Highlanders v Chiefs: Five takeaways as Damian McKenzie shows ‘Beauden Barrett-like precision’ but injury ends ‘key All Blacks battle’
Damian McKenzie in action for the Chiefs and centre Quinn Tupaea, who was stretchered off against the Highlanders.
Following a 41-24 triumph for the Chiefs over the Highlanders, here are our five takeaways from the Super Rugby Pacific clash in Dunedin on Friday.
The top line
Clayton McMillan’s Chiefs side made sure of top spot in Super Rugby Pacific heading into the knockout stages with their 11th victory of a hugely impressive campaign so far.
The win was set up by a blistering start which saw them go at over a point a minute as they moved 19-0 ahead early on through Samipeni Finau’s try and Tupou Vaa’i’s brace, leaving the Highlanders stunned.
Gradually, the hosts eased their way into the contest and hit back with tries from Ethan de Groot and Timoci Tavatavanawai to give themselves a shot going into the second period, but the Chiefs showed their class after the break.
As they have been throughout the season, Jamie Joseph’s men were gallant in defeat, but their opponents were just slightly better in most facets and further tries from Xavier Roe, Manasa Mataele and Vaa’i, who completed his hat-trick, rubberstamped the win, despite Sam Gilbert’s consolation for the ‘Landers.
Team to beat
With the Crusaders and the Brumbies not at all convincing at times this season, and the rest of the teams failing to find any sort of consistency, this is quite frankly the Chiefs’ title to lose. After being hammered in the Super Rugby showpiece last year, as the Blues marched to a 41-10 success in the final, they have reached another level in 2025.
The backline is, of course, their biggest weapon, with stalwarts Damian McKenzie and Shaun Stevenson being joined by the in-form Daniel Rona and Leroy Carter, who are perhaps lesser known but have been equally influential this season. However, the pack has also come into its own and their back five in particular has been sublime.
At lock, Vaa’i may have scored a hat-trick but it was his work in both the lineout and at close quarters that showed his all-round class. Behind him in the back-row, Finau was at his rampaging best having previously endured a mixed season, while Luke Jacobson did some excellent work on both sides of the scrum. Wallace Sititi completed the loose trio and he has got up to speed rather quickly after recently returning from injury.
With the Chiefs containing some top players who are superbly coached, which team can stop them?
Chiefs player ratings: All Blacks star ‘shows his class’ with hat-trick in triumph over Highlanders
Key All Blacks battle ends early
Two players who have very much put themselves in the All Blacks conversation went head-to-head on Friday, albeit briefly as Quinn Tupaea suffered a worrying injury in the first half and was stretchered off. Before then it had been a fascinating duel with the Chiefs star linking nicely with McKenzie and creating opportunities for those in the wider channels.
Tavatavanawai responded by putting in some massive shots in defence and huge carries with ball in hand. Tupaea was later seen smiling on the sidelines and putting his thumb up in a positive update, but the centre’s unfortunate departure enabled his opposite number to take over and really stake a claim for a place in Scott Robertson’s squad.
Although several of his team-mates once again failed to live up to his standards, Tavatavanawai could once again do no more. His finish at the end of the opening period was sublime, while his physicality in midfield consistently got the hosts over the gain line.
The powerhouse centre deserves more reward for his performances this season, but that may come when the All Blacks squad is named next month. He has stiff competition with Tupaea and the returning Jordie Barrett but, at the very least, the Highlanders co-captain simply has to be in the wider 35 and, in our view, should be in that 23 for the France series.
Difference in half-backs
Joseph’s men were unlucky in the away defeats to the Hurricanes and Crusaders, and against the Super Rugby leaders they were once again willing, but their half-backs remain a weakness. Folau Fakatava is hugely talented but too many flaws in his game remain while his playmaking partner, Cam Millar, really struggled and was targeted by the visitors.
The Chiefs, by contrast, could rely on arguably the competition’s best back in the form of McKenzie, who has matured into a fine all-round fly-half. There were plenty of thrills in the pivot’s display but it was the control he had which will please Robertson the most as there was almost Beauden Barrett-like precision in his kicking game.
Alongside him was not All Black Cortez Ratima, who was on the bench, but ex-New Zealand U20 star Roe. The 26-year-old was absolutely magnificent, with his quick service from the base and decision-making around the fringes very impressive.
Braindead
While it was another fine performance from the league leaders, going into the knockouts they will no doubt be wary of the type of stupidity which saw their prop, Reuben O’Neill, sin-binned. Quite what was going through the tighthead’s mind, only he will know, but it made the second half much tougher than it needed to be.
The Chiefs were comfortably 19-7 ahead and had just regained possession inside the Highlanders’ half when the TMO called for a review. Replays showed O’Neill coming in from the side – illegal in itself – and completely upright as he put his shoulder into the head of hosts hooker Jack Taylor, who wasn’t even impacting the breakdown.
Although the front-rower escaped a red card, likely due to the low force, and thus, danger to Taylor, he was perhaps fortunate. The Chiefs are comfortably the best team in the competition at the moment, but disciplinary issues can come back to bite and O’Neill’s sin-binning was one of a number of needless penalties on Friday. It is something they need to cut out going into the knockouts.
