Rampant Chiefs down Brumbies
CANBERRA, April 2, (AFP): New Zealand’s Waikato Chiefs demolished Australia’s leading team ACT Brumbies with a spectacular six-try 48-23 Super Rugby romp in Canberra on Saturday.
The Chiefs were on a different level to the Brumbies, ripping apart their usually strong defence for a club record fourth straight win outside New Zealand and their first win in Canberra since 2008.
The competition’s leading scorer Damian McKenzie helped himself to 23 points -- all the points the Brumbies scored combined -- from a try, three conversions and four penalty goals.
The Chiefs looked championship contenders with their fluent attack while two-time winners Brumbies took a massive hit to their chances of winning the title, such was the disparity between the two teams.
Waikato have now won four of their last six games against the Brumbies and continue their rousing start to the season after demolishing another Australian team, Western Force, 53-10 last week.
Christian Leali’ifano kicked two penalties to give the Brumbies an early 6-0 lead but the Chiefs took charge and were in front by the 30th minute and were never headed from there.
“The backs are electric at the moment. Our job as forwards is just to give them some ball and it seems whatever ball we give them they are making the most of it,” Chiefs skipper Sam Cane said.
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