Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: Chiefs score last minute attempt to upset Blues

Bosses 15
Blues 12

The Chiefs are on a winning streak.

It’s just two games, but after suffering an 11-game losing streak over the past two seasons, the Chiefs’ 15-12 win over the Blues in Hamilton on Saturday night puts them back in contention for the 2021 campaign of the Super Rugby Aotearoa, one last -Minute Damian McKenzie tries to seal the deal.

Patience may not be the biggest determining factor for success, but there is a lot to be said about taking your time. For the Chiefs, the difference between their lack of patience in the first half and their clear, smart decision-making in the second half counted it all.

Overall, the Chiefs produced the moments that saw the crowd of 13,000 find some voice, with Sean Wainui gaining ground on the left wing, and hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and second-eighth Quinn Tupaea exploding down the middle.

But for these moments of emotion, their decision making in a good field position left much to be desired, as they tried to reach the line almost as soon as they crossed the threshold of the opposition 22; and the attack often fades through bugs soon after.

For the Blues, the forwards worked a lot in attacking position. While it wasn’t always the tidiest game, it paid dividends with blind end Akira Ioane crashing from close range for the game’s first try in the 25th minute, after running back Finlay Christie pounced on a poor Chiefs lineout in the background 22.

Those were the only points in the first half as both teams squandered opportunities in good field position; either due to poor execution or choosing to reject shots on goal in favor of one more chance.

That trend changed early in the second half, when fullback McKenzie put the Chiefs on the scoreboard with a 46-minute penalty goal. As the score passed, the hosts crashed into Taukei’aho 12 minutes later to take your first advantage of the game.

The Chiefs gave up the lead moments later when substitute forward Tom Robinson showed deft footwork to get in on Chiefs No. 10 Kaleb Trask and then drag running back Brad Weber with him over the shooting line.

However, in a style appropriate to the game from start to finish, neither team could take the lead and rule out the outcome. Then, with two minutes left on the clock, Chiefs No. 8 Luke Jacobson crossed the line and threw a marginal pass inside to a support player, who sent McKenzie for the deciding points.

Bosses 15 (Samisoni Taukei’aho, Damian McKenzie tries; McKenzie scam, pen)
Blues 12 (Akira Ioane, Tom Robinson tries; Otere Black scam)
HT: 0-7