Waratahs v Chiefs: Harlem Globetrotters fall short, Chiefs prove themselves again
Playing away from home against a confident Waratahs side, the Chiefs had to do it the hard way before running away for a 38-22 win which keeps their hopes of a top-two finish alive.
While the Chiefs will want to finish at the top, the Hamilton-based franchise move into the top four and could finish round 10 in third depending on how the Brumbies’ clash with the Hurricanes plays out.
The Waratahs dominated the first quarter of the contest, but the Chiefs are widely considered one of the title favourites for a reason. Damian McKenzie helped inspire a much-needed fightback.
Harlem Globetrotters put on a show but fall short when it counted
If you’re a sports fan, chances are you’ve heard of the Harlem Globetrotters. The theatrical basketball team were founded in Chicago, Illinois, more than 100 years ago, and they continued to entertain with a combination of skill, athleticism and fun.
Well, during the first quarter of this match, the Waratahs played like the Globetrotters during brief periods of excellence. The New South Welshman put on a show and the Sydney crowed oohed and aahed with every thrill and controversy.
Inside the opening minute, centre Joey Walton kicked the ball across the field for wing Mark Nawaqaniatwase. The Wallaby caught the ball and proceeded to run more than 20 metres before putting the ball on the toe himself.
As the match went on, the hosts settled in and took control early.
The Waratahs were creating some space out with some slick passing and clever thinking. While it would be naïve and downright unnecessary to claim the Harlem Globetrotters comparison is not an exaggeration, there’s no doubt the Tahs were on fire.
Hooker Julian Heaven scored the opener in the 11th minute and captain Jake Gordon wasn’t too far behind as the Waratahs raced out to a 12-nil lead to cap off an utterly dominant opening quarter. The Chiefs had practically no possession.
But rugby is an 80-minute war.
One-test All Black Shaun Stevenson scored the Chiefs’ first just three minutes after Gordon’s try, and New Zealand wing Emoni Narawa crossed just before the break to draw the two sides level. Momentum had well and truly swung in the way of the Hamilton-based Chiefs.
The Chiefs fired an early shot after the break through Quinn Tupaea who made some solid metres. That moment summed up what was to come with the favoured Chiefs taking control on the back of some clinical play around the park.
They didn’t win tonight, but the NSW Waratahs can take plenty of positives out of their performance. Once they get to a level where the can maintain that standard for more than 20 minutes, there’s no reason why they can’t shake up the competition against the heavyweights.
Oooft that pick up from Boshier 😮💨#SuperRugbyPacific #WARvCHI pic.twitter.com/0sjSNTWvil
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 26, 2024
Chiefs prove themselves again as genuine title contenders
It was almost difficult to process or understand what exactly was going on during the first quarter of the mach. It wasn’t just the way the underdog Waratahs dominated their more-fancied opponents, bur rather the way the Chiefs were beaten in every facet of the contest.
The Waratahs raced out of the blocks with a clever cross-field kick from Joey Walton sending wing Mark Nawaqanitawase on a meaningful burst down the right edge. It was a solid start from the hosts who didn’t look back during the next 20 minutes.
It was all one-way traffic as the Chiefs failed to fire even a single shot.
But the Chiefs, to their credit, didn’t panic.
Sydney hasn’t always been an easy place to win – as the Blues’ hard-fought win at the very same venue earlier this season goes to show. So, for the visitors to have had their backs up against the ropes shouldn’t come as a complete surprise.
But what’s important is how they responded.
The difference between good and great teams is how they respond to difficulty when the ball is bouncing the other way. But the Chiefs passed those tests with flying colours when the match was all said and done.
Shaun Stevenson and Emoni Narawa started the comeback during the first half, and another try from Narawa after the break well and truly swung the match into the Chiefs’ favour. The Waratahs, as tough as they fought against it, seemed to be holding on.
Matches like this are what Super Rugby Pacific should be about. Winning on the road is tough, which is what makes home field advantage during the playoffs so important for the teams genuinely setting their sights on lifting the trophy in June.
The Chiefs’ title credentials were put to the test tonight, and other than that slow start, this was a team that looked like a genuine challenger. They won ugly, and chances are for any team who wants to win this competition, that’s something the eventual champion may need to do.
Put it on a postcard 🤌🏖️
A beauty from the Chiefs ✨#SuperRugbyPacific #WARvCHI pic.twitter.com/XDF1wOidky
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 26, 2024
Cortez Ratima takes another step towards the All Blacks’ No.9 jersey
It’s one of the big questions that are yet to be answered about Scott Robertson’s All Blacks in 2024: who will start at halfback? There are several candidates who have world-class potential, but only one man will prove themselves as the consistent first-choice No.9.
Following the injury to Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard, those in the mix to wear this jersey at Test level include the Highlanders’ Folau Fakatava and the Blues’ Finlay Christie. 80-Test All Blacks veteran TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed back into contention.
But the man leading the race at the moment is the Chiefs’ Cortez Ratima. The 23-year-old has fended off teammate Xavier Roe by proving himself to be the best-option at halfback for the Chiefs, and Ratima’s rugby ascent is widely tipped to go even higher.
Ratima, who has started five matches in Super Rugby Pacific this season, will reach new heights by becoming the All Blacks’ starting scrum-half – at least until Roigard returns.
Following a slow start from the team, Ratima helped inspire the Chiefs’ second-half fightback with some quick-thinking in attack and desperation in support play. Ratima scored one of the Chiefs’ second-half tries which proved crucial.
Other than that, it wasn’t a 10-out-of-10 display by any means, but there’s plenty to like about what Cortez Ratima can offer the All Blacks. The No.9 took another step towards Test honours on Friday but there’s still plenty of rugby to be played this season.
That pass from DMac 🤌🤤#SuperRugbyPacific #WARvCHI pic.twitter.com/IaOokE4yCf
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 26, 2024
All Blacks duo deliver after injury to talented Shaun Stevenson
Not a lot went to plan for Damian McKenzie and Chiefs early on. McKenzie returned an exit kick inside the opening 10 minutes but an attempted offload ended up finding the deck rather than a teammate.
The Waratahs went on to score two quick tries which had the 14,000+ in attendance cheering in a sense of euphoria as they dared to dream of what this April night could bring. But it wasn’t to be with McKenzie playing a starring role in a memorable comeback.
Shaun Stevenson’s individual brilliance saw the Chiefs hit back midway through the half, but with the fullback going off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, the visitors needed their big name players to step up.
Enter McKenzie and Emoni Narawa.
McKenzie threw a sensational cut-out pass to send Narawa over just before the half-time break. A sense of inevitability almost filled the Sydney air as the New Zealanders began to play with a growing sense of confidence.
Narawa scored the first try after the break too, with McKenzie contributing, as the Chiefs began to run away with it.
It was still a bit tense going into the business end of the contest, but there’s no question the Chiefs were the better team in the end, and they have the All Blacks duo of Damian McKenzie and Emoni Narawa to thank for that – among other players of course.
Comments on RugbyPass
Instead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
1 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
2 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
2 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
7 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
2 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
2 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
16 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
7 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
7 Go to comments