Last-minute try seals thriller for Chiefs
THE Chiefs go into their Super Rugby bye next week on the back of three successive victories and, more importantly, with the confidence they can win close games from anywhere on the field.
With another scoreboard clock debacle threatening to confuse the players in the dying stages, the try-scoring drought in the match at Baypark Stadium in Tauranga last night was shattered by two seven-pointers in the last 10 minutes before a last-minute try in the corner by centre Jackson Willison gave the home side a 29-22 victory over the Brumbies.
Aaron Cruden, who did not miss a kick all night in a sevenout-of-seven performance, calmly the scores at 22-22, the ground clock was showing 79 minutes had expired.
But officials let referee Ian Smith know the clock was actually running seven minutes fast and the two captains had to quickly rethink their tactics.
The first half was a 9-9 stalemate, with both teams having their turn on attack but unable to completely break down the defence, but the Brumbies were better able to string together multiple phases down in the attacking quarter, forcing a lot of tackles from the home side.
The Brumbies got the first chance to score in the second half and Lealiifano made no mistake with his 45th-minute penalty goal, but slowly the Chiefs started to exert more influence in the game, Sonny Bill Williams making the first clean line break of the game, the Chiefs forwards looking more urgent and Cruden making it five from five with two more penalties to put the home side back in front 15-12. But the see-saw nature of the game continued with Lealiifano levelling the scores 15-15.
It was not until the Chiefs gambled 13 minutes from the end and didn’t go for goal when they had the chance in the left corner that the match was broken wide open.
The Chiefs did not score immediately from the lineout and eight further phases but got a prime attacking position from a 5-metre scrum for Sona Taumalolo to be be driven over and set up the exciting finish.