1
How the Chiefs' shock win over the Crusaders proves why a Pacific Island team could be so successful
There is a valid claim to bestow the Chiefs’ upset 40-27 comeback win over the back-to-back reigning champion Crusaders as the Super Rugby match of the year.
ADVERTISEMENT
While the entire match felt like a giant broadcast advertisement for the country of Fiji, the on-field product that was trying to be sold was compelling, entertaining and high-octane.
The match evoked memories of a vintage Super 12 contest, where both teams were ambitious and unrelenting with ball in hand, yielding some top-class running rugby, while the boisterous crowd fully pledged their support to both teams in an atmosphere that could perhaps only be rivalled by Sunwolves fans at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo.
More importantly, though, it keeps the Chiefs in the mix for an unlikely playoff spot after all hope of a top eight finish seemed out of sight following a five-match winless run to open their campaign.
What was left of that hope was further diminished inside the opening 20 minutes of this match, as the Crusaders stormed out to a 20-0 lead, but the determination and perseverance of the Chiefs to overturn that deficit was admirable.
Although both they and the Crusaders have played a game more than everyone else in the competition, the Chiefs have moved up to ninth spot and sit just two points shy of the eighth-placed Sharks.
A trip to Melbourne to face the Rebels in two weeks’ time is all that remains for them in this regular season, and given the Victorian side’s recent slump in form – they’ve lost seven of their last 11 games – a season-saving win at AAMI Park wouldn’t be entirely out of the question.
ADVERTISEMENT
The prospect of a Super Rugby post-season featuring the Chiefs is still a long shot regardless of what happens against the Rebels on June 14, as a raft of results from other matches would have to fall into place to allow the Chiefs admission into the quarter-finals.
However, their shock victory over the table-leading Crusaders, who haven’t played convincingly over the last three weeks, has given them hope of extending their playoff run to an eighth straight season, and they have the attacking flair of all their players, from loosehead prop Atu Moli to reserve outside back Tumua Manu, to thank for it.
There were some scintillating tries from both sides from start to finish, beginning with Scott Barrett’s 40-metre burst up the middle of the park and ending with Manu’s breathtaking soar into the air to claim a 22-metre re-start against the run of play.
The pick of the lot has to be awarded to Chiefs lock Jesse Parete, who finished off a wonderful flowing move which spanned 80-metres and involved Anton Lienert-Brown, Pita Gus Sowakula, Brad Weber, Moli and Alex Nankivell in the build-up.
ADVERTISEMENT
That piece of play alone encapsulated what Super Rugby likes to pride itself on as the game’s most exciting club competition in the world, and although that reputation has faded as the league has evolved, this clash was a stark reminder of how Super Rugby earned such a reputation in the first place.
Parete’s try, along with most other tries that either preceded or followed it, sent fans in Suva into raptures in a climate of fanfare that was sustained throughout the majority of the match.
It brings into question yet again why there is yet to be a Super Rugby franchise established in the Pacific Islands given not only the professional talent stemming from the region, but also the pure passion that is provided by the local fans.
The lack of financial stability is the obvious reason behind the continual omission of Super Rugby in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, but something needs to change in the administrative ranks in order to make expansion further into the Pacific more feasible.
If Saturday’s fixture is anything to go by, the chequebook needs to be thrown at a Pacific Island franchise.
Whether it be via a joint effort between the Fijian, Samoan and Tongan rugby unions, the venture of a private owner, or even something as radical as relocating the Sunwolves to Suva, this match showed the potential for a fully-professional rugby club to be based in the Islands.
The entertainment factor of Pasifika talent playing high-quality rugby – like the Chiefs v Crusaders clash – should provide an enticing enough case on its own for a Pacific-based franchise, but the added impact of a passionate, devoted fanbase that is rarely seen in Super Rugby takes the argument in favour of a Pacific Island club to another level.
Fans inside ANZ Stadium in Suva weren’t the only ones immersed in the sheer thrill of the battle between these Kiwi rivals, with Twitter exploding in awe of the contest that unravelled in the Pacific.
One of the games of the season so far… #CHIvCRU pic.twitter.com/uTrrvfYQWE
— kiwigrant (@kiwigrant1) June 1, 2019
This is just ridiculous #CHIvCRU pic.twitter.com/27Hf1rpCTk
— Two Cents Rugby (@TwoCentsRugby) June 1, 2019
This match has had it all, and what a try to close it out for the @ChiefsRugby #CHIvCRU #Rugby pic.twitter.com/gT0r8v3zV1
— Garry Gray (@GarryJGray) June 1, 2019
What a game!! #CHIvCRU good atmosphere and a full stadium! Great work @SuperRugby
— Chris Atkinson (@atkinson9211) June 1, 2019
Not often you go on a 40-7 run v the Crusaders. Wild. #CHIvCRU
— Elliott Smith (@elliottnz) June 1, 2019
Tumua Manu ??? what a way to finish! One of the best games I’ve seen in a long time. Absolute belter from start to finish #chiefs #CHIvCRU
— Jon P (@jjpritch) June 1, 2019
When rugby is played at an elite level like that it just means so much. What a game! #CHIvCRU
— Denham72 (@Denham0001) June 1, 2019
Maybe it was the atmosphere of the crowd that lifted the Chiefs’ spirits at their home away from home, maybe the Crusaders were still rattled from the allegations made against them on their tour of South Africa, or maybe the hosts were just plain desperate to keep their season intact.
Whatever the reason for their inspirational showing against one of the strongest sides in Super Rugby history, and regardless of the future of a potential Pacific Island-based club, the Chiefs have provided themselves with a glimmer of play-offs hope in what was undoubtedly one of the best games of the season.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
7 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
13 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
13 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments