Chiefs prevail in thrilling opener
The Chiefs 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 close-run 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.
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.
Quinn Tupaea joined the list when he was knocked out after his head collided with the hip of Dallas McLeod, while early on fellow All Black Tamaiti Williams was forced off with a leg problem, on the back of a rampaging charge down the sideline.
A Crusaders side already missing a host of All Blacks with Codie Taylor on his non-playing sabbatical for much of the season, Will Jordan and Braydon Ennor out for the campaign injured, and Ethan Blackadder and David Havili also in the casualty ward, were facing quite the task.
And with captain courageous Scott Barrett leading from the front yet again, they stormed back after looking rather down and out.
In what was a pacey, largely skilled opening, with the game’s first scrum not coming until the 27th minute, the Chiefs had stamped their authority on the contest, camping inside Crusaders territory and threatening on a number of wide attacks, then making sure to cash in on their opportunities.
The season-opening try to Kaylum Boshier won’t exactly go down as one to remember − the openside flanker cleverly getting into the side of a ruck to put his hand on the ball when there was no offside line in play − but the second most certainly was one for the highlights reel.
All started by a McKenzie kick return, the silky No 10 easily sidestepped Chay Fihakai, sped upfield, found a dangerous ally in Shaun Stevenson, and while the fullback’s offload went to ground, Xavier Roe − back after missing all last season with an elbow injury − nicely scooped it up and ran away under the bar and it was 17-3 at the quarter-mark and all looking a little too easy.
And then they really had to get down to work.