Chiefs crush Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby response

All Blacks winger Emoni Narawa has bagged a hat-trick of tries as the Chiefs rebounded from last week’s loss to the Crusaders to reassert their Super Rugby Pacific title credentials at Waikato Stadium.

Five-eighth Damian McKenzie returned after a week off under All Blacks player management protocols to orchestrate the Chiefs’ high-octane attack and convert nine of the 10 tries they scored in a comprehensive 68-12 bonus-point thumping of Moana Pasifika.

If there were any questions about the Chiefs’ championship credentials, they were answered in Hamilton on Saturday.

Their attack clicked into gear in the 11th minute when openside flanker Simon Parker went over, before quick tries through Narawa and fullback Etene Nanai-Seturo opened the game up.

Daniel Rona crossed to make it 28-0 just before halftime, with second-half tries going to Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Peniasi Malimali, debutant Sione Ahio, Cortez Ratima and two more for Narawa.

The visitors did test the Chiefs’ defence at times, scoring late through Melani Matavao and Miracle Fai’ilagi, but for the most part the hosts were strong on defence.

The fourth-placed Chiefs (23 points) next take on the co-competition leaders and unbeaten Hurricanes (27) in Wellington next week, while ninth-placed Moana Pasifika (nine) host the sixth-placed Queensland Reds (16).