Tupou Vaa’i hat-trick helps Chiefs secure top spot ahead of playoffs

The Chiefs will take the number one seed into the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs after beating the Highlanders 41-24 at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium. For the Highlanders, their season comes to an end, having already been confirmed as a bottom-five side.

There was a lot at stake for both New Zealand teams ahead of this final-round Kiwi derby, with the Chiefs needing a bonus point win to secure a top-placed finish. As for the Highlanders, they’re looking to avoid potentially collecting the figurative wooden spoon.

First five-eighth Cam Millar got round 16 underway with a kick-off under the roof, with Damian McKenzie meeting Fabian Holland in contact while returning the ball. The Chiefs dominated possession from there, and it didn’t take long until that showed on the scoreboard.

McKenzie put a chip kick in-behind the Highlanders’ defensive line for Etene Nanai-Seturo, who retrieved the ball before finding Daniel Rona. Rona was in open space inside the Landers’ half, but handed possession off to Samipeni Finau who had more time and space.

Finau strolled in for the opener less than six minutes into the contest. McKenzie converted the try, and that wasn’t the end of the Chiefs’ point-scoring fun. Tupou Vaa’i crossed in the 11^th minute, and the All Blacks lock completed a double soon after.

While the Highlanders had possession, a big hit from Quinn Tupaea on Millar forced a knock-on, with the loose ball falling into the arms of Vaa’i. Vaa’I raced away untouched for the team’s third try, with the visitors leading 19-nil after 13 minutes.

But the Highlanders didn’t throw in the towel.

Ethan de Groot scored from close range, and Timoci Tavatavanawai also made some noise with a much-needed five-pointer, with the Highlanders only going into the break down five. The Chiefs went down to 14 when Ruben O’Neill was shown a yellow card during that period, which was a key moment.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

0

Draws

0

Wins

5

Average Points scored

21

39

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

40%

The Landers had clawed their way back into the contest, but the Chiefs took control almost immediately after the break. Xavier Roe scored less than 50 seconds into the second term, while Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph was speaking with the Sky Sport commentators.

McKenzie added the extras to give the Chiefs a commanding 12-point lead once again, but the Highlanders cut away at the deficit with a Millar penalty goal soon after. With 30 minutes left, a quite tense period of the match followed.

The Chiefs gave it everything in attack and were eventually rewarded, with replacement Manasa Mataele scoring a pivotal try with just over 20 minutes to play. McKenzie added another three points off the goal-kicking tee moments later, which put the hosts up by 17.

Replacement Sam Gilbert, in his final match for the club, gave the faithful in Dunedin something to cheer about deep into the contest. Gilbert ran onto a well-worked grubber kick to score, with that converted try giving Highlanders fans a reason to dream.

The Highlanders almost scored again, too.

Replacement halfback Adam Lennox was held up over the try line, with Cortez Ratima pulling off a sensational tackle. Instead, it was the Chiefs who had the final say, with Vaa’i completing a hat-trick in the final play.