Chiefs vs Crusaders highlights: Chiefs win historic Fiji clash

That was just about one of the worst displays from a ref outside of any time Wayne Barnes takes the field

The ref for this game is very lucky his total incompetence didn't affect the result 1st. Dagg clearly carried the ball back into the 22 - it had stopped - and it should have been a 5m scrum 2nd. Lowe clearly had is feet over the dead ball line before grounding - it should have been a scrum back in the Crusaders half 3rd. Nadalo clearly knocks the ball on (from a high kick) and a Crusaders player in front of him catches the ball - the Ref allows play to continue It is very frustrating when such obvious errors are made

Good win from the Chiefs, they look like they have that real passion back in the performance, the way they get up in defence and put real pressure on the opposition. Line speed forced the Crusaders to spill plenty of ball tonight and our lineout maul defence was great. Kane Hames made a huge difference in the scrum and Hika hooked the ball well under pressure in the first half. Donald was great again for the Chiefs leading from the front and making good decisions and plenty of strong tackles. Aaron Cruden still frustrates the hell out of me after once again trying to run the ball from our own 22, having passed up two opportunities to clear the ball, his attack at all costs mentality almost cost us again thankfully the Crusaders failed to convert the opportunity. It has become a serious chink in Crudens game, his inability to make good decisions regarding when to chance the arm and when to play smart. He is a brilliant attacker but his decision making is seriously lacking balance and it's going to cost him his All Black jersey if he can't find that balance. The Chiefs have unlocked some real talent in Sanders and Seu and have backed it up again with the introduction of Boshier and Brown who both have been outstanding. Cane made some strong tackles but as captain he needs to get stuck into his little wizards in Weber, McKenzie and Cruden and ensure they play just a little bit smarter more often in future. Little brain farts like McKenzie taking a delayed quick tap on halfway (which i believe was all Crudens idea), Cruden chosing to take the running option from our 22 rather then clearing it and eventually we turned it over. And Webber putting up a box kick bomb instead of kicking the ball out after the siren had gone which allowed the Crusaders to score before halftime. The Chiefs are looking in a good space right now and hopefully we can get Ngatai back on the paddock before we face the Highlanders in the last round.

My old man doesn't usually lose the plot like i do but even he could see this ref was a joke. Crusaders had a 16th man and the Chiefs still got the job done. Very satisfying.

Haha! ... you are right Chook... in Singers at the moment. Just in from dinner and missed the games. Missed Mr Hartman's commentary 'as it happened too but as you can see, 'catchin' up with the game' from the start of the blog. Thanks Nicholas

What an interesting game OB. Congrats on your men running Victorious once again over my Crusaders. The Chiefs played a well balanced game,contested where and when it mattered,took the points on offer when they could and generally made better choices on the deck. And I was checking out Franks vs Hames and wondered why Franks did not ajust or Todd did not replace him sooner with Moody. Kudos to Hames,he was outstanding as was the entire Chiefs front row. And Webber take a bow..bloody hell that man has some speed. He impressed me along with Damien and Donald. And I cannot agree more about your frustrations towards Briant. I am the 1st one to shout "OFF WITH HIS HEAD" even when it's my own team, and especialy when it's my own team. And he missed and ignored some very key Crusaders errors that would have made that scoreboard a nightmare for any Crusaders Fan.. As for the Crusaders.. Situational awareness bad decision making,and not just from Read but the entire team Toddy included. And the Achilles heel of the Crusaders...not being able to Finish what they start. Allot of Respect for that Chiefs defence. They took the Opening game Onslaught as per usual Crusaders style and I was cringing..crying actualy that we couldn't convert that effort into points..facepalm. A season long Crusader huge ass "Nigle". Be blessed OB.

OOOPS!! - Seta wasn't the biggest onfield was he?? - but, you knew I meant the biggest, Chiefs back.

When I saw the first TV broadcast and it was persisting down, my first thoughts were how was our set-piece, going to handle the situation?? The first scrum gave me a huge lift when Hames, got right underneath Franks and kept his side up. The next few scrums after that, just kept the Chiefs on the positive.....well done, Mr Hames. When the Chiefs won their own lineouts, I felt even more re-assured.....the only concern I then had was, Mr Briant and, he didn't disappoint me. I mentioned earlier that I hoped if, the Chiefs could win their own set-piece, then the game would be won in the backs. I think that's exactly where the result eventuated - in the backs but, who would've thought it started, from a small kick infield, from the biggest back, on the paddock. Defence was quite exceptional Digsy but, I have to lay my cards down, to the Chiefs forwards....they held up against what is really, suppose to be, a pretty darn good, if not the best, forward pack in the comp. Yep I agree - they look like they're coming good at the right time but, there's still a couple of clanger matches, to go.

You're too kind moa to consider "silly" decisions.....it makes Briant's incompetence, look stupid. Oh, hang on a minute......mmmmmm!!

More important is that Whitely, is out for the rest of SR.....

Chinmay... weather it appears is a prickly subject at the mo :) Yeah... bring on the RC as there's nothing better than being smacked again, and again if you're a Wallaby supporter.

You must be happy though OB? Defence was very good, far more cohesive performance than the middle period of the season. Appear to be coming good at the right time.

Some silly decision making at times but great game and advert for the game in the islands; here's hoping that it becomes a regular thing.

If Jantjies plays like he did for the Boks, then the Lions might find it tough to top the overall ladder.

Haha Alex... I call it sort of like rain! :))

Absolutely agree with you on both points....cheers Suva and cheers to the Chiefs, for taking their home game, to the Islands.

Hopefully the last round matches (Highlanders-Chiefs & Crusaders-Hurricanes) will determine the overall top qualifier, but I have a bad feeling that the Lions will finish top of the overall log. They will be very hard to beat over at Ellis Park.

Close call but in my one-eyed perspective, its mainly because of the ref's, incompetence. He avoided issuing a yellow to either Ellis or Read and he avoided calling a penalty against Alaalatoa, during those frantic final minutes. He's a plodder and should be sent back to club rugby......oh, hang on minute - I can't expect that outcome, upon club rugby.

So the Chiefs stranglehold on the Crusaders continues. Can't remember the last time they lost to them. I think it's 8 out of the last 10 now. Saders should have taken the points on offer earlier, waited too long before ultimately taking the 3 points.

He did it twice! Timing and commitment