Chiefs: Impressive start
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The Chiefs kicked off their Super Rugby title defence with a thrilling 41-27 victory over the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Friday.
This was the perfect way to start the weekend in what was a highly entertaining spectacle between two class acts that left you begging for more.
Both sides showed plenty on attack which led to seven spectacular tries and were solid enough on defence, but in the end the Chiefs were ultimately deserved winners - though the Highlanders can hold their heads high.
Chiefs wing cum centre Tim Nanai-Williams showed he can cut the mustard in midfield, and bagged a brace of tries for his efforts while unwanted former Blues pivot Gareth Anscombe showcased his kicking skills by providing half the team's points from the tee.
The Chiefs struck first thanks to an early Anscombe penalty. But the Highlanders hit back when, in their first excursion into Chiefs territory, crossed for the first try which set the tone for the rest of the match.
Full-back Ben Smith did tremendously well to collect an offload from Lima Sopoaga at his boots before spinning out the tackle to score under the posts. Sopoaga added the easy extras, and the Highlanders were in front.
The Chiefs wasted little time in retaking the lead when Nanai-Williams burst clear and beat Ben Smith for pace to touch down for his first try of the match. Anscombe raised the flag with his conversion and then added two three-pointers to put the Chiefs into a handy lead.
The Highlanders then started to dominate possession as well as territory and were rewarded before the break with a crucial score through captain Hosea Gear who made a difficult try look easy as he brushed aside two Chiefs players to power over in the corner. Sopoaga converted to cut the deficit to two points at half-time (14-16).
The free-flowing game continued in the second half, with the Highlanders leapfrogging the Chiefs once more after Sopoaga added a penalty. The intriguing see-saw battle then saw Chiefs wing Patrick Osborne over in the corner for his first Super Rugby try, before Kade Poki exposed some weak defence from Nanai-Williams to keep his side in the hunt.
Sopoaga nailed the conversion and a penalty to make it 27-21.
The Chiefs weren't done yet, however, and hit the front yet again through winger Asaeli Tikoirotuma.
The game was still anyone's for the taking, with both teams throwing the ball about. But it was the Chiefs who took their chances when Nanai-Williams scooped up a dropped ball from the Highlanders inside his own 22, and raced 80m for the decisive try.
Anscombe converted and then added two more penalties to put the game out of sight.
The scorers:
For Highlanders:
Tries: B Smith, Gear, Poki
Cons: Sopoaga 3
Pens: Sopoaga 3
For Chiefs:
Tries: Nanai-Williams 2, Osborne, Tikoirotuma
Cons: Anscombe 3
Pens: Anscombe 5
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Phil Burleigh, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear (c), 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 John Hardie, 6 Joe Wheeler, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Elliot Dixon, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Fumiaki Tanaka, 21 Hayden Parker, 22 Buxton Popoali'i.
Chiefs: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Patrick Osborne, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Toby Smith, 17 Ben Tameifuna, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Charlie Ngatai, 22 Lelia Masaga.
Referee: Steve Walsh
Comments
ferdie says...
lucky the Chiefs fans are not complainers, and see why Highlanders were clear favourites for the gamblers to win this match; note that of that winning side they are missing four backline players - Leonard, Kahui, Horrell, Robinson; used their #3 hooker Marshall who has not yet even played at provincial/ITM level, Nanai-Williams first game at centre, Anscombe converted 10 to fullback, Cruden would not have played at all (groin strain) if not for other backs injuries.
Good start for them all things considered, - they lost their season opener last year (also v Highlanders).
Posted 05:14 25th February 2013
bigb6969 says...
LOL - great game of rugby - just dropped in to see the knee jerk reaction asking where is the defence. I give that Nanai-Williams defence was obviously suspect, his first time at centre since school. But it was scintillating rugby , at such a pace and skill gaps were opened up. I cite Ben Smith scoring of the first try - amazing pick up low at pace, that was a magic magic piece of play. New Zealand teams defend just fine, how else did they win 11 out of 17 Super Titles and the All Blacks win will over 80% of tests over the last 10 years, actually about 90% against 6 Nations teams.
Posted 10:02 23rd February 2013
Tamjon says...
That was an amazing game to watch, the fitness those boys have must be incredible. Pity the game that followed between the Rebels and Brumbies lacked the same zest.
Posted 05:44 23rd February 2013
powerplay says...
You're right passtheball! A big difference, indeed. How rugby should be played!
Posted 00:33 23rd February 2013
rugby_phile says...
Great game, riveting, and the Brumbies weren't bad either. To all the whingers regarding defence, holes will appear, when teams go in with the attitude "we are going to leak a few but back ourselves to score more", play the game at speed and are prepared to take chances.
If you wanted to watch great defence, you should have watched the Bulls/Stormers game, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. My remote overheated trying to find the exciting bits.
Posted 23:54 22nd February 2013
Trinats2 says...
