Headlined by hat-tricks to left wing Leroy Carter and halfback Cortez Ratima, the Chiefs appear to be hitting their straps at the right time.
Since their loss to the Hurricanes three weeks ago, the Chiefs have looked like a team on a mission; first with a double-digit win over the Crusaders in Christchurch then returning from a bye week to put 85 points on Moana Pasifika.
Moana Pasifika came into the game sixth on the ladder, looking to earn their first playoff berth and off a good win over the Blues. Throughout the season, Moana Pasifika have beaten all four other New Zealand teams and have, at their best, looked like a force.
They barely threw a punch against the Chiefs.
“Pretty happy with that,” Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson told Sky Sport. “I think the biggest thing was holding Moana to seven. They’ve been an awesome attacking side this year and that’s been one of their real strengths, so to see seven next to their name, I think that’s the biggest win tonight.”
The home side were clinical in the execution and were smart in possession. Even when Moana Pasifika were able to disrupt them, it wasn’t long before the Chiefs were running it back again.
It was a stroke of luck that led to the opening points of the night.
Moana Pasifika lock Sam Slade went up to challenge an attacking lineout and disrupted it, only for the ball to fall into the hands of Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho. A couple of phases later, first-five Damian McKenzie put fullback Shaun Stevenson through a gaping hole for the try.
A yellow card to first five-eighths Patrick Pellegrini for a high shot on Chiefs right wing Emoni Narawa did the visitors no favours, as the hosts added two more tries during that 10 minutes with a numbers advantage – through lock Tupou Vaa’i, then Ratima – as the Chiefs seemed not to put a foot wrong in the opening 20 or so minutes. Pellegrini’s was the first of two yellow cards in the first half, with Slade also spending time in the sin bin late in the half.
By the break, the Chiefs had pushed the lead out to 31-0. However, it wasn’t over by any means, as Moana Pasifika almost chased down a similar deficit when the sides last met.
There was no complacency from the Chiefs this time around, however.
Moana Pasifika were able to get on the board through openside flanker Ardie Savea in the second half, but the Chiefs continued to build pressure and reap the rewards to claim the biggest win of the Super Rugby Pacific season and move one point clear at the top of the table.
“We really showed a ruthless edge there which, going back to last time we played Moana, we didn’t have in the second half. A quality team, they can come back from that,” Jacobson said.
“I was really pleased with the boys being able to stick at their role, nail the small things, build them up and it added up to a few good tries.”
The Chiefs (46 points) – who have a points differential of 214 – sit ahead of the Crusaders (45) and Brumbies (43), with the Hurricanes the next-best on 34.
Chiefs 85 (Leroy Carter 3, Cortez Ratima 3, Penalty try, Shaun Stevenson, Tupou Vaa’i, Quinn Tupaea, Damian McKenzie, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Daniel Rona tries; McKenzie 9 cons)
Moana Pasifika 7 (Ardie Savea try; Patrick Pellegrini con)
HT: 31-0
