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Chiefs edge Highlanders in Dunedin in Super Rugby Aotearoa golden point thriller

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie kicked a 45-metre penalty in extra time to secure a dramatic 26-23 road victory over the Highlanders in the first ever golden-point win in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

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McKenzie had missed a similar kick after the hooter in regulation time on a poor Saturday night off the tee at Forsyth Barr Stadium for both sides but came up trumps as the Chiefs moved to 12 points from five games, two behind the Blues in the second semi-final spot.

The Chiefs scored tries through winger Etene Nanai-Seturo and prop Angus Ta’avao, with their other 16 points coming from the boot of McKenzie.

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The home side were behind for most of the match but rallied late to draw level, and scored their tries through flanker James Lentjes, scrum-half Aaron Smith and replacement flyhalf Josh Ioane.

Nanai-Seturo crossed for an early try for the visitors, acrobatically diving into the corner having been set up by scrum-half Brad Weber.

The Highlanders hit back almost immediately through Lentjes after he dummied to pass out of the back of a maul, tricking five Chiefs defenders into thinking he was going to the right before scooting round the left to dot down.

They drew level early in the second half with a second try from co-captain Smith as he benefited from loose forward Shannon Frizell’s excellent line break.

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After landing two penalties following incessant pressure, the Chiefs grabbed a second try after a fine angled run from Ta’avao saw him crash over as they extended the lead to 10 points.

The Highlanders found some momentum in the closing stages though and an excellent maul towards the Chiefs line eventually saw the backline released and Ioane crossed to score next to the posts.

He then levelled with a penalty with three minutes remaining, before McKenzie missed a drop-goal attempt and a penalty from the halfway line.

If the teams are level after 80 minutes they play an extra 10, with the first side to score winning the game, and McKenzie made history by landing his penalty midway through the extra period.

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Chiefs 26 (Tries to Etene Nanai-Seturo and Angus Ta’avao; 2 conversions and 4 penalties to Damian McKenzie)
Highlanders 23 (Tries to James Lentjes, Aaron Smith and Josh Ioane; penalty to Mitch Hunt, conversion and penalty to Ioane)

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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