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A decade after the Chiefs defeated the Brumbies to secure back-to-back titles, the men from Hamilton are back in the final as they knocked out Stephen Larkham’s side in the semi-finals in a grind in Waikato.
On a wet night when taking points was the order of the evening, Damian McKenzie’s perfect evening at the kicking tee – his second faultless match from the place kick – saw the Chiefs progress to the final by winning 19-6. Brodie Retallick’s try in the 78th minute sealed it moments after McKenzie sliced past Tom Hooper.
The Brumbies will rue five crucial minutes from the 67th minute, which began after turning down a difficult shot from out wide that could have seen the visitors level up the score at 9-9.
While the Brumbies won the lineout seven metres out from the Chiefs’ line, replacement halfback Ryan Lonergan was deemed to have knocked-on at the resulting ruck as Pita Gus Sowakula jumped over the ruck to force the error.
Compounding the mistake, Lonergan got a fingertip on the clearing exit which allowed the home side to get the lineout throw.
The Chiefs have edged past the Brumbies at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton to set up a final against the Crusaders. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Moments later, Tom Wright opted to run back McKenzie’s clearing kick and was held up, allowing the Chiefs a scrum feed. From the set-piece, the home side won a penalty.
Up step McKenzie from 48m, as the All Blacks utility back kicked the home side further clear to 12-6.
It felt as if the game was gone when Noah Lolesio, who came on after 30 minutes for a concussed and bloody Jack Debreczeni, kicked out on the full from the kick restart.
While the Brumbies had time and space to come, Wright’s forward pass, which continued a frustrating and inaccurate night for the Wallabies fullback that would have raised Eddie Jones’ eyebrows, all but ended their hopes.
Damian McKenzie was the star of the show for the Chiefs during their semi-final win over the Brumbies at FMG Stadium Waikato, on June 17, 2023 in Hamilton. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Retallick ended the Brumbies’ 2023 hopes, as well as Laurie Fisher’s desire of finishing his time with the franchise with silverware, as he smashed his way over the line to seal the match.
James Slipper, who was forced off for a short-time late in the first-half after copping a high shot, summed up his side’s feeling.
“Gutted,” he said.
“We had a good season and we came here pretty confident. We knew we had a job to do, it’s a pretty good team we’re up against tonight, and we did push them. Just a couple of big moments didn’t go our way and we end up falling short.”
He wasn’t wrong, with the Chiefs’ crucial turnover on their own line the decisive moment of the match.
“We worked our way down to their tryline, we went for a maul and we wanted to put them under pressure, but they turned us over there. That was a big play,” Slipper said.
“They ended up going down the field and putting us back under pressure. It’s going to be hard watching that one again. But the effort that the boys put in tonight, I’m proud of them.”
In a ding-dong battle, the biggest lead in the match was six points until Retallick’s late try.
Before then, both sides went toe-to-toe in an enthralling game despite the low-scoring affair in New Zealand’s north island.
The Brumbies had plenty of possession and territory in the early stages, but just like their regular-round match in Canberra last month the Chiefs’ rock solid defence was on display.
It forced the Brumbies into silly mistakes, as Wright put the ball on the toe and sought space in-behind the Chiefs’ line as the visitors had more than a dozen phases around the home side’s 22m line. Yet all it did was relieve the pressure as Shaun Stevenson belted the ball down field over half way.
McKenzie then put the home side on the scoreboard first, converting a simple shot at goals to punish Tamati Tua for not rolling away quick enough.
Making matters worse, Debreczeni missed a relatively simple shot at goals soon after as Nic White smartly fired a ball into Aidan Ross who was trying to scramble back on side.
As Sam Cane showed his worth at the contact zone and at the breakdown, the Brumbies were pinged again soon after as Hooper was penalised for blocking halfback Brad Weber. McKenzie stepped up to make it 6-0.
A high shot on a Slipper saw Lolesio cut the margin to 6-3.
It looked the Chiefs would extend their lead in the minutes before half-time as they turned the screws on the Brumbies.
Back to back penalties almost saw the Brumbies shown a yellow card, but some how the Chiefs couldn’t score. Twice the home side were held up, as the home side strangely played on quickly rather than backing their set-piece.
But a brain explosion from Wright, who sought the sideline with time up on the clock from the drop-kick restart, as his kick failed to go into touch and saw the Chiefs quickly back on attack.
A high shot saw referee Nic Berry warn the Brumbies one last time, but incredibly the visitors forced a knock-on from the resulting scrum as Lolesio, Ollie Sapsford and Rob Valetini, who was the Brumbies’ best and confirmed his status as Australia’s best forward, gave the visitors something to cheer about going into half-time.
McKenzie took another shot in the 53rd minute, but Lolesio cut the margin to three once more after banging over a penalty from straight in front.
But the Brumbies’ inability to seize the moment in the 67th minute came back to haunt the visitors.
In a flash their season was ended at the semi-final stage just like in 2022.
The Chiefs will host the Crusaders in next Saturday’s final.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.