Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Damian McKenzie's late penalty hands Chiefs fifth straight victory with Super Rugby Aotearoa final in sight

(Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

Damian McKenzie has kicked a penalty after the fulltime hooter to give the Chiefs a 26-24 victory over the Hurricanes, keeping last season’s winless wooden spooners on course for a spot in the Super Rugby Aotearoa final.

ADVERTISEMENT

The fullback was mobbed by Chiefs teammates after slotting the kick from 45 metres out to deliver a fifth straight win for his team and solidify their second place in the standings five points clear of the Blues.

It was the third week in a row that McKenzie penalties had earned the Chiefs victory after a “golden point” win over the Highlanders and last week’s upset of the Crusaders.

Video Spacer

The Chiefs are on fire and is TJ Perenara going to the Roosters? | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | RugbyPass

Video Spacer

The Chiefs are on fire and is TJ Perenara going to the Roosters? | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | RugbyPass

The reigning champion Crusaders, who top the standings by three points, take on the Blues in Christchurch on Saturday to round out the penultimate round of the regular season. The top two will contest the final.

The Chiefs came into the match in Hamilton full of confidence after their win over the Crusaders but were quickly deflated when Hurricanes lock James Bl ackwell barged through their defensive line to score in the opening minute.

The home side hit back when No.8 Pita Gus Sowakula peeled off the back of a rolling maul just after 31 minutes, however, and only a 55-metre penalty from Hurricanes fullback Jordie Barrett prevented them from taking a lead into the break.

The Chiefs broke the 10-10 tie with a McKenzie penalty and a converted try from flyhalf Bryn Gatland in the first eight minutes of the second half but the Hurricanes, playing only for pride, refused to lie down.

ADVERTISEMENT

Replacements Billy Proctor and Asafo Aumua both crossed for tries and when Barrett converted the latter score, the Hurricanes led 24-23 with 12 minutes left on the clock.

The Chiefs stormed forward looking for the points they needed but were stymied by stiff defence and their own errors until McKenzie again delivered a last-gasp victory from the kicking tee.

Chiefs 26 (Tries to Pita Gus Sowakula and Bryn Gatland; 2 conversions and 4 penalties to Damian McKenzie)
Hurricanes 24 (Tries to James Blackwell, Billy Proctor and Asafo Aumua; 3 conversions and penalty to Jordie Barrett)

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

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.

1 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss
Search