The Waikato Chiefs blitzed the shell-shocked Auckland Blues 63-34 in a brilliant Super 14 victory sparked by four tries to All Black winger Sitiveni Sivivatu yesterday.
It took the Chiefs only 25 minutes to earn a bonus point for their fourth try and the spree continued into the second spell as they ran in nine tries in all and their third win of the season.
Sivivatu was at his elusive and explosive best on the wing as the Chiefs exploited the defensive inexperience of Blues winger Rene Ranger in the first spell.
PHOTO: AP
The Chiefs also owed much to their pack, to livewire halfback Brendon Leonard and flyhalf Stephen Donald who played a hand in several tries and converted all eight tries scored before his replacement in the second spell.
“We were pretty hungry tonight and I think credit goes to our forwards, they got some really good ball and the exciting backs we’ve got, it’s a shame not to use them,” Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina said afterward.
The Blues were sometimes thrilling in attack as well, scoring five tries of their own, but their defense was often woeful and their forwards were on the back foot at the breakdown and in the set pieces.
HIGHLANDERS 32, CHEETAHS 8
The Otago Highlanders scored 27 unanswered points in the second half to sweep to a 32-8 Super 14 victory over the bottom-placed Central Cheetahs yesterday.
The Highlanders were behind 5-8 at the break, but ran in another four second half tries with the wind behind them as the winless Cheetahs crumbled under relentless pressure.
The win was only the second for the Highlanders this season and the bonus point was the icing on the cake as they attempt to pull themselves off the bottom tier of the Super 14 table.
All Black flanker Adam Thompson was at the heart of the Highlanders effort, running in two tries and never letting up his work rate, while fullback Israel Dagg also deserved his reward of two tries.
In related news, Northern Bulls flanker Deon Stegmann has been suspended for three weeks for a dangerous tackle on Wellington Hurricanes center Conrad Smith after their clash on Friday.
Stegmann was cited and faced the judiciary yesterday after the previous night’s 19-14 victory over the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The Bulls flanker flipped Smith head over heels in the 48th minute, forcing the dazed All Black from the field after he landed heavily on his head.
Stegmann accepted that he was guilty of a dangerous tackle and he was banned for three matches, which means he will miss games against the Otago Highlanders, the Canterbury Crusaders and the New South Wales Waratahs.
Smith was taken to hospital for precautionary X-rays on Friday night but the Hurricanes said yesterday he had been cleared of a cheek fracture or concussion.
Meanwhile, no further action will be taken against Hurricanes lock Jason Eaton, who was cited for stamping a Bulls player in a ruck.
In other matches it was:
• Crusaders 17, Waratahs 13
• Sharks 22, Western Force 10
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