Trader2:
Weaker Oz teams like the make Reds, who put 40+ on the "champs" !
Or are you referring to the fact that the Oz teams were "weakened" by injuries last year !!!
Posted 22:30 22nd February 2013
ruckingkiwi says...
Some excellent talent on show in these teams, well done Chiefs, deserved the win. No doubt Highlanders will get better, it's only game 1 but they do appear more of a team of very good individuals at this stage and I think having too many internationals may be a disadvantage early in the season, almost always the ABs start firing in the later rounds, whereas its the younger talent who start fast. Looking forward to the Canes Blues tonight, talent to burn in these two teams.
Posted 22:20 22nd February 2013
kiwilad says...
@ Maxpower, here here
@ Trinats, so was the Chiefs defence woefull as well?
Or was it good attack from both sides, compared to the snorefest we watched from across the Tasman last week, I suspect so.
Posted 20:41 22nd February 2013
MaxPower says...
@kitch - please don't be that whinging fan that blames the ref every time their team gets spanked...the highlanders got beaten! They had 72% of the territory and still couldn't win. Walsh let a good game flow.
@preest - i'm sick of seeing the crusaders win.
and yeah that was the real super rugby after australias insipid 2 games last week but the brumbies rebels was far from insipid so well done aussie...a step up.
Posted 19:32 22nd February 2013
PREEST says...
Chiefs got lucky....and the scorelune should not have been that convincing...Walsh made dubious calls...Really feel like the Highlanders got robbed a bit. But a good game none the less. God I cant stand nanai-williams...got a lucky second try. Should have been a highlanders try under the sicks, but instead he gets a lucky bounce of the ball. That took the game from the highlanders really. Crusaders better stop the chiefs this year...sick of seeing them win!!!
Posted 15:05 22nd February 2013
passtheball says...
ArmchairGeneral - no I didn't - wont risk any game with Leicester playing. The last time I saw them more than half the game was taken up with penalty shots, the rest with pick and go, rolling mauls and scrums with the odd lineout for good measure. I believe they have become more adventurous thankfully but have you ever wondered why you need so many SH inside backs and centres?
As for "proper defense", most sides, and certainly NH refs, would be out on their feet with the speed of that game so, yes, holes will appear. But if you think its glorified 7s don't watch it. For me its a joy to watch such skill and enterprise and best of all players loving their work.
Posted 14:26 22nd February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Passtheball: did you not see Quinns v Leicester on the weekend? Was as good but with proper defence too.
Posted 13:38 22nd February 2013
Trader2 says...
Wow what a game, even if not my preferred result. Great to see Super Rugby back and played as it should be after those two insipid games last week in Australia.You can see the difference, two teams who went out with a great attitude to entertain and were not afraid to lose in doing so. If the Blues get their act together this NZ conference is going to be a cracker.
Highlanders have Thorn and Hore back next week, that may help them a tad, last year they struggled to score more than 2 tries against the top sides, so 3 tonight agaimst the S15 champs is not too bad. The good news is that we get to play the three weaker Oz sides, Force, Rebels and the Reds.
Posted 13:05 22nd February 2013
passtheball says...
Super game. How different from a NH fixture. Risk and daring aided by the indoor conditions means players and refs must be in top fitness. @Kitch - I thought Walsh had a fine game. Plenty of players showing up from both sides. Anscombe looks at home @ 15 and taking the kicks takes pressure off Cruden who was not so prominent today. Both halfs seemed to get the better of Smith. Pulu has a great future. Chiefs coaching team seem to get the best out of their players - even their "second stringers". Highlanders will be dangerous this year as they were not far away tonight.
Posted 12:49 22nd February 2013
Trinats2 says...
JayStarr:
You are a very clever Saffa,only a week behind. Normally it's a few years behind everyone else !!!
Posted 11:33 22nd February 2013
Trinats2 says...
Might have been an exciting game to watch as a spectator, but as a coach, you would have been pulling your hair out. where was the D ? More holes in defence than a swiss cheese. Highlanders will be lucky to get a losing bonus point this year with that defence !!!
Posted 11:12 22nd February 2013
JayStarr says...
SUPER Rugby has officially started people! WHAT A GAME !
Posted 09:46 22nd February 2013
piriaka says...
Excellent game, Chiefs! Well done Anscombe - not bad for an Auckland reject! Chiefs seems to be very sharp and alert - think that's the Dave Rennie influence
Posted 09:41 22nd February 2013
Taffster says...
Great game to watch from a neutrals point of view. Amazing pace. I love the way the counter attacks are always run out of play putting defences under pressure. Offloads galore and gain line flat passing and rarely kicking for field position. Obviously comes with risk quite a few turnovers, spills etc. A number of missed chances that should have been put to bed with a bit of composure.
Posted 09:35 22nd February 2013
hellovanite says...
Nanai-Williams seems to have found some extra pace over the off season
Posted 09:14 22nd February 2013