Chiefs
23
Match Complete
Hurricanes
23
| D. McKenzie |  | 57 | ||
| 52 |  | B. Barrett | ||
| 50 |  | W. Goosen | ||
| 42 | | B. Barrett | ||
| D. McKenzie | | 41 | ||
| D. McKenzie | | 33 | ||
| 26 | | J. Barrett | ||
| D. McKenzie | | 20 | ||
| D. McKenzie | | 19 | ||
| 15 | | B. Barrett | ||
| 14 | | M. Proctor | ||
| 7 | | B. Barrett | ||
| D. McKenzie | | 2 | ||
| A. Lienert-Brown | | 1 |
| 2 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 3 | Penalty Goals | 3 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Match preview
By Daniel Jeffrey
The Chiefs will be desperate for a win tonight as they kick off Round 5 of Super Rugby against the Hurricanes in Hamilton. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:35pm (AEDT).
Touted as one of the contenders heading into this Super Rugby season, the Chiefs have had a woeful start to the year. They’ve lost four from four, including some particularly embarrassing performances against the Brumbies, Sunwolves and Crusaders.
Tonight, they have the unenviable task of trying to break their duck against a formidable Hurricanes outfit. The Wellington side come into this one with a 3-1 record, their only defeat of the year to date coming against the Crusaders in Round 2.
That said, the Canes were lucky to get across the line against the Highlanders last week, and have shaken things up for tonight’s encounter. Ben Lam is out of the squad, with Wes Goosen into the starting line-up on the wing, while former Wallaby Toby Smith will wear the no.1 jersey, forming an entirely new-look prop pairing with Ben May.
All eyes will be on Ngani Laumape in this one. The All Blacks inside centre has been right up there with the best players in the competition so far, putting in a couple of barnstorming performances in the last two weeks. Playing his 50th game for the Canes tonight, Laumape’s a good bet to add to his five tries for the year so far.
On the opposite side of the field, the Chiefs have made six changes to last week’s starting line-up, but there’s one in particular everyone will be watching: moving Damian McKenzie to from flyhalf to fullback. The three-time Super Rugby player of the year hasn’t been at his lethal best playing in the no.10 jersey this year, and his shift to the back has been something of an inevitability.
Marty McKenzie will start at first-five, while Michael Allardice is back in the side to partner skipper Brodie Retallick in the second row.
Prediction
On form, this one should be all Hurricanes. But there were signs of weakness in their pack last week – not ideal when you’re going up against a side featuring the best lock in world rugby, Retallick. McKenzie’s move to fullback should go some way to rejuvenating both the Chiefs’ attack, and their season.
Chiefs by six.
Be sure to follow all the Super Rugby action tonight right here on The Roar as the Chiefs host the Hurricanes from 5:35pm (AEDT).
Old Bugger
Guest
Gees, did I just see the lights flicker on, for a lil bit???
Coconut
Guest
That's strange, he thinks very highly of you..
Jimmy
Roar Rookie
I thought that at first too, but then I saw comments from people in ChCh saying they couldn’t wait to get home and watch the game with their families and take their mind off everything. I guess that’s the great thing about sport - it takes us away from reality? I thought a draw was a perfect result, even though I’m a die hard Hurricanes fan. Plus it was a cracker of a game - couldn’t have asked for a more entertaining 80mins. I think it was pretty fitting.
Aussikiwi
Guest
It felt strange that this game went ahead at all given the magnitude of the tragedy in Christchurch earlier in the day. A draw was a fitting result on a night when there could be no celebrations.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Enjoyed the game,cheers New Zealand
Lara
Guest
ALB starting to show his class n at 23 , he is showing his leadership skills in this Chief backline.....Crotty , watch out.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Well Daniel, I thought Canes by 6 and you reckoned Chiefs by 6 so we cancel each other out and the mean of our tips is a draw! Hey presto! we BOTH won. :)
Mark
Guest
Oh Dear Damian MacKenzie must be the dumbest player on earth Its injury time and he calls a move to the sideline when it should be heading to the centre to either draw a penalty or setup a drop goal He then gets the ball and he kicks it away Which then puts them on the back foot - from which they knock on How this idiot gets anywhere near a Super Rugby side let alone the AB's is beyond me Dumber than the Dumbest being in the entire Universe
Machpants
Roar Guru
Firing a few blanks to, Beaudy not exactly leading his team, Jordie and DMac some awful kick options... But yeah sensible rugby took a back seat, no surprise
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Look what happens when you play players in position! DMac is an incredible fullback, but not a great 10. Hopefully he is played at 15 from now on and we can witness more of his beautiful play like that.
Corw
Roar Rookie
Glad to see the Chiefs showing up. Thanks for the commentary. See you in the Brumbies Tahs thread
Highlander
Guest
Probably a fair result Some middling option taking mixed in with some outrageous ball skills AB's all firing
Oliver Matthews
Expert
FINAL SCORE!! The Chiefs and the Hurricanes have played out a tense draw as neither side could strike the winning blow. For the Chiefs that was their best performance and best result this season and they've got to take heart from that. Damian McKenzie looked 10 times better at full back instead of fly half and you'd expect to see him there for a while now. The Canes will be frustrated - they had chances to win that one and didn't execute well enough. They also had huge periods of possession and territory but didn't turn that into enough points. The Chiefs will get more out of that result than the Canes and the home side will hope that this is where their season restarts and builds from. The Canes will feel that's a key conference win gone missing and will be frustrated. Thanks for all your comments! There's more Super Rugby straight away with the all Aussie clash as the Brumbies host the Waratahs in Canberra - join us there in a few minutes for live coverage. Chiefs: 23 Hurricanes: 23
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Well who saw that coming?
JP
Guest
Tipsters must love that result
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Chiefs drop it but it's backwards and Damian McKenzie dives on it to keep possession. Oh ball is lost forward and the ref says that's enough. 23 all draw!!!!! Chiefs: 23 Hurricanes: 23 Time: 83:30
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Chiefs have it though - the ball is lost at the breakdown and the home side counter! They are just 30m from the Canes line. Chiefs: 23 Hurricanes: 23 Time: 82:30
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Canes are up to half way now - 10m gained in the past 9 phases. Chiefs: 23 Hurricanes: 23 Time: 81:30
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Canes put into the scrum and they get it back quickly. They start to run through some phases - not making loads of ground but they keep going. Chiefs: 23 Hurricanes: 23 Time: 81:00
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Wainui can't take a tricky pass and so the Canes will have a scrum just inside their own half and way out on their left side. Final hooter sounds - what can they do? Chiefs: 23 Hurricanes: 23 Time: 80:00