The hosts were relentless throughout the 80 minutes, running away with the game either side of half-time for their first title since 2003. –Rugby Australia
By Roger Childs
A fitting climax
There were more than 30,000 fans at a sodden Eden Park on Saturday to see the two northern
Rugby franchises battle it out for the coveted Super Rugby Pacific Trophy. Thousands of
Chiefs fans came north from the Waikato, some with cow bells, to barrack for their team. They had overcome the Hurricanes last week to make the last two and if they hadn’t, the final would have been in the Capital.
The Wellington franchise might well have prevailed last week, but for an intercept and 80-metre sprint by Chiefs’ number eight Wallace Situtu which led to a converted try for the visitors and a shift in momentum.
The eighteen week tournament began back in February, and the Hurricanes and Blues made the early running and eventually finished first and second after the round-robin stage. Last year’s champions, the Crusaders, started with a number of players out with injuries and never recovered from losing their first six matches.
A one-sided final
Coach Vern Cotter’s well-drilled and disciplined Blues team never let the Chiefs into the game. It ended up 41-10 to the home side who scored five tries to one, and goal-kicker Harry Plummer never missed a shot putting over five conversions and two penalties.
The Blues dominated territory and possession especially in the first half, and in the forwards lineout — jumper Sam Darry, loosie Akira Ioane and hooker Ricki Riccitelli stood out. Making a miraculous recovery from injury, captain Patrick Tuipulotu lead the team with pride.
In the backs A.J. Lamb was in everything and ran, passed and tackled well, and added a try for good measure. Mark Talea proved hard to tackle with his jinky running and on the left wing Caleb Clark scored three tries. Unfortunately, he damaged his ribs scoring just before time and kept holding his chest after the game to avoid being furthered injured as a result of celebratory hugs!
For the Chiefs, Damian McKenzie set up his outside backs well and once again demonstrated his superb positional play, but generally the visitors kicked away too much possession and once in the second half, with a positive attacking opportunity beckoning, kicked the ball out on the full. Luke Jacobson led the forwards well and number eight Wallace Situtu ran effectively in the loose. But, basically, the Chiefs had too little possession to do well.
On to the tests
The triumphant Blues will be well-represented in Scott Robertson’s first All Black squad. The first of two tests against England takes place on Saturday 6 July under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. Then two weeks later they play Fiji in San Diego.