Explosive bench propels Chiefs to record win over Crusaders

Round two of Super Rugby Pacific kicked off at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, where the Chiefs have beaten the Crusaders 49-24.

The 50th Super Rugby encounter between the Chiefs and Crusaders was set up perfectly after round one, as both teams won their respective New Zealand derbies.

Once again it was the Chiefs’ bench that was the difference in the end, running in five tries in the second half.

It was the Chiefs’ most points against the Crusaders in Super Rugby history, showcasing the exceptional form the Chiefs are in to start the new campaign.

The Crusaders were on the back foot immediately to start the game after the Taha Kemara kick-off sailed over the touchline.

The Chiefs were able to take advantage of this, spending the first five minutes of the game in the Crusaders half before Emoni Narawa smartly exploited the narrow defence, busting through a couple of last-ditch tackles to score the opening try of the contest. Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie converted the opening try from the corner.

The Chiefs’ quick start was slightly halted due to injuries to Rameka Poihipi and captain Luke Jacobson. Poihipi’s suspected knee injury looked like the more serious of the two.

It didn’t take long for the man of the moment Kyle Preston to stamp his mark on the game in Hamilton, popping up at the right time once again, running a superb support line after a Taha Kemara line break. Crusaders loose forward Cullen Grace broke free down the left wing and fired in a pass to Preston, to score his fourth try of the season.

All Blacks lock Tupou Vaa’i was yellow carded in the 25th minute by referee Angus Gardner after Vaa’i’s shoulder connected with Fletcher Newell’s head.

Despite the Chiefs being down to 14 men, Clayton McMillan’s team continued to play on the front foot, on the back of a huge 50/22 kick from McKenzie.

Chiefs halfback Xavier Roe found a small gap between Crusaders defenders, to reach out to the line and score close to the posts. McKenzie added the extras to extend the Chiefs lead to 17-7.

The Crusaders were finally able to take advantage of the one-man advantage, as Sevu Reece took the initiative to take a quick tap when the Chiefs defenders were all still setting up, putting Ethan Blackadder directly through the Chiefs defence to go in under the posts.

HT: 17-14 to the Chiefs.

Rob Penney’s team started the better in the second half forcing Josh Lord to give away a penalty for holding James O’Connor back who was supporing David Havili on the inside. The resulting penalty was succesfully kicked by O’Connor, leveling the scores at 17-17 in the 48th minute.

A perfectly thrown cut out ball from Chiefs winger Emoni Narawa put Quinn Tupaea in a two on one scenario, giving in form winger Leroy Carter the ball before Carter bumped off Kyle Preston to score in the corner.

Narawa found himself in the thick of the action once again, intercepting a pass from the Crusaders player before putting in a chip kick in behind. Narawa turned the ball over at the resulting ruck, setting up an overlap for All Black loose forward Samipeni Finau to cross the white line. McKenzie calmly slotted the conversion, putting the Chiefs lead out to 29-17.

In Tupaea’s 50th match for the Chiefs, the midfielder ran onto a short ball from Simon Parker, resulting in an overlap for Damian McKenzie, who quickly shuffled the ball into Josh Jacomb’s hands. Jacomb then strolled over the line, ten meters in from touch.

Tupaea went from creator to scorer, supporting Simon Parker on the inside to score his first of the evening. McKenzie successfully kicked the conversion from right out in front.

The game quickly went from bad to worse for the Crusaders, with Tupaea finding himself on the wing in complete open space. Tupaea didn’t have much to do, beating Will Jordan on the outside to go in for his second try on his milestone game. The 25-year old’s second try of the evening put the Chiefs leading margin out of reach for the Crusaders.

Antonio Shalfoon was able to pull a try back for the Crusaders, but it was to little too late for Rob Penney’s side.

FT: 49-24 to the Chiefs.

The Chiefs will be back at FMG Stadium Waikato next Saturday afternoon as they take on the Brumbies.

Rob Penney and the Crusaders have a bye next round, before taking on the Reds in Christchurch in round four.