The Chiefs have delivered a lesson in intensity to the Stormers, turning on the razzle-dazzle in a 60-21 Super Rugby quarter-final win in Cape Town.
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Inspired by 25 points to brilliant fullback Damian McKenzie and a team desire to play at speed, the Chiefs scored eight tries to three to book a semi-final against the top-seeded Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
The other semi-final will pit the Lions against the defending champion Highlanders in Johannesburg next Sunday morning (AEST).
The Stormers hadn’t played against a New Zealand team all season and had little idea how to shut down opponents playing with their trademark flair.
It was the heaviest-ever home defeat for the Stormers while the Chiefs reached 60 points for just the fourth time in their 280-game history.
Halves Brad Weber and Aaron Cruden dictated terms behind a relentless forward pack while outside backs James Lowe and McKenzie were heavily involved, most notably during a purple patch in the first half when they scored four tries in 20 minutes.
Co-captain Cruden praised his side’s willingness to attack.
“We were lucky we got off to a really good start and we were able to keep that tempo going for 80 minutes,” he said.
“We’ve got a young group of guys that are really enjoying each other’s company and each other’s passion out on the field.”
Cruden admitted another long flight ahead of the semi-finals would be a challenge to overcome.
“It’s going to be very tough. We’ll just have to make sure we recover well, give it our all and see what happens.”
Stormers prop Vincent Koch scored at the start and finish of the first half yet they trailed 34-14 at the break after conceding tries to Weber, Lowe, wing Sam McNicol and No.8 Tom Sanders.
McKenzie, who kicked nine of 10 shots at goal, crossed early in the second half after his pack claimed a scrum tighthead to effectively seal the outcome.
Nizaam Carr bagged the Stormers’ third try before three Chiefs reserves – Hika Elliot, Tevita Koloamatangi and Tawera Kerr-Barlow – crossed in the final five minutes.
It was a flat end to the Stormers career of retiring captain Schalk Burger, the long-serving Springboks loose forward.
“There’s not much you can say about that performance. We basically got blown out of the water after 20 minutes. We never stopped trying but it was sort of a horror movie for us out there,” Burger said.
“Sometimes the harder you try, the worse things get.”
chracol
Guest
"At the end of the day, they were way too good for us." "The conference system is far too complicated, there aren't many who even understand it." These are comments from Burger and Fleck.
Scrumma
Guest
A new year now pine tree, out with the old and in with the new.
A.O.Tear Rower
Guest
D.McKenzie has so much potential. I thought Barrett was excellent for the Canes but then I thought Cruden was even better for the Chiefs. Its entirely possible that the ABs will have the 3 best flyhalfs in the world over the next few years. Too good.
Bakkies
Guest
That's what Burger said as well.
taylorman
Roar Guru
And this year they had the added disadvantage of not playing a NZ side. First one they play they couldn't handle it. So all year they've had it too easy. Said that would happen before a game was played where others preferred to argue the advantages of their easy conference. Well, that didn't help them much did it?
Foxxf1re
Guest
It really is getting a little much reading all the whinnying about travel. It's tough, it's not fair, but it is how it's setup. The chiefs deserve to be here and they deserve to go to the semis. It's terrible travel and they didn't get a home OF, but they knew that going in. Every team does. All teams from the five countries now the odds. Its time to put on your big boy pants and so complaining about the travel. What about the jaguars and sunwolves for travel?
In Brief
Guest
This weekend, with the exception of the Brumbies match, has been a joy to watch. Great rugby all round.
Paul from Melbourne
Guest
The Chief could be playing the Landers in Dunedin
Dave H
Roar Rookie
I think you've got it spot on but I'll take it one step further. Canes Lions final = Canes by a narrow win
Jerry
Guest
You do get moaning if the disparity is obvious - hence them changing the playoff system in the NBA so that overall record, rather than division winners, is the determining factor for home advantage.
Bakkies
Guest
'Bakkies – The Chiefs should of got a home QF because they were 4th in overall points' That's irrelevant what matters is that they finished third in their group. That's how the conference systems work and the Chiefs governing union signed up for it. That's why the NZRU's whinging about the system is pathetic. Take a look at the recent NFL season and the same thing occurred. You don't see whinging from the Septics over third ranked teams in a group not making the playoffs or hosting home games if they get wildcards despite having superior records over other teams that topped groups. They know how the system works and just accept it.
Pinetree
Guest
Bakkies - The Chiefs should of got a home QF because they were 4th in overall points, beating the Stormers by having more wins than them as they were both on 51 points. If the table was based on points it would look like: Hurricanes 53 Lions 52 Highlanders 52 (same amount of wins as the Lions but lower diff,) Chiefs 51 (11 wins) Stormers 51 (10 wins) Crusaders 50 Brumbies 43 (10wins) Sharks 43 (9 wins)
MH01
Guest
I Suggest you read the competition format.
Bakkies
Guest
Their attack is not good enough given their player pool they have to recruit from and the defence has deteriorated since Neibaber stopped coaching it.
Bakkies
Guest
Well the Chiefs came third in their pool so why should they get a home Final?
MH01
Guest
What is with the stormers and finals....seem like a team that goes into holiday mode as soon as they qualify.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I think that is the second most likely outcome, the most likely being the canes will beat the Chiefs, the Lions will beat the Highlanders. Both have significant home and non travel affected advantages. I think a Lions Canes final is the most likely outcome.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Chracol, if both Highlanders and Chiefs win their semi's then the one that would be at the most travle disadvantaged would be the Highlanders (see my above post)
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Now what if the scenario was that the Highlanders overcome the Lions in the semi in J'burg and the Chiefs overcome the Hurricanes in Wellington. The venue for the final would then be in Dunedin home ground of the highest ranked left, the Highlanders. Yet the Highlanders would need to make the long trek home, compared to the Chiefs who will have returned back to NZ, a week earlier. Advantage Chiefs!
Nikko
Guest
This guy has it all figured out. Why bother playing the games...