Scotty Stevenson: Chiefs v Hurricanes is the quarterfinal rivalry to relish
A chaotic night in Hamilton sees the Chiefs and the Hurricanes both lose, but with the quarterfinal rematch still to come, the fans are the real winners.
On the face of it, the Chiefs, by virtue of their selections for Friday’s derby match in Cowtown, seemed content to concede home advantage to the Hurricanes for the quarterfinal match up the following week. How else to explain the resting of Damian McKenzie (deal or not with the All Blacks) and the late scratching of Charlie Ngatai, who had suffered with illness through the week but who looked like he wanted to be out there still, tearing apart defences with his trademark power and elusiveness?
It may have been a conclusion that stuck in the craw of the Chiefs coaching staff, but it was a fair enough conclusion to draw, until you factored in the return of Brodie Retallick, the talisman of the Chiefs pack and the stand-in captain of the side on the kind of cold, rain-rashed Hamilton night that made you feel like your bones were rotting. He gave his team an absolute spray in the warm up as they gathered in a circle before heading back up the tunnel. Then he came out and scored the Chiefs first try after five minutes of their trademark graft through the middle of the Hurricanes pack.
It was all about the Chiefs in the opening quarter of this game, a game they had to win by 23 points, and with a bonus, if they wanted to return to FMG Stadium the following week. The Hurricanes fringe defence was non-existent in the opening stages, the only bright spot was a big hit on Marty McKenzie by Jeff Toomaga-Allen. And that was a mismatch for the ages. The Chiefs seemed happy to play the phases and kick long when the gaps weren’t there.
Brad Weber and Toni Pulu both made decisive incisions in the opening exchanges, and for a time, it looked like the Chiefs were capable of tackling the mathematics of this match without too much trouble. Then the Hurricanes made their first foray into the Chiefs backfield – a quintessential Hurricanes break out that almost resulted in a try of their own – and we were all reminded of the visitors’ ability to score from anywhere.
And then, just as the Canes were building into their best attack of the evening, a loose inside ball from Beauden Barrett was plucked out of the sky by Brad Weber who scampered 70 metres to score the Chiefs second try of the night, and their 15th of the season from opposition turnovers. At 14-nil after 19 minutes, the algebraic equation that preceded the game was looking more like basic addition. Or, in the case of Brad Shields, subtraction. His night ended after a breakdown hit from Mitch Karpik moments before the Weber try. Prostrate and defenseless, Shields was an easy target for the tearaway. It remains to be seen whether he will be fit for the playoffs.
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What was concerning early for the Hurricanes was the way the Chiefs were able to harangue their midfield and rush their attack. Ngani Laumape’s first run, coming off a scrum on the Chiefs 22, was shut down with precision by Anton Lienert-Brown, and Lachlan Boshier was quick to draw the defensive penalty from the ensuing breakdown. Everything the Hurricanes tried inside the Chiefs half looked clunky. An attacking bomb from Barrett was diffused, and the Chiefs straightaway stacked the blindside. What happened next was a try for the ages.
Johnny Fa’auli, who had banged his first kick into touch, deftly guided a grubber through the Hurricanes defence, Shaun Stevenson hacked it on twice before regathering and throwing a Laura Langman to Solomona Alaimalo who scampered away to score under the bar. The only question about the score was what was better? Stevenson’s footwork or the fact he skipped Anton Lienert-Brown as the first support runner and found the open Alaimalo?
The more the Chiefs pressured the Canes, and the more points were added to the big scoreboard above the terraces, the worse the Hurricanes looked. Their defence had more holes than murderer’s alibi. About the best kick they made all half was when TJ Perenara kicked the ball into Row 18 to close out the first 40 minutes.
Things didn’t start a lot better for the Hurricanes in the second spell, though most viewers, all the coaches and several players would have gladly taken the third quarter than the fourth, during which the game was reduced to a body count, and the Chiefs were reduced to 14 men.
The Hurricanes looked slightly more composed, that much is true, but still struggled to construct the plays that had seen them race to a 10-0 stretch earlier in the season. Their strike weapons – Ngani Laumape in particular, who was marked with aplomb by Anton Lienert-Brown all evening long – struggled to get through the Chiefs defensive line. On that: Lachlan Boshier and Mitch Karpik, the former who tackled everything that moved and the latter who reminded everyone of his work rate and speed when he chased down a Hurricanes kick and beat Laumape to the ball, were outstanding all evening long. If that is the future of the Chiefs loose forward stocks, then the club is in good hands.
The Hurricanes did score through a rare Ben Lam break down the left and an inside pass to Wes Goosen. It looked as if the Chiefs’ wheels might come of again, as they had done in the second halves of the Highlanders and Brumbies games. It looked likelier still when Blade Thompson crashed over for a try that gave the Hurricanes’ forwards something to smile about during an evening that was mostly gritted teeth and frustration.
And then, madness. Johnny Fa’auli, a man who has been known to rush out of the line and melt opponents in the past, anchored the feet and threw a shoulder straight into the face of the oncoming Goosen. It was a red mist moment which deserved a red card. More will come of that, but it wasn’t the biggest story of the night.
That honour belonged to Liam Messam who ran out for his 177th and final Chiefs game on home soil. The Chiefs needed his presence as Ricky Riccitelli stumbled over the line behind the Hurricanes maul to bring the score to 21-19. Had Jordie Barrett converted the try, and levelled the scoreline, who knows what psychological damage would have been wrought on the man-down Chiefs?
As it was, with Messam doing Messam things, and Boshier and Karpik (and, briefly, Jacobsen) operating with courage and accuracy, it was the Chiefs who were next to score. Karpik this time ripped the ball off Messam in a goal line melee and rolled over to force. It was a try that did more than give the Chiefs some breathing space, it reflected their tough heart.
In the end, the Canes came up short, but so did the Chiefs. Who knows what they could have done with the likes of Damian McKenzie, Sam Cane, and Charlie Ngatai on deck for the evening? That they won the game will still mean plenty to them as they head for the quarterfinal, but the Hurricanes will have home advantage, and will be better for knowing just what the Chiefs will bring at them. If there is anyone left to play, that is.
They were still clearing the bodies off the pitch late that night, as it drizzled in Hamilton, and Liam Messam left a winner.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments