Chiefs beat Highlanders to claim top seed for Super Rugby Pacific playoffs

Tupou Vaa'i scored a hat-trick in the Chiefs' win over the Highlanders. Photo / Getty Images

Highlanders 24

Chiefs 41

The final whistle in the Chiefs’ 41-24 win over the Highlanders put a full stop on two very different regular-season results.

For the Chiefs, the win ensured they would go into the playoffs as the top seed for the second time in the last three years. For the Highlanders, the loss ensured they would finish at the foot of the ladder for the first time since 1997.

It’s been a case of what might have been for the Highlanders this season, who were beaten by seven points or fewer in seven of their 11 losses. But with key players in Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Caleb Tangitau, Ethan de Groot, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Fabian Holland all re-signing on long-term deals, it’s a platform for them to build on in 2026.

Across the park, the back-to-back runners-up again look like they are finding another gear at the right time of the year.

“Although the game wasn’t perfect, we got the win... we’re up the top and we can change our focus to what’s in front of us – the quarter-final next week,” Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson told Sky Sport.

“Credit to the Highlanders. They came out, they were gutsy as tonight. They’ve had a gutsy season, they’ve just been really unlucky. We knew they weren’t going to be easy tonight and they showed that.”

On the back of an 85-7 thumping of Moana Pasifika last week, the Chiefs again raced out of the blocks from the first kick of the game in Dunedin.

Damian McKenzie was pulling the strings of the attack, and it was a masterful chip kick inside to Etene Nanai-Seturo, who linked up with Daniel Rona before Samipeni Finau ultimately scored the first try of the game.

It was the first of three quick tries to the visitors, with Tupou Vaa’i scoring a quick double; one saw him barge over from close range while the second saw him benefit after strong defence from Quinn Tupaea forced a knock-on. The ball fell free, and Vaa’i was there to scoop it up and run away.

Vaa’i ended the match with a hat-trick – again in the right place at the right time as the Highlanders tried a short drop-out in the final minute.

The Chiefs could find themselves without Tupaea next week after the midfielder was taken from the field on a stretcher after a head knock.

Tupaea lay on the ground and received treatment for 10 minutes before he was taken from the field and the game was restarted, but he was back on the Chiefs bench – sporting an impressive shiner – before the end of the game.

The delay in play seemed to take the wind out of the Chiefs’ sails, as the Highlanders hit back through de Groot and Tavatavanawai to trail by just five at halftime.

The Chiefs took advantage of some lapses in the Highlanders’ defence in the second half to extend the lead again, with tries through Xavier Roe and Manasa Mataele.

The Highlanders continued to make the Chiefs work, with Sam Gilbert scoring inside the final 10 minutes to close the gap to 10.

However, Vaa’i’s late try to finish his hat-trick also saw the Chiefs claim the win with a comfortable margin and a bonus point.

Highlanders 24 (Ethan de Groot, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Sam Gilbert tries; Cam Millar 2 cons, pen; Gilbert con)

Chiefs 41 (Tupou Vaa’i 3, Samipeni Finau, Xavier Roe, Manasa Mataele tries; Damian McKenzie 4 cons, pen)

HT: 14-19