On a rain-lashed night in Hamilton, the Chiefs reclaimed their position at the summit of Super Rugby Pacific with a hard-fought 27-15 victory over the Queensland Reds in a contest that was far closer than the final scoreline suggested.
Key moments:
3′ – Luke Jacobson scores opening try after early Chiefs pressure (7-0)
19′ – Matt Faessler responds with driving maul try (7-5)
27′ – Damian McKenzie penalty extends Chiefs lead (10-5)
40′ – Joe Brial pounces on loose ball for opportunistic try (10-10)
42′ – Jeffery Toomaga-Allen yellow carded for high cleanout
48′ – Harry McLaughlin-Phillips denied try after controversial TMO decision
57′ – Damian McKenzie penalty puts Chiefs ahead (13-10)
71′ – Samisoni Taukei’aho powers over from driving maul (20-10)
79′ – Xavier Roe seals victory with close-range try (27-10)
80+1′ – Tom Lynagh scores consolation try from Harry Wilson kick (27-15)
In conditions more suited to water polo than rugby, Clayton McMillan’s side weathered both the elements and a determined Reds outfit before powering home in the final ten minutes to secure a win that celebrates Shaun Stevenson’s 100th appearance for the franchise in fitting style.
The hosts struck early when captain Luke Jacobson powered over in just the third minute. After Filipo Daugunu was penalised at the breakdown, Damian McKenzie’s accurate kick set up an attacking lineout. The Chiefs patiently worked through one-out carries before Jacobson twisted through Fraser McReight’s tackle to score beneath the posts, with McKenzie adding the straightforward conversion.
Despite struggling initially with handling in the treacherous conditions, the Reds gradually found their rhythm. Their persistence paid dividends in the 19th minute when, after turning down a kickable penalty in favour of an attacking lineout – a tactic they would employ throughout the night – hooker Matt Faessler peeled off a perfectly executed rolling maul to dive over. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips couldn’t add the extras from a challenging angle.
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The Chiefs regained the ascendancy when Emoni Narawa was held up over the line, capitalising on the penalty advantage with McKenzie slotting a simple three-pointer to extend their lead to 10-5.
In what has become a hallmark of recent encounters between these sides, momentum swung dramatically right on the stroke of halftime. A high kick from McDermott caused chaos in the Chiefs’ backfield, with McKenzie spilling the ball backwards. Joe Brial reacted quickest, toeing the loose ball forward and showcasing impressive pace to win the footrace and ground it with his torso just before the dead-ball line. McLaughlin-Phillips’ conversion attempt drifted wide, leaving the scores level at the break.
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The second half began with immediate drama as Reds prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen was shown a yellow card just two minutes after the restart for a high cleanout on Jacobson at a ruck. Despite being a player down, the visitors nearly took the lead when fly-half McLaughlin-Phillips scythed through the Chiefs’ defence, beating multiple defenders before lunging for the line. However, in a crucial TMO decision that could have swung the match, he was judged to have lost control of the ball in the act of scoring.
The Reds continued to dominate territory and possession against the odds, declining another kickable penalty to go for the corner. Their ambition was thwarted when George Dyer produced a massive defensive intervention, driving through the maul to force a turnover five metres from his own line.
As the game entered the final quarter, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan unleashed his formidable bench including All Blacks Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tupou Vaa’i, and Samipeni Finau. The impact was immediate, with replacement Josh Jacomb producing a sublime 50-22 kick with his first touch to swing momentum back to the hosts.
McKenzie broke the deadlock with a 57th-minute penalty after the Chiefs won a scrum penalty, nudging them ahead 13-10. The Reds refused to wilt, however, with Filipo Daugunu forcing a crucial turnover and Heremaia Murray producing a try-saving tackle on McKenzie in the corner.
The decisive moment came in the 71st minute when, after Quinn Tupaea earned a breakdown penalty, Jacobson made the gutsy call to kick to the corner rather than take the three points. The decision paid dividends as the Chiefs set a powerful rolling maul from which Taukei’aho crashed over, with McKenzie’s conversion stretching the lead to 20-10.
With the Reds now chasing the game, a handling error from Murray invited further pressure. The Chiefs capitalised ruthlessly, with replacement halfback Xavier Roe darting over from close range after strong carrying from Gideon Wrampling to put the result beyond doubt at 27-10.
The visitors refused to concede without a final flourish, as Harry Wilson produced a moment of brilliance in the final play, executing a perfectly weighted grubber kick that replacement fly-half Tom Lynagh collected to score. The unsuccessful conversion left the final score at 27-15.
For the Chiefs, captain Luke Jacobson was immense, dominating the gain line and showcasing his leadership qualities at crucial moments. Ollie Norris impressed with his carrying and breakdown work, while Damian McKenzie’s game management in the difficult conditions ultimately proved decisive. Once again, the vaunted Chiefs’ bench made a telling difference in the final quarter.
Despite the defeat, the Reds demonstrated why they’ve emerged as genuine title contenders this season. Joe Brial delivered a standout performance in the back row, while Harry Wilson and Tate McDermott were typically industrious. They’ll rue the yellow card and disallowed try as key moments that potentially changed the course of the match.
The victory sends the Chiefs back to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings as they extend their impressive home record at FMG Stadium Waikato. They’ll now travel to Sydney to face the Waratahs, while the Reds return to Brisbane to prepare for a mouth-watering Australian derby against the Brumbies.
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