In a clash of Super Rugby Pacific’s two standout sides at the top of the table, the Chiefs have emerged 22-17 victors over the Hurricanes in Hamilton, courtesy of a try in Super Point from the returning All Black.
Having been outof action since round four with a hamstring injury, Sititi came off the bench to be the hero for the Chiefs, as part of an outstanding team display for captain Luke Jacobson’s 100th game.
Victory sends the Chiefs top of the table, one point clear of the Hurricanes, who have played one game fewer than most of the chasing pack.
Clark Laidlaw’s side will rue what could have been, after two missed conversion attempts from Ruben Love that would have seen Super Point avoided, and the Hurricanes leave Hamilton as the competition’s best side.
In a clash that might well serve as an All Blacks trial for new coach Dave Rennie, both squads emerged with clear winners in their ranks.
Chiefs lock Josh Lord makes a break against the Hurricanes in Hamilton. Photo / Photosport
Cam Roigard and Du’Plessis Kirifi arguably got the better of their opposites, Cortez Ratima and Luke Jacobson, while Damian McKenzie and Simon Parker can claim bragging rights over Love and Peter Lakai.
The duos of Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Asafo Aumua were evenly matched.
While Friday’s clash between the Blues and Highlanders at Eden Park saw more than a point a minute, fans at FMG Stadium witnessed a more defensive affair between two sides expected to contend for the title.
As ill-discipline kept the Chiefs pinned in their own half in the opening 10 minutes, the Hurricanes needed no second invitation to open the scoring when Billy Procter sent Josh Moorby over in the right corner, exposing his opposite Kyren Taumoefolau coming off his wing.
After going behind, though, the Chiefs came to life to show the Hurricanes they wouldn’t have things all their own way. The 10-12 punch of McKenzie and Tupaea began to assert themselves in the first half, albeit unable to breach the Hurricanes’ defence straight away.
It wasn’t until the 30th minute that the hosts finally opened their account through McKenzie’s boot, but they were breached before the break as Roigard played Lakai in to score under the posts for a 12-3 lead going into the break.
Needing to score next to stop the Hurricanes getting away on them, the Chiefs obliged through Parker, thanks to some quick work at the back of the ruck from Ratima to wrong-foot the visitors’ defence.
As the hour ticked past, and both teams sought a momentum-clinching try, the Hurricanes again laid siege to the Chiefs’ tryline, capped off when Aumua crashed over to put the visitors up 17-10 in the final quarter.
With less than 20 minutes to play, both sides turned to their benches as rain began to fall over Hamilton. It was the Chiefs’ reserves that came to the fore first.
As Sititi put Leroy Carter into a gap, the winger was able to find replacement Daniel Sinkinson, sending him through to score without challenge against his former side. McKenzie’s conversion levelled scores at 17-17 with less than 10 minutes to play.
A wayward late penalty attempt from McKenzie denied the Chiefs the chance to snatch victory inside normal time, while late shouts for a Hurricanes penalty went unanswered before Super Point was needed.
The Chiefs needn’t have worried, as Sititi’s heroics delivered the decisive points. The loosie leapt highest to claim a charged-down dropkick from McKenzie to cross over, in a statement against the former competition leaders.
Both teams will head south to Christchurch for next week’s Super Round, as the Hurricanes face the Brumbies on Saturday, and the Chiefs face the Fijian Drua on Sunday.
