Chiefs break the duck and Rebel hearts
The Chiefs recorded their first win of the season, as they brought the Rebels down to earth with a big bang in Hamilton on Saturday.
It was a drab match before a small crowd in the Hamilton drizzle, and yet there was much need for Hamilton happiness – the first win of the 2011 Super 15 season, the first home win since 22 May 2009 and that with a bonus point and one of the best tries of the season so far.
For the Rebels, after their euphoric victory last week, this was a heavy defeat in the levelling wet. They in fact offered little to the game with their repeated diagonal kicks for ground that brought no profit at all. The best of them, by Mark Gerrard, forced a line-out five metres from the Chiefs’ line. The Chiefs coped easily, cleared, put pressure on and eventually Lelia Masaga scored for the Chiefs. It must have been a team tactic as it went on till the game was lost and desperation forced the Rebels to chase the game with the ball in hand.
They were beaten in the line-outs (four lost and two skew), beaten in the scrums that counted and beaten above all for the loose ball. The Chiefs won the turnovers.
The penalty count was odd – 8-3 to the Chiefs in the first half, 10-4 to the Rebels in the second. When Donald kicked the first penalty goal it was already the third penalty against the Rebels, thus time against scrumhalf Nick Phipps for being offside. 3-0 after 7 minutes.
The Rebels had their best chance to score a try in the first half when they attacked from the scrum. It broke down on a terrible, low pass to Julian Huxley but the referee had been playing advantage because Liam Messam had been offside. Danny Cipriani made it 3-3 after 10 minutes.
At the first kick off, Mils Muliaina had taken a bang in the lower back. He soldiered on but eventually gave up the uneven struggle and was replaced by mercurial Tim Nanai-Williams.
Jarrod Saffy was penalised at a tackle and Donald goaled. 6-3 after 30 minutes. It was then that the Chiefs march to victory started. Isaac Ross had a loping charge and the Chiefs were at the line. They went wide left, Donald got a cleaver pass in a tackle to Sitiveni Sivivatu and the sturdy wing scored an easy try. 13-3 after 34 minutes.
Two minutes later Adam Byrnes was offside within 10 metres after a kick and Donald made the half-time score 16-3.
Early in the second half Cipriani tackled Umaga high and it was 19-3.
Then came Gerrard’s great kick across field. The Chiefs quickly got onto the attach and they got the ball to the far right where Masaga beat Gerrard and two others to surf over for the try. Donald converted from touch. 26-3 after 48 minutes.
The eventual winner of the match was obvious but still the Rebels tried. A penalty gave them an attacking line-out, they bashed and contrived to get Gareth Delve over for the try. Amidst boos and cowbells, Cipriani converted. 26-10 after 58 minutes.
The Rebels came back on the attack and had a penalty in front of the posts. They opted for a scrum but the Chiefs destroyed it and the Rebel threat fizzled out.
Instead the Chiefs attacked. Sivivatu made a power dash for the line and replacement Sona Taumalolo was on hand to plunge over and score. 33-10.
The Chiefs attacked again after a penalty-induced line-out but Romana Graham knocked on.
The Rebels went on the attack and then came the best try of the night.
Greg Somerville knocked well ahead and, five metres from his line, Nanai-Williams picked up, dodged and gave a pass to Umaga who drew two Rebels to him before giving Masaga a perfect pass on the 22. The cheerful wing raced down the touchline past Afusipa Taumoepeau. He handed off Lachlan Mitchell but stumbled, fell and surfed the last metre or so for the try. 38-10 with 3 minutes to play. That great try brought the bonus point.
Man of the Match: Not just out of sentiment but our choice is Tana Umaga, rugged in the tackle, producing two passes that led to two tries and obviously an inspiration to his side – and he has been playing Super Rugby since 1996.
The scorers:
For the Chiefs:
Tries: Sivivatu, Masaga 2, Taumalolo
Cons: Donald 3
Pens: Donald 4
For the Rebels:
Try: Delve
Con: Cipriani
Pen: Cipriani
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (captain), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Dwayne Sweeney, 12 Tana Umaga, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Scott Waldrom, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Nathan White, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Sona Taumalolo, 17 Hika Elliot, 18 Romana Graham, 19 Steven Setephano, 20 Taniela Moa, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams.
Rebels: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Stirling Mortlock (captain), 12 Julian Huxley, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Michael Lipman, 6 Jarrod Saffy, 5 Alister Campbell, 4 Adam Byrnes, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Laurie Weeks, 18 Hugh Pyle, 19 Tom Chamberlain, 20 Richard Kingi, 21 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 22 Peter Betham.
Referee: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
