Rugby: Landmark opening victory for Chiefs

The roller coaster match was decided in the last few moments. Photo / Getty Images

Only week one of 14, but mark this Chiefs' victory down as a landmark performance.

Not only was their victory carved out in the most unlikely, dramatic manner, but it was the first time they've won their opening match in six years.

The franchise has earned all its "slow-starting Chiefs" accolades. You have to go back to February 21, 2004, for the last time they started a Super rugby season on the front foot, that night beating the Hurricanes 19-7.

In between times they have been beaten by the Waratahs, Sharks, Brumbies, Blues and Crusaders, with all those matches, bar the 2007 match against the Brumbies, away from Waikato Stadium.

Coach Ian Foster said the conditions - the match was played in a near deluge at times - meant his side were not able to conduct their normal game plan, which was to blow the opposition off the ball at the breakdown and attack out wide.

"It was an unlikely sort of Chiefs' win," he said. "We won it through discipline and patience."

Although the Chiefs eventually won the hard way, kicking a penalty as time was up on the clock, they were well worth the four points against a niggardly Sharks side.

"I felt we deserved to win," Foster said. "It was a bit of a roller-coaster in the last few minutes, but we deserved our luck."

The Sharks also deserved everything they got, except the bonus point for keeping within seven points.

Captain John Smit was sinbinned by New Zealand referee Keith Brown in the first half for a blatant foul at the breakdown and could have been joined by more.

But the pivotal point in the match came inside the final 10 minutes when hulking hooker Bismarck du Plessis was shown a yellow card for a needless late charge.

In his absence the Chiefs scored a go-ahead try and conversion, threw away the lead with a silly infringement, then were the benefactors of more Sharks' indiscipline in the final minute.

"It's pretty clear the refs have been out to make a statement, particularly when guys are off their feet," Foster said of a match that was marred by poor handling and penalties. "I thought Keith Brown stuck to his guns pretty well."

Sharks coach John Plumtree wasn't joining the Durban public in lamenting the performance of Brown.

"There were a couple of harsh decisions in the last 15 minutes that probably cost us the game, but we can't sit here and blame the ref, we just have to get used to new interpretations.

"It's harsh, but it's part of the game," he said.

It was an admirable victory for the Chiefs for any number of reasons, but the fact they did so in hostile territory, in appalling conditions, while shorn of several key players, proved that they are a team to watch.

Mils Muliaina and Lelia Masaga for different reasons never made the flight, Sione Lauaki and Callum Bruce were ruled out and Dwayne Sweeney was a late withdrawal after he picked up a fever in the Durban heat.

Foster pointed to the "terrific job" done by senior players, particularly Liam Messam and Stephen Donald.

He was also impressed by the contribution of lock Culum Retallick, when he came on for Kevin O'Neill, who has damaged his Achilles.

"He had a big impact," said Foster. "He has a knack of being in the right spots at the right time."