Foster - Oh, what a lovely finish it was

Chiefs 31 Highlanders 8


Chiefs coach Ian Foster won't indulge in that favourite pastime of fans everywhere, the What If game.

But as the dust settles on another Super 12 campaign, his players wouldn't be human if they didn't let their minds wander back to the might-have-beens which could have had them back in the semifinals for a second straight year.

As it was, their resounding win over the Highlanders in Hamilton left them sixth - four wins and a draw in their final six games - and alongside the peerless Crusaders as New Zealand's form teams at the end of the round robin.

Whereas the Christchurch franchise are like the Avon River which flows through that city - they just keep rolling along - the Chiefs took time finding the route to success.

Handicapped by injuries early on, once they worked out their most appropriate methods, and had their key personnel in place, they were box office.

Rather than ponder the fourth-round loss to the Reds, or missed opportunities against the Brumbies or Bulls, they could reflect on rip-roaring rugby they produced against the Stormers, the Cats, in the second half against the Brumbies and the first half on Saturday night, when they buried the Highlanders, who were eyeing the semifinals, with a 31-point salvo.

"It's a lovely way to end," Foster said, refusing to look back. "All you can do is look at our next challenge. You can only win games that are in front of you, rather than sulking about games behind us."

He reckoned the first half against the Highlanders was "way up there" in terms of their best passage of rugby this year.

"Against a team who had a lot to play for, I thought it was outstanding."

They were led by Jono Gibbes at his finest. His lineout work was superb, he covered acres of ground and one pickup at full speed when the ball flew clear off a rebound was brilliant.

Marty Holah, Steven Bates and Sione Lauaki form a loose forward trio who outshone their vaunted rivals, Paul Miller, Josh Blackie and captain Craig Newby while the scrum, in which veteran Michael Collins had the perfect sendoff to London Irish with a sterling performance against the All Black test tighthead, Carl Hayman, stood firm.

The flash and dash came out wide where Sitiveni Sivivatu polished his credentials for higher honours with a three-try salvo, and others like Mark Ranby, Sosene Anesi and Keith Lowen all had their moments.

It was a game of one half, or to be more precise, one half and one quarter.

The Chiefs lacerated the Highlanders' defence with powerful running complemented by using clever angles in the first half.

They retained the ball for long periods and the pack snuffed any Highlanders threats. It wasn't until the 28th minute, when Hayden Pedersen made a clean break, that the Highlanders managed a genuine attacking threat.

Lauaki's try came from sustained pressure, and he marched past a weak Nick Evans tackle, while Anesi's try was built on good work from David Hill and Ranby inside.

The Highlanders predictably gave it a decent shot in the third quarter, but they were facing a defensive line with the bit between their teeth and a resolve not to buckle.

Lauaki shuddered Seilala Mapusua with one don't-argue tackle and Ranby epitomised the Chiefs' second half by chasing down and catching Pedersen from behind as he was heading for the line after a fine break. Newby got the only points of the half, scoring near the end, but it was poor consolation and far too late to matter.