The Waikato Chiefs yesterday benefited from a bizarre try to beat the Fijian Drua 42-22 and top the Super Rugby Pacific standings, as New Zealand teams swept all five matches in the Super Round at Christchurch’s new Te Kaha stadium.
The Drua were holding their own four minutes from halftime in the final contest of the weekend when debutant Chiefs fullback Isaac Hutchinson, playing under advantage, put in a kick for Daniel Sinkinson to chase.
Winger Sinkinson was only able to kick the ball over the try line where Drua fullback Ilaisa Droasese looked in full control as he swooped to pick it up.
Photo: AFP
Rather than ground it to trigger a restart, Droasese elected instead to grubber a kick across his own in-goal area and disbelieving Chiefs prop Jared Profitt accepted the gift, grounding the ball with his forearm for a try.
The Chiefs added a fourth try of the half from scrumhalf Cortez Ratima a minute later to take a 28-10 lead into the break and second-half scores from Sinkinson and replacement back Tepaea Cook-Savage proved enough for a comfortable victory.
The bonus-point win put the Chiefs level with the Wellington Hurricanes on 36 points, but top of the standings courtesy of their eight match wins to seven for their rivals, who are a game behind.
The reigning champions Canterbury Crusaders on Friday set the tone for the weekend as they celebrated the opening of their long-awaited new home with a convincing 35-20 victory over the New South Wales Waratahs.
Australia’s best chances of breaking the local dominance at the US$402 million arena came on Saturday, but Hurricanes winger Fehi Fineanganofo scored four tries to take his season tally to 14 as the ACT Brumbies fell 45-12.
The Queensland Reds made it a tighter contest in the late game against the Auckland Blues but All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett sealed a 36-33 victory for the New Zealanders with the decisive penalty in golden point extra time.
The Otago Highlanders then muscled up to down a spirited Moana Pasifika challenge with a 27-17 victory to continue the home success into yesterday.
“It was a big occasion because of the new stadium here in Christchurch,” said Chiefs captain Tupou Vaa’i. “It was awesome to get all the teams here and get three days of quality rugby.”
The sellout crowds over the weekend likely delighted Super Rugby organizers, but the dominance of the local teams in the increasingly uneven competition would perhaps not.
The top four in the standings after 11 rounds of the regular season are all from New Zealand with the Blues three points adrift in third and the Crusaders fourth, a point ahead of the Brumbies and three clear of the Reds.
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