Chiefs 27
Reds 15
The Chiefs have shown their championship mettle by battling past the Reds and back to the top of the Super Rugby standings.
Clayton McMillan’s side edged a showdown in Hamilton that was much closer than the final margin suggested, crossing twice in the final 10 minutes to leapfrog their opponents on Friday night.
In a showdown between two teams with two combined losses this season, staunch defence and miserable conditions ensured little would separate the sides.
The difference was eventually provided by the Chiefs’ accuracy and persistence – along with another big boost from their bench in Shaun Stevenson’s 100th game.
McMillan made seven changes from the team who eventually overpowered Moana Pasifika before the bye, keeping four capped All Blacks forwards in reserve. And once the reinforcements eventually arrived, the Chiefs took a stranglehold as replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho crossed for the decisive try.
That provided yet more misery in Hamilton for the Reds, who had taken out three of the previous four regular-season meetings between the teams while seeing their last two seasons ended in the quarter-final stage at FMG Stadium Waikato.
The Queensland side still proved their lofty position this year was a fair reflection of their quality, showing resoluteness in defence and bravery on attack.
Despite the wet weather limiting the number of points on offer, neither captain was shy about turning down shots at goal during a first half in which periods of pressure were ended by errors more often than the opposition.
Luke Jacobson was the first to ensure his own decision would be rewarded, starting a spell of ascendancy for a home side who initially looked slick with ball in hand as they monopolised possession.
The Reds in contrast saw their early chances curtailed by handling errors, but when they did string some phases together their threat was immediately clear. As they have all season, the visitors passed up an easy opportunity for three and came away instead with five, after an unstoppable lineout drive finished off by Matt Faessler.
Mistakes began creeping into the Chiefs’ game as the Reds offered tests under the high ball. But the hosts’ ability to quickly turn defence into attack remained unchanged, barely repelled on their second trip deep into opposition territory and forced to settle for the sticks.
That provided a slim lead they seemed set to take into halftime only for a stroke of luck and a bit of opportune brilliance from Joe Brial pulling his side level as the hooter sounded.
The likelihood of a similarly even second-half battle was lessened moments after the break as one-cap All Black Jeffery Toomaga-Allen was unfortunate to be sent to the sin bin for a cleanout that led to head contact.
But the Reds made light work of their numerical disadvantage and should have taken their first lead, only for Harry McLaughlin-Phillips to spoil a spectacular break by botching the grounding. Then, after a penalty from the subsequent scrum was once again kicked from in front of the posts to the corner, the Chiefs defence held firm.
McMillan had nonetheless seen enough and turned to his bench, with the reinforcements quickly improving field position and allowing Damian McKenzie to break the deadlock from the tee.
The Reds’ resolute defence was being hampered by their increasing ill-discipline as they battled to keep the margin at three heading into the final 10 minutes. And eventually all the infringing gave the Chiefs enough chances to break through, with Taukei’aho rumbling over for a try that confirmed his team’s ascent to the top of the table.
Chiefs 27 (Luke Jacobson, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Xavier Roe tries; Damian McKenzie 3 cons, 2 pens)
Reds 15 (Matt Faessler, Joe Brial, Tom Lynagh tries)
HT: 10-10