In a remarkable display of skill, one of New Zealand rugby’s unluckiest players reminded us of his extraordinary talent during a nail-biting encounter in Hamilton, where the Chiefs edged past the Blues with a score of 32-31 on Saturday night.
Despite clinching New Zealand’s Super Rugby Pacific player of the year accolade, Blues loose forward Hoskins Sotutu faced the biggest snub from the All Blacks last season.
Meanwhile, Chiefs fullback Shaun Stevenson shares a similar tale of misfortune, having been unable to build on his single Test appearance in 2023.
Shaun Stevenson of the Chiefs presenting the ball. Getty
Stevenson made an impression during his sole Test appearance, scoring in the Bledisloe Cup victory over the Wallabies in Dunedin, but All Blacks coach Scott Robertson remained unswayed by his consistently impressive Super Rugby displays last year.
After briefly contemplating a move to the NRL, Stevenson was given a short release to play with the Kubota Spears in Japan.
Having missed the season’s opening three rounds, Stevenson came on as a substitute for the Chiefs last week before reclaiming his starting spot in the ‘Battle of the Bombays’ against the Blues.
Shaun Stevenson making a pass to Daniel Rona. Stan
Stevenson’s impact was immediate as he provided a spectacular behind-the-back assist for Daniel Rona, who scored the opening try of the match.
“To pull off something like that requires immense confidence in your skills, as well as a solid understanding of your teammate’s position,” commented All Blacks legend Mils Muliaina on Stan Sport.
“Absolutely incredible, Shaun Stevenson.”
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In the lead-up to the match, Stevenson spoke about his discussions with the All Blacks selectors.
“The lack of feedback regarding my situation was disappointing, but that’s something I can’t control,” he expressed.
“I may only have one Test under my belt, but no one can take that achievement from me.”
Shaun Stevenson of New Zealand scoring a try. Getty
Stevenson is also considering a potential stint in the NRL and remains eligible to represent Samoa at the 2027 Rugby World Cup hosted in Australia.
“Perhaps, we’ll see how things unfold. I’m unsure whether they have their coaching staff in place just yet. So, that’s not a definite no. With the World Cup looming in a couple of years, we’ll see where everything stands then,” he stated.
In a fun twist, the Chiefs showcased a Black Panther jersey while the Blues sported Spider-Man attire, as the New Zealand franchises collaborated with Marvel for a themed kids’ round.
Blues centre Xavi Taele had a golden opportunity to put the Blues ahead after Rieko Ioane’s try in the 75th minute, but his conversion attempt struck the post.
The victory solidified the Chiefs’ (4-1) lead at the top of the standings, extending their advantage by four points. The defending champions, the Blues (1-4), managed to climb off the bottom of the ladder into ninth place, courtesy of a losing bonus point.
Currently, Moana Pasifika (1-3) sit at the bottom and are on their bye week.
Having faced defeat to the Blues in last year’s final, the Chiefs have now triumphed over them twice this season.
“We’re focusing on this year, not dwelling on the past,” remarked Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson.
Despite the Blues scoring five tries to the Chiefs’ four, it was Damian McKenzie’s kicking that turned the tide, as he accumulated a total of 17 points.
Chiefs 32 (Daniel Rona, Damian McKenzie, Tupou Vaa’i, Cortez Ratima tries; McKenzie 3 con, 2 pen) Blues 31 (AJ Lam, Mark Tele’a, Corey Evans, Marcel Renata, Rieko Ioane tries; Harry Plummer 2 con, Xavi Taele con). HT: 15-12
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