McKenzie stars on return as Chiefs rout Moana Pasifika
WRAP: The Chiefs have celebrated the return of Damian McKenzie with a 57-24 win over Moana Pasifika in Hamilton.
The playmaker had a hand in several tries along with fellow returning all Black Cortez Ratima as they cruised to victory.
It was McKenzie’s first game back after missing the start of the season following the birth of his child.
It was a track meet early on as the Chiefs replicated their start from last week.
Quinn Tupaea got the opener in the second minute after Leroy Carter’s line break, with the winger then setting up Liam Coombes-Fabling.
Moana Pasifika got on the board shortly afterwards to make it three tries inside the first ten minutes, thanks to a brilliant solo effort from former Rebel Glen Vaihu.
Leroy Carter responded shortly afterwards after slick hands put the flyer into space.
But the visitors kept pace after a powerful burst from Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa at the back of the rolling maul.
It took an amazing trio of plays from McKenzie to swing momentum back, first stopping Allan Craig with a freakish try saver before breaking multiple tackles to set up Narawa.
McKenzie then won the race to Cortez Ratima’s chip kick to set up Lalakai Foketi for his first try for his new club.
It set the Chiefs up for a 31-14 lead at the break that they would control for the rest of the contest.
Carter scored two within six minutes to complete as Moana Pasifika had little answer.
A classy backline move saw replacement Kyle Brown score with his first touch on the field as the hosts brought up 50.
Replacement Tyrone Thompson finished the onslaught as they claim second on the ladder for the time being.
*The high-potent Hurricanes have burst the NSW Waratahs’ bubble with a 59-19 Super Rugby Pacific shellacking in Sydney.
NSW’s night went from bad to worse after losing superstar centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to injury even before kick-off on Friday.
Suaalii was ruled out after straining a hamstring in the warm-up, prompting coach Dan McKellar to hand youngster George Poolman his Waratahs debut.
Not even a third straight try-scoring double from freakish winger Max Jorgensen could save the Tahs from a ninth straight defeat to the Hurricanes.
Classy centre Billy Proctor showcased his claims for an All Blacks recall under freshly appointed coach Dave Rennie with a second-half hat-trick. At the same time, winger Bailyn Sullivan matched Jorgensen’s brace.
The New Zealand outfit’s dominance stretches back more than a decade to 2015, and the ‘Canes once again put the Waratahs to the sword with nine tries to three at Allianz Stadium.
After opening the season with consecutive bonus-point wins over the Reds and Fijian Drua, McKellar’s side crashed firmly back to earth in steamy conditions in which the Hurricanes seemed to thrive six days after losing in the tropical heat of Suva.
NSW started encouragingly enough, with winger Triston Reilly rolling up his sleeves to force his way over from the back of a ruck for the first try of the night.
The Hurricanes struck back with successive strikes to hooker Asafo Aumua and No.8 Peter Lakai for a 12-7 lead.
That man Jorgensen levelled the match with his fifth try in three games, the in-form Wallabies star squeezing over from close range on this occasion.
But the visitors enjoyed a five-point buffer at the break after Sullivan crossed for the first time in the 32nd minute.
A quickfire double to Proctor straight after the interval blew the game open as the Waratahs – hardly helped by enduring 20 straight minutes a player short while Poolman and replacement lock Angus Blyth were in the sin bin – capitulated in the sapping conditions.
Chiefs 57-24 Moana Pacifika
Scorers:
For Chiefs:
Tries: Carter 3, Narawa, Foketi, Brown, Thompson, Coombes-Fabling, Tupaea
Cons: McKenzie 6
For Moana Pasifika:
Tries: Tupou Ta’eiloa 2, Ofa, Vaihu
Cons: Garden-Bachop 2
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i (captain), 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Benet Kumeroa.
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Kyle Brown.
Moana Pasifika: 15 Glen Vaihu, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Tevita Latu, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Augustine Pulu, 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 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Lolani Faleiva, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Joel Lam, 22 Patrick Pellegrino, 23 Tyler Pulini.
Referee: Todd Petrie
Assistant referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
Waratahs 19-59 Hurricanes
Scorers:
For Waratahs:
Tries: Reilly, Jorgensen 2
Cons: Creighton, Harvey
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Aumua, Lakai, Sullivan 2, Proctor 3, Enari, Rova
Cons: Barrett 4, Harkin, Cashmore
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Leafi Talataina, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Folau Faingaa, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Sid Harvey.
Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-captain), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Callum Harkin, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Warner Dearns, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 Jone Rova.
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Fraser Hannon, Dan Moore
TMO: James Leckie
