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Chiefs beat Highlanders to stretch Super Rugby streak

Freddie Burns of the Highlanders steps inside of Brad Weber of the Chiefs during the round 11 Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on May 05, 2023, in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Flyhalf Damian McKenzie and fullback Shaun Stevenson led the Chiefs counter-attacking game as the Hamilton-based team beat the Dunedin-based Highlanders 52-28 to extend their winning start to the season in Super Rugby Pacific to 10 matches.

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McKenzie or Stevenson had a designing hand in five of the six tries scored by the Chiefs in their bonus-point win.

Another came from a 90-metre intercept by centre Daniel Rona, who scored two tries in his second Super Rugby match.

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McKenzie also kicked seven conversions and a penalty for 17 point in a flawless performance which saw him surpass 1000 points in Super Rugby.

The magnitude of the Chiefs’ win belied the fact they barely touched the ball in the first 20 minutes.

The Highlanders had 85 per cent of possession in that period and the few fragments the Chiefs got their hands on they kicked away and kicked badly, allowing the home team to score the first try through prop Ethan de Groot.

The Chi efs then scored four tries before halftime, including possibly the best of the season, and conceded another to lead 28-14 at the break.

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“We had to work very, very hard for it,” Chiefs captain Brad Weber said.

“Most of our tries came from counterattack.

“I wouldn’t say we have free licence (to counterattack).

“We’ve certainly got a plan with our counterattack but also with the back three we’ve got and when Damian gets back there you want them to express themselves when the situation allows it and we certainly encourage them to do that.”

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J
JW 1 hour ago
Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

Certainly got lucky, their strike rate in recruits is simply to high to be another else. How many failures can you count off the top of you head?


Theyre no longer playing that attack structure, so kinda irrelevant I feel. Sexton's metronomic tempo was perfect for that sort of football though. I really shouldn't say anything disparaging about his ability and influence on a northern style as he's probably a much closer footballer to the great Dan Carter than the modern NZ tens are. Still feel the game is better off in the NH now that players like Smith and Ntamack are able to lead the way with their performances.


I suggest not falling into that trap of replacing someone. They don't need a Sexton at 10, that guy and influence can come from anywhere in the team. Wallace Sititi for example has done so much to flip the debate on the NZ midfielders needing to have Nonu/Smith level distribution. They're trying to transition their game into a fast contest, ala their two victories against SA, but also losing out on that against SA and England (possible NZ too). Nienaber being seen as more beneficial to that outcome than Lancaster. I too think they're wrong though, it was a gift Faz got provided with but I haven't seen the Irish psyche want to recognize that. Some might say it's disrespectful to credit all of Irelands success on the back of a fortuitous style of play they discovered (were gifted, w/e) but I'll tell anyone that that's all New Zealands success is based off, and if a more natural organically grown pressuring style it's still something that is ingrained on everyones instincts just the same and can easily be lost of not appreciated.

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