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Chiefs miss injury time penalty as Blues clinch first win of season

(Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)

The Blues have avoided a second consecutive heart-breaking loss to begin the Super Rugby Pacific season after Chiefs substitute Bryn Gatland missed a long-range penalty kick to win the game.

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The Blues won 24-22 at Eden Park, Harry Plummer nailing a sideline conversion to put them clear after Mark Telea scored a try with five minutes to play.

After losing by a point to the fast-finishing Hurricanes last week, the Blues appeared to have butchered it again when they gave away a penalty in the final seconds.

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A penalty 45 metres out and on an angle gave Gatland the chance for the Chiefs to go 2-0 this season, but he pushed his kick wide.

“I’m speechless at the moment … you don’t want to know what i was thinking in my head (as Gatland lined up the kick),” Blues captain Dalton Papalii said.

“We talked about winning the small moments, but we made it tough for ourselves.”

Blues No.12 and former New Zealand rugby league star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had a handful of bright touches but was largely ineffective as Chiefs halfback Brad Weber scored twice in his 100th game.

His first came from nothing, the No.9 kicking to no man’s land and somehow collecting after two bounces in traffic and darting out of traffic to score.

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And from their next meaningful play Etene Nanai-Seturo sliced through the line to make it 12-3.

The Blues hit back through Caleb Clarke, the winger forced to wait for a long cut-out pass but still powering past three men to score in the corner.

Hoskins Sotutu got the Blues back in the contest with a brilliant solo effort, charging down a kick then grubbering ahead for himself to score.

Weber’s second came off the back of a scrum before a penalty pushed them five points clear.

The Blues found a way though as Beauden Barrett returned from concussion off the bench and fellow All Black Anton Lienert-Brown (shoulder) also made his injury return from the pine.

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Chiefs and All Blacks captain Sam Cane was a nuisance in the ruck to help his side within a kick of victory but admitted they had given the Blues too many chances.

“There’s not much between any of them (New Zealand teams); it’s going to come down to small moments in games,” he said.

“It’s about minimising your own errors … and we had just a couple too many of those tonight.”

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R
RedWarrior 41 minutes ago
Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland

Foster was literally whinging about the TMO in the Ireland series in the presser AFTER the RWC final. NZs whinging about the final itself was apparently picked up by Voyager 2 which was near the asteroid belt. What about the whingefest and crybabies after O'Mahony's legendary sledge (during the match) on Sam Cane?


I often hear talk about NZ players being poisoned or similar nonsense during the 1995 final. NZ boast that they are 'superstars' and 'humble heroes' on their own website. You gave England the same treatment in 2002-2003, calling them arrogant just because they beat you. They told the rest of us then what you were like, we should have listened. I would give as much credence to a NZ supporter disliking us, as I would to Krusty the clown saying the same thing. Let's just say your judgement may not be the best.


Regarding 2016, as the referee had basically let NZ away with cheating their way to victory via filthy dangerous play and fouling he was hardly going to pull Sexton up when clearly trying to stop a grounding. NZ always leave the boot or arm in to hurt a try scorer but that seems to be invisible to you entitles lot.


BTW NZ have literally being whinging and crying about Ireland since Soldier field. You are just very bad losers. We will be delighted to be shot of you on Friday. I hope we do so with a win, so that you rethink your philosophy of mocking opponents and spectators you've just beaten.


After the match last Saturday the internet was full of Kiwi supporters basically abusing English folk. Where is your national honour? Where is your national integrity?

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