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Departing Chiefs coach reflects on three consecutive final defeats
By Henry Lee
It wasn’t to be for the Chiefs in 2025, going down to the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final, 16-12, at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch.
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The Chiefs have now lost the last three finals in the competition, and Clayton McMillan departs the Chiefs this season to Munster without a Super Rugby Pacific championship to his name.
The Chiefs finished the regular season at the top of the ladder, with eleven wins from 14 games, including two wins over the Crusaders in the season.
The Hamilton-based franchise lost home advantage in the finals three weeks ago, as they lost at FMG Stadium Waikato against the Blues, but kept a spot in the playoffs because of the “lucky loser” rule addition to this year’s playoff system.
McMillan, who has coached his last game for the Chiefs, admits he’s pretty disappointed with the third consecutive finals loss.
“Obviously disappointed, like everyone knows we’ve been to the final dance several times and then we haven’t quite got the job done,” McMillan told reporters in Christchurch.
“But in a weird sort of way, I’m at peace because I know how hard our people have worked like it’s never been a case or it wasn’t a case tonight of a lack of effort.
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“We came up against a really good Crusaders team who squeezed us in all the right places and deserved the win.”
The 50-year-old head coach believes his team’s contestable kicking was not up to scratch, giving the Crusaders too much ball.
“Our contestable kicking game was just a little inaccurate, probably a meter and a half, two meters too long and that didn’t give us the opportunity to get in the air, giving the likes of Will Jordan a bit more time.
“We know he’s (Will Jordan) world-class, and if you give him that space he’s going to hurt you.
“So I think that tactical kicking game was where we probably had the edge on them down here last time but they were superb in that area tonight.
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“Then at set piece, that’s what you expect from the Crusaders at this time of year, they squeezed us a little bit there, and we just didn’t have enough quality possession to be able to apply pressure to them.”
When asked about whether he is able to take any satisfaction from three straight final appearances, McMillan explains that some people don’t really understand how hard it is to reach the final.
“It’s definitely one of the things that I can walk away with a sense of satisfaction, like, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that it doesn’t hurt to not to have won when we’ve been so close.
“But people probably don’t realise how tough it is to just get to a final and even tougher when you’ve been to a number of them and you haven’t quite got the job done.
“The consistency of our performances has been something to really relish and I love these men, and I know how hard they work, and I was hoping and I’m confident that in the near future, they’ll get across the line.”
McMillan acknowledges the people involved with the club and says that a new head coach might help the club win a Super Rugby Pacific title.
“The wheels are gonna keep ticking over, and we’ve got bloody good people in the organization, and who knows, maybe the change in the head coach might be what’s needed to get the job done.”
All Blacks lock and leader at the Chiefs Tupou Vaa’i was quick to praise his head coach, and although they fell short again, he believes the head coach will be sorely missed at the Chiefs.
“He’s a man with a lot of mana, and he’s the type of coach that he’s not going to brush things off,” Vaa’i told media post-match in Christchurch.
“He’s just going to tell you straight up, and that’s all you want from a coach, and he’s always pushing us to be better.
“Yeah he’s just a Chiefs man through and through and he’s going to be missed, that’s for sure. We’ve obviously seen the work that he’s done over the last four-plus years, and we will definitely miss you bro, and we wish you all the best for your family.
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An impressive coach, an impressive man. At age 50, the coaching world is now his oyster. I suspect he’ll be an international Head Coach up North in 3-5 years.
No, you’re right Clayton, it was never about a lack of effort.
We just need our game to be better than this, that’s the problem. People were tuning in and that lackluster effort just wouldn’t be enough to propel SR to the top. Dmac looked lost yet again, and they seemed incapable of spreading the ball without being able to go forward first.
And this explaining to people that really understand how hard it is to reach the final, well that just tells me you don’t understand the talent you have at your disposal.
That said, it was a great turn around from the team after that Gatland season. I can’t remember whether it was his or your first season, but losing every game but less the 7 points, and then to nearly win every game for the following season was a great effort and required great leadership. A lot of teams would die for a coach that can get them into contention and keep the consistency up.
Should have given it bit more of a go quite cautious throughout almost playing not to win but to not lose and if u going to play like that kicking game ( obviously) wasn’t accurate enough ..did Cortez have a run at all? In fairness to boys the evil empire were just scrapping over every inch and the Chiefs D wasn’t to shabby either btw
And this comment tells me you don’t know how hard it is to win in Christchurch during the playoffs. When better coaches than him have tried and failed, your paper-thin and bias analysis speaks volumes.
Chur Clayton. Change of environment, new culture, new players, all will add more tools to his coaching kit.
I’m sure it will go well for him in Munster.
agree hope he kills it
Very gracious comments. Imagine what Chieka would have said in the same situation.
Chieka would’ve never gotten in the same situation… mainly because every team he coaches improves for a short while, then gets progressively worse each year.