Chiefs sound quarter-final warning
The Chiefs have made a statement to the Hurricanes one week out from their Super Rugby quarter-final.
A depleted Chiefs line-up and a 63rd minute red card to Johnny Fa’auli weren’t enough of a buffer for the Hurricanes in Hamilton last night, as the hosts manhandled the visitors for a 28-24 win.
Fa’auli was given his marching orders for a shoulder charge on Hurricanes centre Wes Goosen that made even the home crowd wince when the replays were shown on the big screen.
That just added to a Chiefs side that came into match-day knowing they’d be without Sam Cane (head), Nathan Harris (leg) and Damian McKenzie (rest), then losing Charlie Ngatai, Tyler Ardron and Jeff Thwaites before kickoff.
The Hurricanes, without Ardie Savea, Matt Proctor and Vaea Fifita from their usual starting squad, should have had a relatively comfortable time but found just the opposite.
In front of more than 17,000 fans who braved the rain to see Liam Messam’s final match in Hamilton, the Chiefs made a fast start.
With a slick surface underfoot, it was no surprise to see the sides trading kicks in the opening exchanges. However, when the Chiefs decided to keep the ball in hand, it worked wonders for them.
Captain for the night Brodie Retallick marked his return from injury by opening the scoring inside 10 minutes, barrelling over from close range. At the time, it seemed as if it might have been the early shot to kick the Hurricanes into gear, but it didn’t.
The visitors continued to flounder when they had the ball in their hands and didn’t look remotely like threatening. Their play became predictable, which led to an intercept try to Brad Weber in the 17th minute.
Solomon Alaimalo added a third try and at halftime, the Hurricanes faced a 21-0 deficit. The Chiefs needed to win by 23 points to secure a home quarter-final and at halftime, it looked more than likely.
Needing to find some points, the visitors finally got on the board with tries in quick succession to Goosen and Blade Thomson.
After Fa’auli was sent from the pitch, Ben May crashed over, giving Beauden Barrett the chance to level the scores but the Hurricanes No 10 missed his kick.
A late try to Mitch Karpik, converted by Marty McKenzie, stretched the gap to nine points, enough to see the Chiefs home — despite a brain explosion from Messam gifting Julian Savea a consolation try on the buzzer.
The two sides will now look ahead to a rematch in Wellington next weekend where their playoff fates will be decided.
Chiefs 28 (Brodie Retallick, Brad Weber, Solomon Alaimalo, Mitch Karpik tries; Marty McKenzie 4 cons) Hurricanes 24 (Wes Goosen, Blade Thomson, Ben May, Julian Savea tries; Beauden Barrett 2 cons) Halftime: 21-0
● The Reds ended their campaign with a 48-27 win over the Sunwolves in Brisbane last night, confirming the Blues in 14th this season.
That equals the Auckland-based team’s lowest placing, set in 2015, John Kirwan’s last year in charge.
The Reds finished 13th with six wins, while the Sunwolves, who had a man sent off just before halftime for the second week in a row, are bottom of the 15-team competition with three victories.
The Blues have four wins heading into their final game against the Crusaders in Christchurch tonight.