Analysis: Rare Ratima quality enough for Chiefs to pip Blues

Analysis: 1News writer Patrick McKendry runs the rule over Super Rugby Pacific's opening round which featured a mixture of performances.

A match which resembled a pillow fight such were the inaccuracies of the Blues and Chiefs at Eden Park helped create an atmosphere of stunned near silence for most of it and was finished in decisive fashion by Chiefs’ replacement halfback Cortez Ratima.

Ratima’s quality was clear once he replaced Xavier Roe. So too was that of visiting hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho, making an extremely welcome return from an Achilles injury suffered near the end of last year’s Super Rugby competition.

All Black Ratima's most obvious intervention came when he took advantage of a beautifully timed run and offload from loose forward Samipeni Finau for a seven-pointer with four minutes remaining and that was that – although there was still time for Blues opposite Sam Nock to be sinbinned for a ruck infringement deemed cynical by referee Ben O’Keeffe.

The Chiefs, 19-15 winners, probably kicked off the match as favourites but this was a disappointing and low-energy start for the Blues, who could probably count left wing Caleb Clarke and second-five Pita Ahki – back from a long stint in France – as their best performers, although fullback Zarn Sullivan scored a well-taken try.

The home side was determined to hit the ground running after leaving their charge for the playoffs late last year. Unfortunately for them, it was a case of new season, same old Blues.

A word on the officiating.

The referees have been instructed to keep the flow of the game up and minimise down-time but the laissez-faire attitude the officials took to the breakdown was astounding at times.

The Blues were often guilty of clearing out opposing players from right-angles to the ruck but both teams were at it.

Indeed, at one point in the first half, a Chiefs attacker made a clear-out from behind the Blues’ side of the ruck in a brazen transgression. Needless to say, he got away with it.

Strangely, the breakdowns appeared consistently far more legal during Scotland’s dramatic Six Nations victory over England at Murrayfield.

It may be something else to ponder for those wondering if Super Rugby is fit for purpose in terms of preparing international players.

Memo to tight forwards, or anyone, really: do not impede an opposition player after he puts up a 'Hail Mary' chip near the halfway line when his team is one point behind and the clock is running out.

Codie Taylor, the Crusaders’ replacement hooker who has played more than 100 Tests for the All Blacks, should have known better than to give referee Angus Gardner cause to blow a penalty with two minutes remaining after Highlanders fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins did just that under the roof in Dunedin.

It was a triumphant return for Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, who suffered a terrible neck injury last year, and, once Cam Miller nonchalantly kicked the penalty from 45m out to give his side the lead 25-23 with 90 seconds remaining, quite the start for the Highlanders and their coach Jamie Joseph, who may be on All Blacks duty before too long.

The Crusaders may be already eyeing up their chance for revenge when they host the Highlanders, who play their first three matches in Dunedin, in Christchurch in round five.

Lautoka, known as Sugar City for its surrounding plantations, is generally not a sweet place for the Fijian Drua's travelling opposition due to the oppressive heat and intense support for the home side.

So, Moana Pasifika’s 40-26 demolition of the Drua, who beat the Chiefs at home last year, must count as one of the performances of the weekend.

Moana simply overpowered the Drua in the tight and were then good enough and alert enough to nullify them when the Fijians went to their renowned running game and there was no one better at throwing his weight around than their captain Miracle Fai’ilagi.

Blindside flanker Fai’ilagi has replaced Ardie Savea as Moana's captain while the All Blacks loose forward is on sabbatical at Japanese club Kobe.

Like Savea was last season, the explosive Fai’ilagi appears set to be hugely influential at Moana Pasifika.