The new Super Rugby Pacific season may just have got off to the best possible start – the Chiefs edging the Crusaders 33-29 at Waikato Stadium to avenge their defeat in last season’s final.
It means the new post-Scott Robertson era at the Crusaders has begun with a defeat but it won’t be difficult for new head coach Rob Penney to see the positives – his side putting on 19 unanswered points to take the lead with 11 minutes remaining only for replacement Chiefs first-five Josh Ioane to put his side back in front with a penalty for the home side as the clock ticked down. Ioane slotted another at the end.
Given the clash with the T20 international between New Zealand and Australia up the road at Eden Park, it was important for this game to measure up in terms of entertainment and it did that.
The Crusaders, initially a little clunky and lacking in combinations, showed the threat they possess when they get quick ball in the second half, with back-to-back tries from Chay Fihaki and Scott Barrett cutting the halftime deficit to 27-22, and the defending champions took the lead with another from Fihaki, the fullback combining brilliantly with lock Jamie Hannah to go over.
To their credit, the Chiefs showed composure to bounce back under pressure, but the victory may have come at a cost – first-five Damian McKenzie leaving the field early in the second half with what looked like a leg injury and second-five Quinn Tupaea late in the match with a head knock.
McKenzie was brilliant during his 43 minutes on the field - leading his side with coolness and skill. It was probably no coincidence that they lacked a little of both when he left.
Both sides played with ambition and tempo, but the Chiefs just about deserved it with a near flawless first half and a clutch finish.
It bodes well for their title challenge after last season’s disappointment.
For the champions, the match did not begin well.
Prop Tamaiti Williams, in bursting on to a loose ball from a lineout on halfway and galloping away into the Chiefs’ red zone appeared to pull a hamstring and that was him for the evening.
Flanker Kaylum Boshier showed good reactions in putting his hands on a loose ball behind the Crusaders try-line and halfback Xavier Roe displaying near freakish handling ability to hang on to a Shaun Stevenson offload to score after a McKenzie break from the back.
It was 17-3 at that point and the Crusaders were in big danger, but Sevu Reece’s pick up and dive over from an attacking ruck following a sharp break by halfback Mitch Drummond kept them in touch until Nanai Etene-Seturo extended the Chiefs’ lead and McKenzie added insult to injury with a penalty on halftime.
The Crusaders, traditionally a set piece team, would have been frustrated by the free-flowing game which allowed McKenzie and company to wreak havoc in the open field but they were a big part of the problem, although the first scrum wasn’t awarded until the 28th minute.
Their defensive patterns appeared rusty, to put it politely, particularly around a midfield containing Dallas McLeod and new recruit Levi Aumua, the latter almost completely anonymous in the first half.
The visitors not surprisingly missed fullback Will Jordan, out for the season without playing a game due to a shoulder injury, with Fihaki struggling a little with his defensive reads and kicking. He was another Crusader who turned it around after halftime.
The Crusaders’ 23-year-old first-five Rivez Reihana had a difficult first half but impressed with his resilience and skill afterwards – his 50-22 kick and follow up quick lineout paved the way for Barrett’s try before he too left the field with an injury, the result of a big hit from Samipeni Finau.
Back in the hunt, the Crusaders thought they were over again when impressive replacement lock Jamie Hannah was held up over the line, but they scored straight from the restart, Fihaki scoring his second after a brilliant switch move with Hannah in midfield.
Taha Kemara’s conversion gave the Crusaders the lead for the first time in the match.
It wouldn’t last but their spirit will.
Chiefs 33 (Kaylum Boshier, Xavier Roe, Etene Nanai-Seturo tries; Damian McKenzie 2 pens, 2 cons, Shaun Stevenson con, Josh Ioane 2 pens)
Crusaders 29 (Chay Fihaki 2, Sevu Reece, Scott Barrett tries; Rivez Reihana pen, 2 cons, Taha Kemara con)
Halftime: 27-10
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