Rennie concedes Chiefs ‘weren’t good enough’
It was a case of missed opportunities, over and over again, as the Chiefs’ Super Rugby season was ended against the Hurricanes in Wellington last night.
With the majority of possession, and chances galore, the Chiefs just couldn’t find a way to cross the hosts’ line at Westpac Stadium, as they fell 25-9 to a Hurricanes side who will have another shot at claiming a maiden title next weekend.
The Chiefs had made the arduous trip to Cape Town for a quarterfinal and, perhaps, the trek back in the end caught up with them, as their usual slick gameplay was sadly lacking in front of the 25,600 in the capital, who cheered on Beauden Barrett’s heroics.
This was a team that played some of the best attacking rugby in the competition up until this point, and were equal with the Lions for tries scored but, for the first time all season, they were unable to get across the chalk. Clearly, it wasn’t the game to have that happen. And coach Dave Rennie was left lamenting what could have been.
Rennie had the good humour quip that ‘‘we left our hands to in Africa’’, as he tried to mask the disappointment of another season that got away, the Chiefs having been knocked out in qualifying finals the last two years, following their title wins in 2012 and 2013.
‘‘Oh look, we weren’t good enough tonight,’’ Rennie said. ‘‘We didn’t deal with their line speed, it forced us back in a lot. We created some opportunities, we just weren’t clinical enough. I think a few of the balls that were thrown over the sideline in the last five minutes probably summed up our night. So, yeah, disappointing.’’
Hoping to land a few early blows, the Chiefs were on the back foot right from the start, with handling errors and kicks out on the full We didn’t deal with their line speed, it forced us back in a lot. leading to Barrett’s first piece of brilliance, with his chip and regather from inside his own half a thing to behold. While McKenzie looked in trouble early, when prone on the ground with a leg problem, he was quick to get back up and did have periods of spark, with the Chiefs set for a sustained period on the hosts’ line, after being stunned early.
With penalties coming their way, the Chiefs boldly turned down points in favour of lineouts and scrums, as the Canes treaded dangerously with referee Angus Gardner. But the Chiefs just couldn’t capitalise on all their pill at that end and co-captain Sam Cane was left to mull over the decision to opt against the posts at that time.
‘‘You can look back now and think ‘Man, after giving it a good crack at the line we could’ve taken the shot’,’’ Cane said. ‘‘But, at the same time, they get one more penalty in that zone and they probably lose a man and we have another good chance at scoring a try. As it happened, they ended up breaking out and running 80 metres. It was a turning point in the game, I’d say, but you live by those decisions.’’
It was then Cane who gave a pass to regret, with Barrett snaffling the intercept to race away.