Kahui still a formidable force
Nearly a decade ago, former Chief Richard Kahui was starring for the All Blacks at Rugby World Cup 2011.
Now, pushing 36, he is still doing the business, coming up with the winning play that helped the Western Force into the Super Rugby AU finals, their first playoffs appearance in any format at this level.
Kahui, on as a sub, made a dinky left-footed grubber for wing Jordan Olowofela to score his third try at 74 minutes and see the hosts home, 30-27, over the table-topping Reds in Perth.
There was drama even before kick off when Western Australia was put into a three-day lockdown, but a crowd of 6278 saw the Force at full commitment and full noise against the Reds, who had already qualified for the May 8 grand final.
Kahui was joined in the Force match-day squad by fellow Kiwis Toni Pulu, who set up Olowofela’s second try with a strong thrust, and Jeremy Thrush, though Aucklandschooled Taniela Tupou stole the individual highlight with a bullocking try from 35m out for Brad Thorn’s Reds.
The Force will travel to Canberra to face the Brumbies in Saturday night’s final qualifier and move a step closer to the lofty vision for the franchise of chief executive and former Otago wing Tony Lewis.
The Force’s upset victory effectively rendered Saturday’s final regular season match in Sydney a “dead rubber” between the Waratahs and Rebels, though you would not have known it for all the testiness and intensity on show.
Despite two red cards, the Rebels triumphed, 36-25, seizing the initiative within 40 seconds when former Hawke’s Bay centre Stacey Ili latched on to a Matt To’omua crosskick to open the scoring.
The Waratahs finished Super Rugby AU with an 0-8 record and now know how the 2020 Chiefs felt in Super Rugby Aotearoa.