'Got that belief now': Shaun Stevenson on the keys to the Chiefs' unbeaten run

Shaun Stevenson once again starred for the Chiefs as they claimed a regular season sweep over the Crusaders with a classic 34-24 win to maintain their unbeaten streak.

Having stunned the defending champions in round one 31-10 in Christchurch, the hotly anticipated return clash was a much tighter affair with both sides rising for the occasion in front of a sold out FMG Stadium in Hamilton.

Expectations for the Chiefs are now firmly in place for a Super Rugby title, the first since Dave Rennie’s side in 2013, after nine straight wins to start the season.

Stevenson said the success is down to keeping the same group together that went through the winless Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign in 2020.

“It’s quite funny, on Tuesday there were about 20 media there, and three years ago when we lost six on the trot there was probably one,” Stevenson told Sky Sport.

“I don’t know if there is something in the water, I just think we have grown as a group together.

“We’ve had the same team for the last few years now and we’ve built that character and got that belief now.”

The Chiefs failed to score a try in the first half but four penalties to Damian McKenzie built a 12-7 lead at half-time.

McKenzie opened up the Crusaders early in the second half by punching through the line before finding a backhand flick for Stevenson at pace.

The Chiefs’ fullback rounded Richie Mo’unga before taking the safe option and passing inside to the unmarked Brodie Retallick to extend the lead to 19-7.

However the visitors stormed back to take the lead with multiple lead changes down the stretch.

It was McKenzie and Stevenson combining again with less than 10 minutes to go to come up with the game’s biggest play.

McKenzie, playing fullback for the last quarter, broke free and found Stevenson on the right wing streaking down the sideline.

With Braydon Ennor breathing down his neck trying to bring him down, the No 15 reached out with one hand to squeeze the ball inside the corner flag.

“Oh, just got to find that white try line man, honestly when you get set up in that space you have to finish it,” Stevenson said of his effort.

He wasn’t able to bring out the trademark shooter celebration as FMG Stadium erupted.

“To be honest I had cramps, I had a sore calf with everyone jumping on me I just wanted a bit of breathing space.”

The Chiefs were prepared for the Crusaders’ kicking game which Stevenson identified as key to the side’s success.

“We knew they were going to bring everything, it was just awesome to get the win,” he said.

“We knew they were going to go to their kicking game a lot.

“If we just took the high balls and nullified their kicking game, we knew we could get in the game.”