Chiefs escape Dunedin with narrow victory over rising Highlanders

The Highlanders and Chiefs enjoyed dramatic opening-round wins to begin the Super Rugby Pacific season last week, but only one could emerge from their round two matchup with the perfect record intact.

The hosts struck first, but that would be their only lead of a tense, high-tempo game under the roof. The Chiefs were made to work for it, but ultimately emerged with a three-point win thanks to three tries scored in tight, and one full-field breakout.

The Highlanders weren’t waiting for an invitation to play with pace, starting the game with rapid intent and making the most of a not-rolling penalty against the Chiefs. It took just two minutes for the hosts to get on the board and send an early warning shot about their physical carry game. It was Jona Nareki, in his 50th Highlanders game, who finished the play with a try.

The Chiefs were intent on responding with a powerful carry game of their own, but settled for a driving maul try to Samisoni Taukei’aho, levelling the scores by the eighth minute.

Both defences caught up with the attacking intent on display after the early tries, and tactical kicking became a frequent feature of the match, although neither team benefited with any useful time in the opposition’s 22.

It wasn’t until the 30th minute that there was another close-range scoring opportunity, but the Highlanders’ cross-field kick was disrupted by Quinn Tupaea, with the ball going dead off Sean Withy’s fingertips.

Tupaea retrieved the ball and took the drop-out quickly, recollecting the kick and igniting a full-field break. The All Black midfielder sold one dummy and offloaded to Leroy Carter, who hit the afterburners and won the race to the tryline.

The visitors were knocking on the door once more in the 40th minute, but spilled possession, bringing the half to a close with a 14-7 lead.

The Chiefs lost Jahrome Brown to a concussion in the first half, bringing Simon Parker into the contest early, and the Highlanders subbed Lucas Casey out at halftime for Veveni Lasaqa.

Highlanders’ superiority at the breakdown was the theme early in the second half, with Lasaqa and Timoci Tavatavanawai winning penalties and Cam Millar adding six early points.

The Highlanders were 10 metres out from the Chiefs’ line again when Luke Jacobson dislodged the ball from the grip of Folau Fakatava. Josh Lord grabbed the loose ball and set off downfield, galloping into the Chiefs’ 22 before offloading to Tupou Vaa’i, who was dragged down by Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Jona Nareki went looking for a breakdown steal but joined from the side, resulting in a yellow card.

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Down a man, the Highlanders resisted blow after blow, holding the Chiefs up, pushing them out, and benefiting from some luck when Simon Parker failed to ground the ball cleanly over the line.

The 10-minute period with Nareki on the sideline was spent almost entirely in the Highlanders’ half without a single point scored. That cruelly changed the second the hosts were restored to their full complement, with a lineout mishap collected by Taukei’aho, who dove over the line for his second.

Kaylum Boshier pushed the Chiefs’ lead to 13 five minutes later, scoring from close range after Highlanders indiscretions gave the Chiefs a lineout five metres out.

The Highlanders were in need of some magic, and Caleb Tangitau delivered in the 74th minute. The winger may as well have teleported from the 40-metre dash to the try line, exploiting a gap to score untouched.

That score sent the game into something of a frenzy, with the Chiefs getting close to sealing the game but getting caught accidentally offside by a ricocheting ball following a Josh Jacomb chip-and-chase. The Highlanders were back in the Chiefs’ half just seconds later after taking the restart quickly.

The Chiefs’ lead was eight as the clock struck 80, but the Highlanders were good enough to score one more through Lasaqa on the wing and secure a bonus point in the loss. Final score: 26-23, Chiefs.