Watch: Damian McKenzie passes Sivivatu with record-breaking Chiefs try

Damian McKenzie has claimed a special piece of Super Rugby history by becoming the all-time leading try-scorer for the Chiefs, going one clear of legendary winger Sitiveni Sivivatu in a 62-17 win over Moana Pasifika on Saturday.

McKenzie missed last weekend’s 28-point win over the NSW Waratahs in Hamilton but returned to the run-on side for this round nine clash in Rotorua. It’s just the third time this season that McKenzie has started in the halves alongside halfback Cortez Ratima.

The Chiefs looked to win their third match on the bounce, having last tasted defeat in a thriller away to the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on March 20. In-form centre Quinn Tupaea helped the visitors start the contest in style, running in a try after just four minutes.

That was the beginning of a relentless point-scoring blitz from the Chiefs, with Kyren Taumoefolau and Samipeni Finau crossing for a try each inside the first quarter. McKenzie went three-for-three off the kicking tee as well, with the Chiefs leading 21-0 after just 18 minutes.

Tupaea, who led the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year vote at the midway point of the season, completed a double later in the half. That wasn’t the end of the first-half drama either, with Moana going down to 14-men after lock Tom Savage was shown a yellow card.

The scoreboard read 26-0 in favour of the Chiefs at the break, and it was largely more of the same during the second term. McKenzie was first to strike, making history with a runaway try just three minutes after the interval.

McKenzie linked up with Tupaea to help the Chiefs mount an attack from inside their own 22, with the No. 12 finding fullback Liam Coombes-Fabling out wide. Coombes-Fabling beat his opposite William Havili with pace before passing the ball inside to McKenzie.

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‘D Mac’ got the ball 40 metres out from the try line and immediately let out a smile, looking up and seeing plenty of open space up ahead. Patrick Pellegrini made the conversion a bit tougher by cutting off the angle, with McKenzie placing the ball down just inside the left sideline.

Former All Blacks XV and Newcastle Knights enforcer Tyrone Thompson crossed a few minutes later, before Moana got on the scoresheet through Solomona Alaimalo. But three quick tries saw the Chiefs pass the 50-point mark.

Taumoefolau and McKenzie both scored their second tries of the match, while Josh Jacomb raced away for a five-pointer around the 60-minute mark. But Moana refused to throw in the towel, with Abraham Pole and Miracle Faiilagi touching down late.

Thompson had the final try-scoring say of the contest, with the Chiefs securing a comprehensive 45-point triumph on the road. That result saw the Chiefs rise to first place on the live ladder, before the Hurricanes faced the Blues in Wellington.

“He’s a classy player right,” Richard Turner said post-game on Sky Sport.

“D Mac, we all the know skillset he brings to a game of rugby and we saw that on full display this afternoon from him.

“I know players when they’re out in the middle playing 80 minutes of rugby, they aren’t really focused on milestone so it’ll be something he’ll reflect on now that the game is over and it’s a massive thing.”