Into the final: Sonny Bill Williams
The Chiefs booked their place in the Super Rugby Final after edging past the Crusaders 20-17 in a thrilling semi-final clash on Friday.
An excellent advertisement for Super Rugby, this tense match kept you riveted until the very end.
With four minutes of the semi-final remaining, Crusaders pivot Dan Carter had a chance to level the scores with a penalty from 48m out. But his attempt fell agonisingly short and the Chiefs managed to hang on for a deserved win.
Carter's miss summed up the Crusaders night as the visitors' made numerous uncharacteristic mistakes. They weren't as clinical as we'd seen in last week's play-off win over the Bulls, while the Chiefs played to their strengths and took the Crusaders away from theirs.
The refreshed hosts displayed unrelenting urgency and outscored the more fancied Crusaders two tries to one, whilst their defence - put through a rigorous examination in the final minutes - was also rock-solid.
The Chiefs now await the result from Saturday's other semi in Cape Town where the Stormers will be looking to book a home final, while a Sharks win would hand the Chiefs hosting rights in the decider next weekend.
After ending the regular season as the highest-ranked New Zealand side, the Chiefs made home advantage count this time round after losing their previous encounter to the Crusaders a few weeks ago in Hamilton.
Indeed, the signs were promising from the outset for the home team who looked a sharper, more unified, combination than in that Round 17 game.
Slick Chiefs fly-half Aaron Cruden got the scoreboard ticking with an early three-pointer before Carter banked a penalty of his own to level the scores.
The Crusaders then suffered a massive setback after influential lock Luke Romano was forced off the pitch with a shoulder injury in the 14th minute. And there was no doubt the loss of their All Black hurt them badly.
After keeping the ball alive brilliantly through multiple phases, Chiefs prop Sona Taumalolo bagged the opening try courtesy of yet another controversial call from the TMO. Cruden added the extras, and the Chiefs were looking good at 10-3 after 26 minutes played.
Carter pulled the Crusaders back to 10-6 with a 31st-minute penalty goal after Ben Tameifuna was ruled to have collapsed the scrum.
The home side's dominance though continued from the restart, thanks to a break-out and offload by standout centre Sonny Bill Williams with Liam Messam on hand to dot down for a sensational converted score that extended the Chiefs' lead to eleven points.
However, the Crusaders hit back on the stroke of half-time when Ryan Crotty slid over to narrow the gap. Carter failed to add the extras, but the visitors were back in the hunt at half-time (17-11).
Carter pulled the margin back to a three-point deficit four minutes into the second half, but the Crusaders then saw a rare error from their ace when a penalty kick rolled over the dead-ball line. In resulting play back at halfway the Crusaders conceded a scrum penalty through prop Wyatt Crockett and Cruden goaled to take the score to 20-14.
Though the Chiefs weren't out of the woods yet as Carter slotted over another three points in the 62nd minute, and with a quarter of the match remaining, it was anyone's for the taking.
Carter then missed a chance to send the game into extra time with his stray long-range penalty and a capacity crowd of 25,000 heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Man of the match: The Chiefs pack stood strong in some brutal exchanges, with Sona Taumalolo and Liam Messam getting through a mountain of work. But it's a toss up between Aaron Cruden and Sonny Bill Williams, after both blitzed the Crusaders defence with scintillating breaks on multiple occasions. Cruden showed once more that he is fast evolving into a fly-half of the absolute highest quality, while Williams showed what a loss he will be to New Zealand rugby. Heck, they can share it!
Moment of the match: Messam's try was out the top drawer, but we felt Carter's 76th-minute missed penalty attempt was the moment in the match that had Chiefs and Crusaders' fans with their hearts in their throats.
Villain of the match: Tempers flared, naturally. Usually that means a little pushing and shoving... but no red or yellow cards were shown as a result. Only a white!
For Chiefs:
Tries: Taumalolo, Messam
Cons: Cruden 2
Pens: Cruden 2
For Crusaders:
Try: Crotty
Pens: Carter 4
Chiefs: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Andrew Horrell, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Lelia Masaga.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Richie McCaw (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tom Taylor, 22 Sean Maitland.
Referee: Craig Joubert
Comments
Trinats2 says...
KiwiLad:
Doesn't apply to you guys, you have your own rules !!!. Looks like your refs have been on the sauce with some of their calls !!!
Maybe we should be drinking throughout, the likes of Beale, Cooper and O'Conor wouldn't get into trouble with a one night out.
Posted 23:11 01st August 2012
new_j4a says...
All the best Wallaroo and Brands....my positive thoughts and prayers are with you
Posted 18:58 01st August 2012
KiwiLad says...
Trinats, oops, does that mean I cant?
Posted 08:57 01st August 2012
Trinats2 says...
KiwiLad:
Nothing else to do in Australia now rugby has finished !!!
Posted 13:01 31st July 2012
KiwiLad says...
Walleroo, Trinats, you have both been drinking, surely!!!
Posted 08:08 31st July 2012
Wallaroo says...
Trinats - LOL, beat me to it, great.
Posted 11:45 30th July 2012
Wallaroo says...
Thank brands, it was really just to encourage you mate. You strike me as good bloke, who like everyone needs some encouragement.
I'm sure you will take some lessons from your experience into life which will hold you in good stead for the future.
