Highlanders vs Chiefs: Super Rugby live scores, blog, highlights

Thanks for the condolences RT, as the Chiefs did play well, & punished the Landers for their mistakes & bad discipline. But, really, you must be feeling chuffed, after that very good win by your Blues? How good is Rieko going to be, as being a 19 year old, & scoring a trifecta, is some achievement, against some very well seasoned players. No doubt, a star of the future, along with his year older brother Akira, who I also rate highly. No doubt Tana, will be fielding a strong line up, against the Chiefs next weekend, possibly in a game, that should really see where the Blues are at. Good Luck. mate, as my lot will be up against the Saders. Cheers.

Congrats OB, your fellas were to well drilled for this game, & I really was a tad, disappointed in the showing of the Landers, as I know they are better than that. Not good to see Bender go off, as I do think, to a certain extent that the boys lost a little momentum on his departure. But once again Buddy, Congrats.

And Harry, a very smart coach!

Sorry about the loss Muz ... but the Chiefs are a very dangerous side, they can put points on anyone. I also think that their departing coach Dave Rennie is a very good coach who has served his time well not only with the Waikato franchise but also with the U20s and before with Wellington. While my head says Canes to go back to back, the Chiefs have always been my dark horse .. it will be interesting next week when they host the mighty Blues!

Normally with a box kick there will be a chaser coming from an onside position that will very quickly put all those lineout players onside. That's not to say that no players ever try to sneak an advantage but yes if they do advance then yes they are offside. But as Die Hard says...this has always been the law.

I'll take that to start the season but, a lot of the pre-game news was about the HL's win streak against the Chiefs these past 3-4 seasons. Everyone seemed to forget that the Chiefs were also riding a win streak - their win streak in the season openers. I think its now up to 6 wins after, last night's match. Their demise as the season progressed was injuries and the Chiefs over recent times, seemed to be the most affected team in NZ conference and yet, still managed to be there at the business end of the season. I know they've already lost a key prop and HB but just for once, can I and my fellow Chiefs supporters look up to the rugby gods for some respite this season.......?? Back to the game - for an opener, I thought it was brutal. The tackling by both sides was fearless and ferocious. Players put their bodies on the line and yet the skill factors from everyone, was IMO, just sub-lime considering the tackle impacts, that were being delivered. Shades of typical AB rugby - lose all the stats and yet win the most important. I thought the Chiefs would be out for the count midway in the 2nd half, with all the tackling they had to complete. They held, they scrambled, they won crucial turn-overs when they had to, they conceded penalties when in my rose-tinted glasses they shouldn't have and they managed to somehow control the pace, to their speed rather than, the HLs speed. The Chiefs were lucky - but, I was glad the bounce went their way cos so many times, the HLs kept coming and kept coming. Unstoppable I would've thought when the final qtr started. So, I'll say it again - I'll take that one to open the season. Now, its a game against that other team that wears a blue jersey......it never ceases does it??? Merciless......!!

Well really Tony, wouldn't have had a party at his house last night, as his team, my team, the Landers, got off to a bad start. Congrats to the Chiefs, on their victory. Well played, as they really capitalized on the Landers mistake ridden game, & as we all know, that is what the game can be about. It made the missus happy, being an avid Chiefs supporter, & it was my turn to take it on the chin. How good was James Lowe, in the first 40? He really was a thief in the night, & made the boys from the deep south pay, with those stupid mistakes. Good luck to him, for being "Johnny on the spot"!. Being early season, I think I can honestly say, that there will be a drastic improvement, in the way the Landers play the game, as the season moves on.

So that makes every player in a line-out offside from a box kick if they move forward. Never seen that called.

I was impressed by the Chiefs. And I don't enjoy them. But they are impressive. Such a smart rugby team.

HeyBrent; kudos for doing a great call mate. ps. Check out the spelling of 'Sopoaga' mate! ;-)

Well not quite. If you are in front of your kicker you should not advance until a team mate coming from an onside position puts you onside. Coltman was penalised for this tonight. He was in front of his kicker but by the time he was put onside he had already advanced and was rightly penalised.

That has always been the law Fujimo

Seven points is the ball game. Very disappointing (1) not 5 metres (2) forward pass. Why didn't the AR call it or at least refer it to the TMO? Also, have the Laws changed that a player following-up a kick can be put on-side by someone who runs from behind the kicker?

Congrats Chiefs, great away win, with a BP to boot. Tremendous defence. Cheers Brent for the blog.

Defensive masterclass by the Chiefs tonight.