Rugby: Chiefs grab thrilling comeback win

Sitiveni Sivivatu of the Chiefs is brought down by Jean De Villiers of the Stormers. Photo / Getty Images

Chiefs 30
Stormers 23

The Chiefs have beaten the Stormers 30-23 in a thrilling comeback at Waikato Stadium.

Despite being played off the park in the opening 40 minutes, the Chiefs came roaring back after the break to snatch a magnificent victory against the Stormers and provide Mils Muliaina with the perfect present to celebrate his 100th Super Rugby appearance.

Muliaina was thrilled to celebrate the milestone with a win at the Chiefs' home ground.

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"For the boys to cap it off like this is outstanding," he told Sky Sports.

The Chiefs had won only five of the thirteen games played between the two sides and that record looked set to continue after a dismal first half.

Stephen Donald opened the scoring for the Chiefs with a penalty on 9 minutes following a head-high tackle by Andries Bekker. But the Stormers' prolific goal-kicker Peter Grant levelled the scores with a penalty for the visitors one minute later.

A Stormers set-piece move after 17 minutes led to the first try of the game. Jean De Villiers released Gio Aplon, who burst through the line, stepping Muliaina and then Sivivatu, to score a tremendous solo effort.

The home side continued to hand the Stormers opportunities by giving away penalties. Persistent pressure from the South Africans led to the inevitable second try. The Stormers set up a rolling maul from the lineout and Schalk Burger dived over to score.

Trailing 20-3, the Chiefs emerged from the break a scarcely-recognisable side from the first half.

It took a penalty try to break the Stormers defence early into the second spell, and it signalled a dramatic shift in momentum for the Chiefs. Richard Kahui broke through the Stormers backline, kicking the ball over the try-line. He failed to ground it, but referee Stuart Dickinson judged Aplon to have interfered with the Chiefs centre and awarded the penalty try.

Aplon was sent to the bin for the infringement and the Chiefs took full advantage of their numerical advantage.

Stephen Donald hooked a kick infield on 45 minutes and the ball bounced awkwardly for Conrad Jantjes. All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu was first to react and grabbed his first try of the match, diving over to narrow the score to 17-20.

A penalty by Grant provided brief respite from the Chiefs onslaught. On 58 minutes, Liam Messam extended the score by taking the ball from the ruck and crashing through a wall of Stormers players next to the posts.

Sivivatu tried to put the game beyond reach in the 76th minute, but his drop-kick skewed woefully wide of the uprights. It didn't matter though, as the Chiefs held on to cap a memorable fight-back.

Schalk Burger lamented a "pretty disgusting" second half and told Sky Sports they couldn't recover after the two Chiefs break-away tries.

The victory puts the Chief into fourth spot in the New Zealand conference on 29 points.

CHIEFS 30 (1 penalty try) (Liam Messam, Sitiveni Sivivatu tries Stephen Donald 3 cons 3 pens) bt STORMERS 23 (Gio Aplon, Schalk Burger tries Peter Grant 2 cons 3 pens) at Waikato Stadium. Referee: Stuart Dickinson.

- Herald online