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VIDEO: Chiefs score bonus-point win in Hamilton thriller

he final score is 39-27 to the Chiefs and six tries to three.

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However, that does not tell the whole story.

With just minutes left on the clock and the Chiefs leading by just two points (29-27), the Waratahs were hard on attack and pressing for what may have been the match-winning try.

It required a crucial steal by star lock Brodie Retallick just metres from his line to stop the Waratahs' charge.

It turned out to be the match-winning turnover, as the Chiefs worked the ball upfield where the Chiefs won a penalty. Still, at 32-27, the Waratahs still have a chance if they could go 100 metres downfield.

That was not to be, as a turnover afforded McKenzie the chance to score the bonus-point try after the full-time hooter had sounded.

"It's him. He's special and he's only going to get better in the No.10 jersey," Chiefs coach Colin Cooper said of McKenzie, who is vying with Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga to be the All Blacks flyhalf.

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"We had to play territory and it was a matter of which team could play in the other's half and Damian showed what he can do.

"Coming back from South Africa and a short turn round, to get five points is pretty special."

The Waratahs, denied a bonus point by McKenzie's late try, were left clinging to a one-point lead in the Australian conference.

A week ago the Waratahs were celebrating after snapping a 40-match losing streak by Australian sides against New Zealand rivals when they thrashed the Otago Highlanders 41-12.

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The confidence flowed into their start in Hamilton when they chalked up 14 points in quicker than even time with Bernard Foley converting tries by Cam Clarke and Curtis Rona which were both the result of Kurtley Beale's vision.

But the Chiefs' intention to kick and chase from all corners took the sting out of the Waratahs in the second quarter allowing the home side to bounce back with 19 unanswered points before the break.

Brodie Retallick, Nathan Harris and Damian McKenzie all touched down with McKenzie landing two conversions.

In a see-sawing second half, Foley narrowed the gap to two points with a penalty and when a try to Toni Pulu stretched the lead to seven points, the Waratahs drew level at 24-all with a converted try to Beale.

A second try to Pulu, following up a kick from the base of a scrum by Brad Weber regained the lead for the Chiefs at 29-24.

Foley and McKenzie traded penalties to take the score to 32-27 as the clock ticked past the 80-minute mark when McKenzie scored his second to settle the outcome.

Man of the match: You can always bank of the breakdown work of Michael Hooper and the creative skills of Kurtley Beale. Charlie Ngatai and Damien McKenzie were directing the show, while Michael Allardice was a workhorse. However, our award goes to Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick – rated the best lock in the world and with good reason. Not only was he a monster on defence, carried plenty and worked hard at the breakdown, he won what turned out to be a match-winning turnover near his own tryline late in the game.

The scorers:

For the Chiefs:

Tries: Retallick, Harris, McKenzie 2, Pulu 2

Cons: McKenzie 3

Pen: McKenzie

For the Waratahs:

Tries: Clarke, Rona, Beale

Cons: Foley 3

Pens: Foley 2

Teams:

Chiefs: 15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Charlie Ngatai (captain), 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Mitch Karpik, 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta'avao, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Karl Tu'inukuafe.    

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Shaun Stevenson.

Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Cameron Clark, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Will Miller, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson.  

Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Jed Holloway, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Bryce Hegarty.

 

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Angus Mabey (New Zealand), Cam Stone (New Zealand)

TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)

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