Chiefs stun Crusaders in Christchurch
After the chocolate and cream of the first four Super Rugby 2016 this weekend the first half of the match between the Crusaders and Chiefs on a warm evening in Christchurch seemed like a mouthful of porridge. It was there and almost wholesome but it was not fun. But the second half as both sides got a sniff of victory and how to go about it was a whole different story, filled with skill and effort.
The highlight of the first 30 minutes was probably a halfhearted brawl, sparked by a scrumhalf's anger with a flyhalf. But then we had two tries – an accidental try for the Chiefs and a one-pass try off a great scrum for the Crusaders.
There was just so much kicking and only one of those kicks was recoverable. The others were just hoofs down the field. There were 10 scrums in the half, a lot for modern times.
The Chiefs were penalised six times in the half, and Crusaders 21-year-old flyhalf Richie Mo'unga, Christchurch born and bred, making his Super Rugby debut, goaled the first one. 3-0 after two minutes. He also goaled one for a maul infringement to make it 6-0 after 21 minutes. Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs goaled a long one and it was 6-3 after half an hour.
Then in six minutes there were two tries, the first an accident really.
Newboy flank Taleni Seu chased a kick down the far left, leapt brilliantly and one it. Back the ball came to McKenzie who kicked a long kick down to wards the corner flag on the Crusaders left where David Havili eventually got the ball with the tantalising bounce, but there were three Crusaders' on him. They grabbed him and 19-year-old wing Shaun Stevenson took the ball from Havili's grasp and within a few empty metres scored a try. 8-6 after 33 minutes.
The Chiefs put the ball into a scrum about 10 metres inside their 22 but the Crusaders ran them off the ball. Kieran Read picked up at the back of the scrum, drew Chiefs onto him and passed to Mo'unga on his left. The flyhalf cut through to score a try which he converted. 13-8 after 39 minutes. That was the half-time score.
The Chiefs took a quick throw-in from touch and attacked. Outside centre Seta Tamanivalu broke at speed. Mo'unga ankletapped him but the big Chief stretched and scored. McKenzie converted. 15-13 after 47 minutes, the third change of the match's lead and it lasted only four minutes.
The home side nearly scored when a delicious reverse pass by Andy Ellis set them on the attack. Just when they look like scoring little McKenzie tackled massive Nemani Nadolo into touch at the cornerflag. But a penalty gave the Crusaders a five-metre line-out. They made a maul and raced it at the goal-line. They bashed and then went wide right where Havili cut through and scored. 18-15 after 51 minutes.
After a promising break by Charlie Ngatai, the most incisive threequarter on the field. Mo'unga increased the Crusaders' lead to 21- 15 with a penalty. But that lead lasted just three minutes.
Ellis knocked on at the back of a ruck and from the scrum the Chiefs attacked in waves till McKenzie darted through two Crusaders' to score./ 21-20 with the conversion to come.
McKenzie took the angled conversion, looked at the ball, smiled and kick it over for the Chiefs' turn to lead. 22-21 after 67 minutes.
It was all so exciting.
There was a long delay when Reed Prinsep was knocked out in a clash of heads. and he was taken off on the mobile stretcher.
Havili had a long break for the Crusaders and Ngatai was again threatening for the Chiefs. Then the Chiefs bashed at the line with Aaron Cruden prominent twice. The Crusaders were penalised and Sam Cane opted for the five-metre line-out. The Chiefs kicked out and formed a maul which they hurried over the line for a try credited to Cane.
The match ended soon afterwards.
Man of the Match: Cruden had a good game. The old skill and courage are still there. He held nothing back. Charlie Ngatai was incisive, Tawera Kerr-Barlow's service and decision-making were excellent and Brodie Retallick was as manful as ever but our man of the match is without doubt Damian McKenzie, the life and soul of the party, part will-o'-the-wisp, part iron man, part artist in his creative skill and catching in the joy and freedom with which he plays.
The scorers:
For the Crusaders:
Tries: Mo'unga, Havili
Con: Mo'unga
Pens: Mo'unga 3
For the Chiefs:
Tries: Stevenson, Tamanivalu, McKenzie, Cane
Cons: McKenzie 2
Pens: McKenzie
Teams.
Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Jone Macilai, 13 Sean Wainui, 12 Kieron Fonotia, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Samuel Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Mike Alaalatoa, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Leon Fukofuka, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Johnny McNicholl.
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (co-captain), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Allardice, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Mitchell Graham, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Maama Vaipulu, 20 Johan Bardoul, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Latu Vaeno.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
