Gatland back with a bang as Chiefs win
BRITISH and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland made a winning return in Super Rugby yesterday, guiding the Hamilton-based Chiefs to a 37-29 win over the Auckland-based Blues in the opening match of the 2020 season.
Gatland, a former All Blacks hooker who was one of the most-capped players for the Chiefs’ home province Waikato, hasn’t been involved in Super Rugby since 2007 when he was a technical adviser to the Chiefs.
For the past 13 years he has been head coach of Wales and coach of the Lions since 2013.
The Chiefs didn’t see the lead until the 68th minute when winger Solomon Alaimalo scored in the left corner. Former All Blacks flyhalf Aaron Cruden, who hasn’t played in New Zealand since 2017 when he took up a contract with Montpelier in France, came off the bench to make that try and to kick three conversions, a penalty and a dropped goal to help the Chiefs overcome a 19-5 half-time deficit.
The highly-rated Blues dominated the first half with two tries from winger Reiko Ioane, who played with energy after losing his All Blacks spot in 2019.
But the Blues fell flat in the second half. When the Chiefs asserted themselves with the help of two tries to hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, the Blues had no answer and began to make mistakes that caused their game to fall apart.
“To be honest we weren’t great in the first half, we were pretty average,” Gatland said. “I think for us the first three games are vital.
“The Crusaders next week at home is a major game for us, then we’re on the road to the Sunwolves. If we get off to a good start and win these first three games it will put us right in this competition.”
In the second of three matches on opening night, the ACT Brumbies beat the Queensland Reds 27-24 in Canberra. Bushfires burned within 10km of the city and had threatened to cancel the match.
After trailing early, Tom Wright, Folau Faingaa and Tom Banks scored tries before a penalty made it 27-17 for the Brumbies in the 67th minute. A late Reds try from No8 Harry Wilson made it close. | Reuters