If you want to chat offline you can email me: living2inspire@live.com.au
Posted 11:44 30th July 2012
Trinats2 says...
Trader2
Third time lucky !
Posted 10:33 30th July 2012
brands says...
@ Wallaroo
thats a cruel blow mate, very cruel, it takes a stand up guy with heart to be as positive as you are. impressive to say the least!
Posted 20:57 29th July 2012
Trader2 says...
Hmmm turns out I could be wrong - twice!!! So it is Chiefs v Sharks - think I will pick the Wannabies to win the RC
Posted 12:01 29th July 2012
7ton says...
new_j4a
I understand your point re trinats and for a fair part agree with you.
There is nothing wrong with a bit of harmless honest banter and at times it is very entertaining.
However where he lets himself down is when he comes up with figures and statistics that he says are facts when they are simply not true at all.
That does not indicate he has a rugby brain and either means he guesses without doing any research or simply makes up lies.
Banter is fine if kept honest.
Posted 10:54 29th July 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
You guys are bringing tears. Go Rugby. Go Chch. Walaroo... Inspirational courage.... And from an Ozzie!!
Posted 15:23 28th July 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
mew2000, at the start of the season the Chiefs had 0 starting All Blacks, they are not stacked with a shadow test team like the Crusaders, every player was and is a key player for their own reasons and they couldn't afford to lose anyone. In the 1st match the Chiefs lost their two starting props for 18 weeks combined , and their starting 9 for 10 weeks, their starting lock Graham, who barely made it back all season....Masaga, Kahui, among others were out for 4+ weeks and they were lucky they didn't lose more... but the major luck is that Retallick, Tamiefuna, Kerr-Barlow, Cane etc have stepped up, no one anywhere would have expected those guys to have had the seasons they did.
I think the Crusaders are lucky as well.. lucky they didn't get smashed by more.
Posted 14:50 28th July 2012
carpelone says...
Brands
Everyone is with you guys, even though I enjoy saying something about McCaw.
Posted 14:06 28th July 2012
Wallaroo says...
@brands, thank you for your comments. Mate, I hear you and empathise with you in respect to the adversity you are currently facing.
Although somewhat different. Our eldest son (13) has been fighting cancer for nearly 3 years. During this time I have had to give up my business, sell our house and all my investments in order to pay for non PBS medication (our choice) and so that I could stay home to look after the other kids (4 & 10) while my wife looks after our eldest. So I kind of understand the feeling associated with losing everything one has worked for, however mate there are greater positives than negatives to be gained from this. Here are just 3.
- It's only in adversity that you discover an inner strength; Bern Williams puts it best, ¿Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.¿
- Our relationships are the greatest asset. Cultural lines do not define whether people care or not, these are defined by the persons themselves. For this reason it has become vitally important to me that we treat others with due respect, and the reason I loathe those that don't.
- Finally, a lesson that my son taught me. Focussing on what you want not what you don't want. Just after his third session of radiation he said, "Dad I have decided I want to fight to live, not to fight not to die, that way I just feel better about it".
Brands, this I assure you that from your experiences you will be far more effective and focussed on what's truly important, if you choose to than without this experience.
On the subject of Trinats, mate I don't think he's a bad bloke. IMO and this is purely my opinion he is a passionate individual with a real zest for life, unfortunately he says things without always considering the impact or impression. In saying this I still believe that he is genuinely a really good bloke.
Posted 12:08 28th July 2012
KiwiLad says...
MaxPower, as J4a points out, Trinats is a windup merchant, and as of late a little bit of a Kiwi basher, but has plenty of time on his hands, as there is little for an Aussie to do or get excited about, come the business end of the season.
He is probable getting a little nervous as well, with an upcoming Defeat of his beloved Wobblies at the hands of the Argies..
Posted 09:56 28th July 2012
brands says...
@ wallaroo
I have to say I do like your comments of late even if your tahs were under performing, its refreshing to read, especially since you share soil with trinuts!
Keep up the good work, as a Cantab sitting in a broken house watching a broken TV it was dissapointing to lose, people really do not appreciate how things are here to be honest, running water and having a toilet are still luxerys to many, I know for a fact that many Crusaders are not only having to concentrate on their training but also deal with rebuilding their homes and lives, many of them with small children, this was a big reason SBW left, he didnt enjoy the constent shakes nor the distractions.
I know this is only a game, but its our game, by this i mean every rugby lovers game, regardless of geographics, we share a passion, this gives all of us something in common.
Sorry for the long winded blurb but I like many others in Christchurch have a very real chance of loosing everything over the next few months with decisions being made about our homes and jobs, but their is a big ray of sunshine ahead, the Rugby Championships!!
Posted 05:24 28th July 2012
new_j4a says...
@all, Trinats is a windup merchant, and quite successful at it (judging from your animosity towards him). But you couldn't be more wrong about his rugby mind--not in the least retarded, the opposite in fact. Pay attention to his neutral predictions--he'll be within a few points. You can bank on it. I have.
Posted 03:05 28th July 2012
kiwilad says...
Trinats, yes that game was very un Australian, the blokes wearing the 10 jerseys could tackle, the props couls stand up, and most of the players were representing a province, in the country of their birth..
Posted 01:53 28th July 2012
MaxPower says...
trinats...."Inconsequential, bitter nonsense from a retard."
kiwilad would love that.........
Posted 23:20 27th July 2012