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Chiefs stave off Hurricanes in deluge to maintain perfect start

Chiefs’ Nepo Laulala

Chiefs made it three wins from three at the start of the 2017 Super Rugby campaign by seeing off defending champions Hurricanes 26-18.

Hurricanes had seen their title defence begin with two successive wins but they were unable to recover in wet conditions after falling 17-6 behind in a first half that saw Ardie Savea and Michael Fatialofa sin-binned.

Brodie Retallick crashed over from close range and Toni Pulu touched down from a kick to give Chiefs a comfortable advantage at the break.

TJ Perenara went over for Hurricanes first try in the 64th minute but, though Julian Savea also crossed for the visitors, the boot of Damian McKenzie had helped Chiefs maintain a healthy lead and he had the final say with a fourth penalty as a dramatic late comeback failed to materialise.

Chiefs are now top of the New Zealand Conference and Australasian Group.

Meanwhile, Brumbies claimed their first win of the season, snatching a late 25-17 victory over Western Force.

Brumbies trailed 17-13 with under 10 minutes to play but the game turned when Ross Haylett-Petty was sin-binned for a late hit on Joe Powell.

Kyle Godwin scored seven minutes from time to edge Brumbies in front – Wharenui Hawera converting – and Robbie Abel made absolutely sure of triumph in the final minute with Brumbies’ fourth try.

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Nickers 33 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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