McKenzie’s boot and brilliance sends Chiefs to third straight final

Australia’s wait for a Super Rugby Pacific finals winner in New Zealand continues after the ACT Brumbies crashed 37-17 to the Chiefs in Hamilton, with playmaker Noah Lolesio an early casualty.

Playing in their fourth successive semi-final, the gallant Brumbies again missed a grand final berth while the Chiefs will play in their third straight title decider, taking on the Crusaders next Saturday in Christchurch.

No Australian team have ever won a final in New Zealand, with the Brumbies following Queensland out of the competition after the Reds were beaten by the Crusaders in the qualifying final.

Noah Lolesio chats to RugbyPass ahead of Super Rugby playoffs

Brumbies and Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio chatted to Finn Morton ahead of their big clash with the Hurricanes. They discuss the pressure of being a Wallabies ten, gratitude and a whole lot more.

Noah Lolesio chats to RugbyPass ahead of Super Rugby playoffs

Brumbies and Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio chatted to Finn Morton ahead of their big clash with the Hurricanes. They discuss the pressure of being a Wallabies ten, gratitude and a whole lot more.

While it was three tries a piece, penalties proved a killer for the visitors, who tallied 11 to the Chiefs’ seven.

All Blacks sharp-shooter Damien McKenzie booted six penalty goals as well as two conversions and set up the Chiefs’ third try in a starring performance.

The flyhalf also pulled off a miracle tackle in the 65th minute, getting his hand under the ball to deny a Brumbies fullback Tom Wright a certain try to stall any chance of a fightback.

The Brumbies’ quest to end a 0-20 record suffered a major setback with Wallabies No.10 Lolesio departing just 10 minutes in after an accidental head-knock while making a tackle.

His replacement, Jack Debreczeni, who has hardly played this Super season, did an admirable job but the Brumbies still missed their chief playmaker, who is shifting his career to Japan.

The Canberra outfit were well in the hunt at halftime, only trailing 19-12, with hooker Billy Pollard rumbling across and winger Corey Toole scoring the first of his two tries off a Debreczeni cross-field kick.

The home side’s points came from Emoni Narawa with the winger catching the defence offside with a quick pick and go.

But the Brumbies’ penalty count was already double the Chiefs, including a scrum penalty after the halftime hooter which McKenzie slotted.

While the Brumbies scored first in the second half, with Toole bumping off McKenzie en route to a brilliant individual try to get within two, Narawa hit straight back for his second.

The ACT side were unable to add to their tally while two McKenzie penalties and the No.10 offloading to Josh Jacomb sealed a dominant win.