VIDEO: Chiefs in sensational comeback
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Chiefs bounced back from a 14-point half-time deficit to start their campaign under new coach Warren Gatland withy a sensational 37-29 win over the Blues.
After being dominated by the Blues in the first half in Auckland on Friday, the Chiefs introduced forgotten All Black flyhalf Aaron Cruden at half-time and he turned the game on its head.
Not only did he play a key role in the match-changing try by wing Solomon Alaimalo 10 minutes from the end, but he also kicked three conversions, a drop-goal and a penalty.
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It was a fast-paced and hotly-contested encounter in which the Blues dominated the opening exchanges – taking a 19-5 lead at the break, after outscoring the visitors by three tries to one in the first half.
The Chiefs produced a dramatic second half in which they outscored the Blues by four tries to one.
The Blues, desperate to end an eight-season play-off drought this year, set off at a canter with a try from flank Tony Lamborn and a brace from New Zealand wing Rieko Ioane.
Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukeiaho added to his first-half score with a second try soon after the break, to spark the comeback, before the hulking Pita Gus Sowakula bullied over from close range to tie up the scores at 19-19.
The Blues, without their big-name signing Beauden Barrett until April as the twice World Player of the Year takes a rest, edged back in front when prop Karl Tu’inukuafe crossed for another try scored from close range.
Turnover ball helped the Chiefs again level through prop Aidan Ross before Cruden took control of the contest and saw the visitors home.
The Chiefs, champions in 2012 and 2013, were without fullback Damian McKenzie, whose long-awaited return from serious injury was delayed by a groin strain.
The Blues, who snapped a 15-game winless run against the Chiefs last year, will be hugely disappointed to have left eight points on the park through the errant kicking of flyhalf Stephen Perofeta.
Man of the match: Props Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi came off the bench to make a massive impact for the Blues, while Rieko Ioane showed his value with two first-half tries. Lachlan Boshier continued to enhance his All Black prospects with another bruising performance. Our award goes to the almost forgotten All Black flyhalf Aaron Cruden – who came off the bench at half-time to turn the match on its head, including a game-changing offload for the Solomon Alaimalo try 10 minutes from the end. A 5-19 half-time deficit became a 37-29 victory, as he sealed it with a brilliant drop-goal and a penalty in the closing stages.
The scorers
For the Blues:
Tries: Lamborn, Ioane 2, Tu’inukuafe
Cons: Perofeta 3
Pens: Plummer
For the Chiefs:
Tries: Taukei’aho 2, Sowakula, Ardron, Alaimalo
Cons: Cruden 3
Pen: Cruden
DG: Cruden
Teams
Blues: 15 Matt Duffie, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Thomas Faiane, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Tony Lamborn, 6 Dalton Papalii, 5 Tom Robinson, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Blake Gibson, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Emoni Narawa.
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Kaleb Trask, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Sam Cane, 7 Mitchell Karpik, 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Mitchell Brown, 4 Tyler Ardron, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Atu Moli, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Pita Gus Sowakula, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Dan Waenga (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
