Chiefs prevail in thriling opener
The Chiefs have clung on to secure a thrilling 33-29 victory over arch rivals the Crusaders in a highly-dramatic Super Rugby Pacific opener in Hamilton last night.
In what was a mouth-watering rematch of last year’s final, Clayton McMillan’s side were able to exact a wee slice of revenge, and nail a psychological blow to the defending champions in the first game of their new era under Rob Penney.
But, boy did it turn out to be a closerun thing as the 16,119 at Waikato Stadium were left on the edge of their seats.
Off to such an outstanding start, up 27-10 at halftime, the hosts lost All Blacks first-five Damian McKenzie to a leg injury early in the second half, and it was as if his departure unlocked all the hopes and dreams of the Crusaders.
At Waikato Stadium, Hamilton: Chiefs 33 (Kaylum Boshier try 16min, Xavier Roe try 19min, Etene NanaiSeturo try 29min; Damian McKenzie 2 con, 2 pen, Shaun Stevenson con, Josh Ioane 2 pen) Crusaders 29 (Sevu Reece try 23min, Chay Fihaki tries 44min, 68min, Scott Barrett try 47min; Rivez Reihana 2 con, pen, Taha Kemara con). HT: 27-10.
Within five minutes of him leaving, the visitors had charged back into the contest with two tries to get right back in it at 27-22, then while Jamie Hannah had been strongly held up over the line by Cortez Ratima, it was the young lock putting on a brilliant inside ball for Chay Fihaki to speed 30 metres to score, and Taha Kemara’s conversion put them in front for the first time.
But as much as it was a classic game of two halves, the Chiefs hung tough, and when Etene Nanai-Seturo peeled off a 50-22 kick, it proved massive, as they attacked hard on the red and blacks line, and were able to have Josh Ioane knock over two late penalties to have them snatch victory in what was another classic contest between these two.
It may still be February but the shoulders were well and truly warm. That much was clear as there was no shortage of physicality, some absolutely punishing hits as both teams got to work in their latest chapter of this now fierce rivalry.
McKenzie was thumped on a couple of occasions as he passed, while his opposite, Rivez Reihana − in his first game with the Crusaders after joining from the Chiefs − was forced off in the third quarter, too, after being whacked by Samipeni Finau.