Chiefs not dwelling on loss
The Chiefs’ winning start to 2017 might be over, but they’re certainly not dragging any bottom lips as they make their way north to Bloemfontein.
Though they may feel somewhat aggrieved not to have been able to pack at least a bonus point in their luggage, their efforts in their 34-26 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday (NZ time) still has them in decent spirits ahead of leg two of their threeweek excursion, against the Cheetahs.
In what was a high-quality contest at Newlands, the Chiefs were at their scintillating best at times – including scoring what may well end up as the try of the season – though in the end the Stormers forwards got the better of them, in front of a raucous home crowd.
Post-match, coach Dave Rennie was cajoled by South African media to suggest it was even the game of the year to date. Though he was quick with his wit.
"It’s only the best game of the year if we win it,’’ he quipped. ‘‘It was a hell of a spectacle wasn’t it.’’
Captain Aaron Cruden was similarly philosophical, having seen another brilliant performance from his back three, with Toni Pulu bagging a brace of tries, James Lowe having huge involvement and scoring the other, and fullback Damian McKenzie at his electric best.
‘‘Maybe in a few days’ time when we reflect on it, it’ll be pretty cool to look back at some of the highlights of that game as a fan of rugby, even though we’re disappointed now,’’ Cruden said.
‘‘Obviously there had to be one loser, and unfortunately that was us.’’
The Stormers were well up for it after their embarrassing 60-21 quarterfinal defeat at the hands of the Chiefs last year, with this their first hitout against opponent since.
And after conceding a competition-low six tries in their opening five games, the Chiefs tellingly surrendered four to a Stormers unit, who, despite upping their tempo this year, still profited with the tried and true pick-and-go from the big men.
‘‘They got underneath us, so I think our fringe defence, we were just too high,’’ Rennie said.
‘‘They were able to create goforward around there, they were pretty patient, certainly too many tries came from that.’’
The Stormers are now one of two unbeaten teams, along with the New Zealand Conferenceleading Crusaders, who the Chiefs trail by two points, having slipped to third in the New Zealand Conference, behind the Hurricanes on points differential. a Kiwi
‘‘You hate to lose, but you get a kick in the backside,’’ Rennie said.
‘‘I think if we’d played really poorly and lost I’d be really disappointed. But, historically, it’s been a tough place to come, and they were really strong tonight, we played them here in the quarterfinal [last year] and defensively they really battled with the pace of the game we were playing but clearly they’re much better conditioned, they’re much better organised.’’
Again, the Chiefs will rue some handling errors, particularly later on, which cost them the chance to sneak home late, having for once been on the right side of a penalty count, and been able to disrupt the generally-strong Stormers lineout.
‘‘We still believed we could get there, even with five to go,’’ Rennie said. ‘‘We have a history of scoring multiple tries late in the game.
‘‘In the end, they were certainly the better side.’’
The Stormers scored 13 points either side of halftime, with a particularly key moment being Robert du Preez’s try right on the break, and it’s the area in and around the breaks the Chiefs noted will have to improve – having been guilty of slow starts to matches prior to this one.
As for the 14th minute try of Pulu, it will be hard to be topped. The 100-metre special had Lowe starting the movement, linking with McKenzie down the left-hand flank, who gave back to Lowe, before Anton Lienert-Brown got involved, with Liam Messam then in on the move, Lowe handling again, before Messam then provided the final pass for Pulu.
‘‘I even got out of my chair myself, that normally takes something special,’’ Rennie said.