Chiefs thump Brumbies to keep New Zealand's unbeaten Super Rugby run over Australia alive
The Chiefs have highlighted the gulf in class between New Zealand and Australian Super Rugby sides with a 40-19 Trans-Tasman belting of the Brumbies in Hamilton.
The Chiefs piled on six tries to three in a near-record rout at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday night.
The match pitted the respective runners-up of the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU competitions against each other.
But the Brumbies finished a clear second best despite pushing New Zealand’s championship-winning Crusaders all the way in a 31-29 defeat last week.
Only a late try to strike forward Rob Valetini with seconds remaining saved the Brumbies from their heaviest-ever loss to the Chiefs.
As well as Valetini, replacement halfback Issak Fines, who set up two second-half tries with his energy and class after only being injected in the 58th minute, was a shining light for the Brumbies.
Worryingly, though, not only for coach Dan McKellar but also Wallabies mentor Dave Rennie, the Brumbies, Queensland Reds, Western Force, Melbourne Rebels and NSW Waratahs are now a collective none from nine against Kiwi opposition two rounds into the tournament.
Brumbies assistant coach Rod Seib pulled no punches when assessing the Brumbies’ performance.
“It’s been very frustrating. Obviously it’s a contact game, rugby, and we’ve certainly got a lesson from the Chiefs in the contact area,” Seib said.
“Defensively we haven’t fronted up and from an attacking sense we’ve certainly lost the contact.
“We came with a direct plan to have a lot of strong carries but we obviously haven’t done that tonight.”
It was game on early, with the Brumbies quickly cancelling out Tupou Vaa’i’s fourth-minute try for the Chiefs with Len Ikitau’s reply soon after.
The Chiefs have kept themselves in the hunt for a place in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final by thumping the Brumbies 40-19 in Hamilton. Here’s how they rated. #SuperRugbyTT #CHIvBRU https://t.co/licyYgyAIo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 22, 2021
But the Chiefs upped the ante and had the Brumbies stretched in every department for the remainder of the first half.
Too fast in open play and to o strong at set piece, the Chiefs’ next two tries bot h came from No.8 Luke Jacobson at the back of the scrum as the hosts went to the break leading 19-5.
The Brumbies were lucky not to be trailing by more, enjoying a reprieve when Chiefs halfback Brad Weber knocked on with the try-line beckoning after the halftime siren sounded.
The Chiefs also had another first-half try denied after replays revealed an Anton Lienert-Brown knock-on in the lead-up.
But the Chiefs ran away with the match in the second half as Lienert-Brown, centre Alex Nankivell and goal-kicking flyhalf Damian McKenzie – who finished with a personal 15-point haul – more than offset Brumbies five-pointers for Valetini and reserve playmaker Bayley Kuenzle.
Chiefs 40 (Tries to Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson (2), Damian McKenzie, Alex Nankivell and Anton Lienert-Brown; 5 conversions to McKenzie)
Brumbies 19 (Tries to Len Ikitau, Bayley Kuenzle and Rob Valetini; 2 conversions to Noah Lolesio)
Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he always say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
42 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
122 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
122 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
42 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
122 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
42 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to comments