injured limb, and his night was done before it had started.
McKenzie, after the Chiefs had applied all the early pressure, then nudged the hosts in front with two penalties, taking the safe bet after some basic errors rubbed out some potential tries.
And the Highlanders then hit back, typically after hardly touching the ball inside the first 24 minutes, with their first attack of note when a composed kick from Rob Thompson was finished with the same calm by Waisake Naholo, who scored his seventh try in just six games against the Chiefs.
The Highlanders looked assured, while the Chiefs were frustrating themselves, but Alaimalo’s try snatched the lead on half-time after McKenzie’s inchperfect kick was batted back in field by Toni Pulu.
Harris emerged with the ball from a pile of bodies after a Chiefs try was awarded in the 44th minute but the Highlanders’ response was quick.
Tevita Li scored in the corner, reducing the deficit to six, and a Smith penalty then Tomkinson’s try silenced the home crowd because the Highlanders were leading again.
But Wainiu’s 68th minute try was the turning point that earned the Chiefs victory.