All Black stars as Chiefs stun Blues
SATURDAY WRAP: All Black Cortez Ratima has guided the Chiefs to a comeback 19-15 win over the Blues at Eden Park.
Last year’s grand finalists struck with four minutes to go as the replacement scrumhalf took his chance to sprint away to silence the Eden Park faithful.
It was a rare moment of attacking magic in a game dominated by the defences, leaving Ratima to be the hero as they stormed home.
The contest worked into gear as both teams missed early chances for first points.
Blues’ new recruit Bradley Slater nearly came up with a dream start against his old side, held up over the line, summing up a tense opening quarter.
The Chiefs started to work their way into the contest and lock Tupou Vaa’i nearly had the opener, with Quinn Tuapea’s kick just too strong for the towering lock after turning down to overlap.
The All Black didn’t have to wait long, though, with Vaa’i diving over the defenders for the first try.
This woke up the Blues as Caleb Clarke broke through the line, followed through by a powerful run by Zarn Sullivan that saw the fullback power over for the response.
Kaylum Boshier was yellow-carded right before half-time for a high tackle, leaving the two sides locked at 5-all heading into the sheds.
While the Chiefs withheld the ten-minute number disadvantage, they couldn’t stop Dalton Papali’i from short once they returned to their full allotment.
Sullivan again was the man to create the opportunity with a powerful run, allowing his skipper to crash over.
The visitors would eventually hit back and level the scores via hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, showing patience at the back of the rolling maul to pick the perfect time to peel off and touch down.
Some sloppy play from the visitors at the restart presented an easy chance for the Blues to re-take the lead through Sullivan’s boot.
But the visitors refused to drop their heads and eventually found their strike weapon, Ratima.
The All Black backed up a powerful break from Samipeni Finau to race clear and dive over with four minutes to go.
The hosts lost their heads from here, with Sam Nock yellow-carded for a professional foul late in the game, before missing a late lineout that ended any hopes of a comeback.
*Moana Pasifika showed they can be a force even without Test great Ardie Savea as they beat Fijian Drua 40-26 in a Super Rugby upset on Saturday.
Captain Miracle Fai’ilagi crossed for three of Moana’s six tries at Churchill Park in Lautoka as they ended the Drua’s streak of nine successive wins.
Fai’ilagi took the captaincy from fellow flanker Savea, who is skipping this season to play for the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the Japanese league.
Savea was an inspirational performer in his maiden season for Moana last year, being named the overall player of the competition.
The veteran New Zealand international nearly steered the team comprising players of Pacific heritage to their first play-off berth.
Samoan international Fai’ilagi ensured Savea was not missed in their opening math of the season, producing a bruising display.
His first two tries put the visitors 21-0 ahead inside the first 20 minutes, and his third just after halftime pushed them clear 33-12.
Other early tries for Moana went to back-rower Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa and winger Tevita Ofa, before substitute Ofa Tauatevalu made the result safe with a try in the closing minutes.
The Drua’s performance was marred by errors and indiscipline, although they were still able to create four tires.
The home side handed a debut to Virimi Vakatawa, the former Racing 92 outside back who played 32 Tests for France from 2016 to 2022.
Fullback William Havili played his 50th match for Moana, the first player to reach that milestone for the team.
Havili limped off with an apparent leg injury, placing him in doubt for next week’s match against the Hurricanes.
*Brumbies have turned up the heat to gas the Western Force 56-24 in a sapping season-opening Super Rugby Pacific clash in Perth.
Temperatures exceeding 35 degrees forced officials to apply Heat Stress protocols and it was the home side who wilted when it mattered most on Saturday.
The Force relinquished a 10-point lead and conceded 28 straight points mid-match as the benchmark Brumbies overcame the loss of a glut of Wallabies stars to once again claim derby bragging rights.
The victory was the perennial Australian super power’s sixth out of six in season openers against the WA franchise which has yet to make the finals since entering the competition 20 years ago.
Reigning John Eales Medallist Len Ikitau and fellow Test players Noah Lolesio and Tom Hooper departed in the off-season, while fellow Wallabies Tom Wright (knee) and inspirational captain Allan Alaalatoa (back) remain sidelined.
But the Brumbies clinically showed the more things change, the more they stay the same as two-time Australian player of the year Rob Valetini led the visitors’ fightback at HBF Park.
Saturday’s results:
Moana Pasifika 40-26 Fijian Drua
The scorers:
For Moana Pasifika:
Tries: Faiilagi 3, Tupou Ta’eiloa, Ofa, Tauatevalu
Cons: Pellegrini 5
For Fijian Drua:
Tries: Samusamuvodre, Mayanavanua, Salawa, Droasese;
Cons: Valetini 3
Teams:
Fiji Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Penaia Cakobau, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Joseva Tamani, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Isikeli Rabitu, 23 Epeli Momo
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Lalomilo Lalomila,12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Dominic Ropeti, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Denzel Samoa, 23 Glen Vaihu
Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant Referees: Fraser Hannon, Dan Moore
TMO: Glenn Newman
Blues 15-19 Chiefs
For Blues:
Tries: Sullivan, Papali’i
Con: Sullivan
Pen: Sullivan
For Chiefs:
Tries: Ratima, Taukei’aho, Vaa’i;
Cons: Jacomb 2
Teams:
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Akhi, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i (captain), 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Sam Darry, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Laghlan McWhannell, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Xavi Taele, 23 Codemeru Vai.
Chiefs: 15 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Kaylum Boshier, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Jared Proffit.
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Benet Kumeroa, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Kyle Brown
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Todd Petrie, Maggie Cogger-Orr
TMO: Brett Cronan
Western Force 24-56 Brumbies
The scorers:
For Western Force:
Tries: Ekuasi, Molina, Tizzano
Cons: Donaldson 3
Pen: Donaldson
For Brumbies:
Tries: Cale 2, Meredith 2, van Nek, Lonergan, Toole, Sapsford
Cons: Lonergan 4, Edmed 3
Teams:
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Divad Palu, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Bayley Kuenzle, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 5 Franco Molina, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson,
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Will Harris, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Max Burey, 23 Kurtley Beale
Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Corey Toole, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Billy Pillord, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Tevita Alatini, 19 Toby Macpherson, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
