It was first versus third on the ladder but it was the Chiefs who put on an outstanding exhibition of running rugby to run out 48-23 bonus point winners.
The Match
The Brumbies opened the scoring with two penalties within the opening ten minutes with and seemed an interesting call as they steered away from the potential of using their rolling maul.
The Brumbies learnt the hard way that the Chiefs love to counter attack, and a turnover from Aidan Toua in midfield was snapped up and then speedster Toni Pulu was on his way to the line for the Cheifs opening try.
The Brumbies scrum was doing it’s best to lay a solid platform with the Chiefs under pressure at times but the Brumbies couldn’t take advantage.
It took 30 minutes before the Chiefs really started to hit their straps. A Brumbies mistake from Matt Toomua not finding touch from a penalty and the Chiefs tore them with some sensational handling from Damian McKenzie and Brad Weber that saw James Lowe cross for the second Chiefs try.
The Brumbies nearly hit back but Pocock knocked on but the home side made up for it with a big hit on Cruden leading to a scrum and after a few pick and drives, Scott Sio had the opening Brumbies try.
But the Chiefs had the last say of the half, with McKenzie landing a penalty and with the half almost up, Tom Sanders put the Chiefs further ahead with a try that was given the OK by the TMO after Charlie Ngatai found a gap in the Brumbies defensive line to set it up.
The Chiefs were hot on attack again early in the second half with the Brumbies scrambling to stay in touch with the Chiefs adding two penalties to extend their lead to thirteen.
The Brumbies had a rare excursion into the Chiefs half via a penalty and Scott Fardy came up with the try and with Chiefs captain Sam Cane asking the referee to check for something via the TMO, Lealiifano drop kicked the conversion before he could do so to reduce the margin to six.
But the Chiefs didn’t take long to hit back with McKenzie landing his fourth penalty of the night after Fardy was offside at the ruck.
The Brumbies had a sniff of hitting back with a penalty from Lealiifano after Robbie Coleman was taken out by Pulu after chip kicking him down the wing.
The Chiefs are known for being hot in the final 20 and they showed that again tonight. Aaron Cruden pulled out something special from his bag of tricks with a left foot kick evading Aidan Toua and James Lowe only had to catch it and fall over to score his second of the night.
Almost immediately, the Chiefs scored again with Brad Weber finishing off a sensational move, started from a chip kick from Lowe that also involved McKenzie to make the margin 18.
The Chiefs kept pushing for more points as the clock wound down and McKenzie had the last laugh (and smile) as he scored with a try with time up and converted for good measure to make the final score 48-23.
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The Game Changer
The Chiefs in the last 20 minutes are on fire in 2016 and tonight was no different. The second Lowe try put the Brumbies out of reach.
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The G&GR MOTM
Charlie Ngatai – Has been touted as an All Black 12 in 2016 and showed tonight why with some solid running. HM’s for McKenzie and Weber being involved in some razzle dazzle plays.
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Wallaby Watch
Tough night for the Brumbies with the Chiefs keeping them quiet. Fardy was his usual self around the ruck in a well beaten side.
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The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]BRUMBIES 23
Tries: Sio, Fardy
Conversions: Lealiifano 2
Penalties: Lealiifano 3
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[one_half last=”yes”]CHIEFS 48
Tries: Pulu, Lowe 2, Sanders, Weber, McKenzie
Conversions: McKenzie 3
Penalties: McKenzie 4
[/one_half]
Cards
Nil
Crowd
12,896
Photos courtesy Tim Anger
