Chiefs back to their best
Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:23
The Chiefs won their second game on the trot courtesy of an entertaining 39-24 Super 14 victory over the winless Highlanders in Waikato on Saturday.
Mils Muliaina's teams scored six good tries and never looked like losing despite the Highlanders keeping in touch for most of the game.
The difference was class. Lots of things in this match were equal - possession and territory, turn-overs - that sort of thing. The Highlanders were better at scrums and line-outs but where it mattered most the Chiefs had the class. The creativity, organisation, handling and speed of their backline was much too good for the Highlanders who did not go home empty-handed from this pleasant evening at the Waikato Stadium.
There was so much in this match of many tries that was entertaining, which may have deserved more than the smallish crowd that attended.
The Chiefs started each half with a score. It took them just under three minutes in the first half to score and even less than that in the second half.
The match started off as if rugby would never stop. The first stoppage, after two minutes of multiphased attacking play by the Chiefs, was the penalty which Stephen MacDonald goaled for off-side, the only penalty the Highlanders conceded in the half.
The first time the ball went into touch the throw-in was a quick one; the first free kick was immediately tapped. Things may have tapered off but throughout both sides wanted to run with the ball. The Chiefs just did it much, much better.
Sitiveni Sivivatu got into a half-gap and passed to Cullum Bruce who charged ahead. He passed to Donald who vanished in an early tackle but Brendon Leonard swooped, gathered and darted over for the first try while the referee, who gave the sides every opportunity to play, allowed advantage. Donald converted. 10-0 after 8 minutes.
A poor pass from a scrum by Jimmy Cowan was seized upon by the Chiefs and Bruce grubbered a long way downfield where Liam Messam, running at great speed, won the race to the ball and managed to get a hand to it for the try. 17-0 after 17 minutes.
Both sides decided to forget penalty goals in a search for tries. The first to pass up a chance were the Highlanders who opted for a five-metre scrum under the Chiefs posts instead of a penalty shot. But their brave effort came to nought when Niva Ta'auso knocked on.
Instead the Chiefs got their third when from a scrum Sione Lauaki gave the ball to Leonard who threw a beautiful pass to Lelia Masaga. His marker Fetu'u Vainikolo had been sucked in and speedster Masaga needed no further invitation as he raced away inside James Wilson for a try far out. 22-0 after 26 minutes.
Just when it seemed that they Chiefs were whooping to a huge victory, the Highlanders struck back with two tries in three minutes.
From a scrum Johnny Leota cut in off Daniel Bowden and raced down the field, past Mils Muliaina and then he bowled a pass to Ta'auso who took the tackle as he gave to golden-booted Vainikolo who scored from far out. 22-5.
Bucked up, the Highlanders came back with confidence through several phases before they found big Hoani MacDonald out on the right wing, just in from touch. The lock charged down the touch-line, beating Sivivatu and Leonard for a try in the corner which Bowden converted. 22-12.
They nearly scored a third try when Vainikolo had a great run but Hayden Triggs knocked on.
The score at half-time was 22-12.
The Chiefs got their bonus point early. The Highlanders kicked off, the Chiefs kicked back and Bowden opted to run. He was tackled and the Chiefs took a turn-over off him. Out the ball went to Masaga who beat Vainikolo and scored.
The Highlanders' troubles increased when the Chiefs raced with many passes down the field. The ball came back and there was massive Jamie Mackintosh a lazy runner in the way of the pass. He was sent to the sin bin for this. The penalty was in front but the Chiefs opted for a five-metre line-out, which they lost, as they did later in the half as well.
At one stage the Highlanders went through 14 phases and no metres. while the Chiefs raced back at them with many passes, opting to play inside more than outside.
Vainikolo was set free on the left and he raced for the line, slipping at the feet of Muliaina, but the Highlanders got the ball back and a long pass from Cowan picked out Hoani MacDonald who scored his second try of the match. 27-19.
The Chiefs broke out with a brilliant, weaving, speeding run by Masaga who gave inside to Leonard. The lively scrumhalf kicked infield to his left where Vainikolo got to the ball, juggled it and lost it. The ball hit the padding on the upright and bounced back towards Leonard who was over. He claimed a try but the television match official could not recommend it, giving the Chiefs a five-metre scrum from which, with a little dummy, Donald scored. 34-19 with 15 minutes to play.
The Highlanders contributed to the next Chiefs' try. They ran out of their own territory but Bowden lost the ball in a tackle and the Chiefs went left - Leonard to Sivivatu to Muliaina and the fullback outstripped the cover to score in the corner. 39-19.
On the stroke of full-time the Highlanders attacked. Isaac Ross was close, then James Wilson. The referee played advantage three times for off-side and then replacement Mike Delany burst through to score, The missed conversion heralded the end of the match.
Man of the Match: The big temptation is to give the award to Hoani MacDonald for his two tries and his excellent work in the line-outs but the player who was most special was Lelia Masaga on attack and defence. He was electric.
Moment of the Match: Lelia Masaga's breathtaking run that almost led to a try by Brendon Leonard. Mind you Hoani MacDonald's first try was also special.
Villain of the Match: You could hardly consider a big prop a villain for trying to get back to his side but being slow about it. It was a match played in fine spirit.
The Scorers:
For the Chiefs:
Tries: Leonard, Messam, Masaga 2, Donald, Muliaina
Cons: Donald 3
Pen: Donald
For the Highlanders:
Tries: Vainikolo, MacDonald 2, Delany
Cons: Bowden 2
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (captain), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Ben Castle, 2 Tom Willis, 1 Simms Davison.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Ben May, 18 Jay Williams, 19 Faifili Levave, 20 David Bason, 21 Dwayne Sweeney, 22 Viliame Waqaseduadua.
Highlanders: 15 James Wilson, 14 Paul Williams, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Jimmy Cowan (vice-capatain), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Craig Newby (capatain), 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Hoani MacDonald, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Chris King, 18 Isaac Ross, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Brett Mather.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Alan Riley (New Zealand)
