Damian McKenzie showcased an outstanding performance in the second half, leading the Chiefs to a well-deserved revenge against the Blues for their defeat in last season’s Super Rugby Pacific grand final at Eden Park.
Initially, the Blues seemed poised for another victory, holding a 14-6 lead at half-time. However, a blend of McKenzie’s brilliance and a remarkable impact from the Chiefs’ substitutes saw the away team triumph with a score of 25-14.
The Chiefs’ defensive prowess, managing to keep the Blues scoreless in the latter half, was a testament to the strategic gamble taken by coach Clayton McMillan, which paid off handsomely.
Leroy Carter of the Chiefs celebrates after scoring a try. Getty
Coach McMillan relied on one of Super Rugby’s most formidable benches, which included All Blacks players Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown and Emoni Narawa.
Ratima’s performance was particularly impressive as the halfback not only influenced play but also pulled off a remarkable try-saving tackle against his All Blacks mate, Mark Tele’a.
Former sevens player Leroy Carter made a stellar debut on the wing, scoring a try, but it was McKenzie—who switched from fullback to No.10 in the second half—who shone brightest, scoring two crucial tries.
“McKenzie in the second half was simply superb,” said All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson.
In last year’s final, the Blues had triumphed over the Chiefs with a score of 41-10, but McMillan’s team proved their mettle on Saturday night, continuing a strong trend in the competition.
“It feels outstanding, you know, the Blues are the benchmark,” McKenzie remarked.
“They were last year, and when we arrived in Auckland, the rain began pouring as we made our way to the ground. I thought: ‘Oh, here we go again.’
“But I credit our forwards tonight. They were massive. The Blues have a strong forward pack, but our forwards really stepped up, matched fire with fire, and created opportunities for us to score.”
“I’m extremely proud of how the boys went out and chased the game in the second half. We played strategically, placed the ball in front of our forwards, and when they got moving, they powered through decisively. The effort they put in was something to be proud of.”
A pitch invader runs onto the field at Eden Park. Getty
“We haven’t secured a win here since 2020, so it’s always a challenging venue, but this was a fantastic start for us. The competition is demanding, and we need to continuously improve, but we’re proud of this performance.”
While both teams struggled to find their rhythm in a match characterised by scrappy play in dreadful weather, it was the Chiefs who displayed greater tenacity and resolve.
The Blues battled to find their footing despite the return of superstar Beauden Barrett at fullback.
They made a multitude of errors, crumbling under pressure as they began their title defence.
The home side found themselves a man down after replacement prop Josh Fusitu’a was penalised for a high tackle on Chiefs loose forward Finau, which swung momentum in favour of the visitors at a crucial point in the second half.
Fans expressed their discontent regarding an earlier incident when Finau tackled Caleb Clarke in the air, yet Fusitu’a’s foul was identified upon review just before the penalty was awarded.
Dalton Papali’i of the Blues celebrates after scoring a try with Cameron Suafoa. Getty
Later, Finau had to leave the field for a head injury assessment.
As the final quarter approached, the Blues were thrown into disarray when Carter scored, regaining the lead for the Chiefs.
With the rain pouring heavily, the Blues were unable to respond effectively.
The Chiefs took advantage of this, with McKenzie scoring his second try in the dying moments, capping off a brilliant performance after switching to the five-eighth position just before the last quarter.
They embraced their hard-earned victory and celebrated ecstatically.
Despite notable absences like Sam Darry, Hoskins Sotutu (both injured), and Akira Ioane (in Japan), the Blues occasionally looked strong.
Players like Anton Segner and Laghlan McWhannell displayed solid performances, joining skipper Patrick Tuipulotu in the pack.
However, the Chiefs exhibited greater determination compared to last June’s finals loss, aggressively unsettling Cotter’s squad on this occasion.
More notably, they were efficient, scoring 19 unanswered points.
Finau and Vaa’i invigorated their forward pack, pushing the Blues back, despite Harry Plummer’s commendable form from the previous season.
The Blues reverted to their uncompromising style that brought them success last year, creating early pressure.
The Chiefs initially withstood the onslaught until classic missteps allowed McKenzie to set up for the first penalty.
This disrupted the Blues’ momentum, as mistakes amidst a typical Auckland downpour bolstered the Chiefs’ confidence.
McKenzie added another penalty, but it was the Blues who eventually took the first-half lead when Dalton Papali’i scored after a protracted period of pressure, which has become characteristic of Cotter’s side.
The crowd at Eden Park lit up when Papali’i grounded the ball.
They rose to their feet once more as a quick counter saw Tele’a set up AJ Lam, who struck just before half-time.
Nevertheless, the Chiefs maintained their defensive strength, keeping the Blues scoreless after the interval, ultimately diminishing the celebration of All Blacks prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi’s 150th appearance for the Blues.
Looking ahead, the Chiefs will host the Crusaders in Hamilton on Friday night in an intriguing rematch of the 2023 finalists.
Leroy Carter of the Chiefs celebrates a try to Damian McKenzie. Getty
The Blues will travel south to take on the Highlanders in Dunedin next Saturday.
At Eden Park, Auckland: Chiefs 25 (Damian McKenzie 53′, 75′, Leroy Carter 66′ tries; McKenzie 2 conversions, 2 penalties) Blues 14 (Dalton Papali’i 28′, AJ Lam 40′ tries; Beauden Barrett 2 conversions). HT: 6-14
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