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The Chiefs achieved an incredible last gasp victory over the Blues in a thrilling Bombays Super Rugby Aotearoa battle in Hamilton on Saturday night.
Just as they looked out of him 12-8 down with a minute to go, Damian McKenzie pushed his way past the posts to seal a 15-12 win and send the 12,997 into ecstasy at FMG Stadium Waikato.
The fans definitely had to wait a while to celebrate a win; This marvel came about 413 days since the Chiefs’ last home win. Just a week after avoiding setting a new record for a Kiwi losing streak, they again managed to stop their homeland from rotting at a distance from new territory as well.
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Damian McKenzie goes for the winner of the game for the Chiefs.
And just like last week in the capital, it was a couple of its bigwigs who stood up when it counted the most, with Luke Jacobson making a violent run up the field in death, before Livewire McKenzie opted not to spin. too much and do the business. the same.
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Still, there was belated drama, as the Blues used their captain’s reference to verify the last pass, and it was something very close, but TMO Aaron Paterson correctly ruled that there was no clear and obvious evidence to nullify the attempt on the field. . after Jacobson’s ball to Chase Tiatia.
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Chiefs second five Quinn Tupaea tries to get a ball out at the tackle.
It was a heavy blow to the Blues, in what was Ofa Tuungafasi’s 100th Super Rugby match, as they suffered a second loss on the rebound, following their loss to the Crusaders last weekend, and the Chiefs now they’re breathing hard on the ladder, just two points out of third place.
It was a low-scoring competition, but in what has been a no-close competition, this was a second straight thriller for the Chiefs, who are now back in business in a big way and have a goodbye to catch their breath.
It took 25 minutes for the first points of the game, but that doesn’t mean the crowd was lacking in entertainment. It was a high-octane thing, there were penalty shots, and Chiefs second-five Quinn Tupaea broke the line twice, only for his post-tackle distribution to look poor.
The Blues seemed to be equally guilty in that department, when, camping near the Chiefs line and with the discipline of the hosts beginning to break down, a ridiculous pass between Harry Plummer’s legs went to the rostrum, not the hand, and apparently left the Chiefs out.
However, when the Chiefs ruined the lineout, the Blues actually gave it a try, Finlay Christie stepped up and Akira Ioane stepped up.
In the half hour it looked like the visitors were in their second, pouncing on a sloppy attack from the Chiefs, and Mark Telea running for the right touch, only for McKenzie to chase him in a brilliant tackle that saved the attempt.
Anton Lienert-Brown’s late tackle on Stephen Perofeta gave the Blues a late gift in front of the sticks, but they continued to prefer the lineout. It continued to malfunction, however, and instead the Chiefs nearly scored a stunner at the other end, only for Mitchell Brown’s last pass not to go out, and the Blues took their 7-0 lead at halftime.
Clearly not satisfied with the way his team’s set piece worked, with his scrum also backing down at times, Leon MacDonald made the rare move of three changes at halftime: introducing props Tuungafasi and Alex Hodgman, and blocking Gerard Cowley-Tuioti.
But, after McKenzie got the home team on the board through the tee in the 46th minute, a massive scrum by the Chiefs must have made MacDonald a worried man. It felt like a turning point, with high jersey numbers coming from everywhere to pat great men on the back.
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Brad Weber looks to make a brave entry on Hoskins Sotutu.
With Sam Cane rejecting shots, the Chiefs camped out in the Blues’ 22 yards. They thought they had their rewards in the 54th minute when Lienert-Brown chased after a kick from Kaleb Trask, but TMO Paterson felt he was not in control, probably with just one finger, the right decision, despite the echo of boos that later sounded. around the stadium.
But, just four minutes later, local boy Paterson befriended fans again, able to reward the Chiefs with his first try of the night, with Samisoni Taukei’aho making his way.
The Chiefs held their lead for less than five minutes, however, as while Otere Black missed a achievable penalty shot, the Blues quickly went on a short-sided attack and impact man Tom Robinson launched a charge. 40 meters for the right touch. for the second five points from the visitors.
Suddenly the wave of momentum was with the Blues, and great players like Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane began stamping their class, and Cane cautiously left the park with 14 minutes to go.
The Blues appeared to have landed a crucial blow in the 69th minute through Dalton Papalii, but Paterson ruled it out due to a maul obstruction, and the Chiefs were still at it.
TAKE A LOOK
Bosses 15 (Samisoni Taukei’aho, Damian McKenzie tries; Damian McKenzie scam, pen) Blues 12 (Akira Ioane, Tom Robinson tries; Otere Black scam). HT: 0-7.
