Chiefs, McKenzie overcome Queensland Reds
- 24 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Reds bid to break Australian rugby's Super finals quest fell flat with Damien McKenzie's leading the Chiefs to a 46-24 win
In next week's Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals the Chiefs will now host the Crusaders, who beat the Blues in the early match in Christchurch 52-31.
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The table-topping Hurricanes, who flogged the Brumbies in the first qualifying final 66-12, have a final four contest against the Blues, who advance as the highest-ranked losers.
All Black McKenzie, who was making his return from a week out with concussion, put the knife into the visitors, scoring two second half tries to secure the win.
Only five points split the teams at halftime, with the Chiefs leading 22-17 courtesy of a try in the 39th minute by winger Kyran Taumoefolau, his second of the half.
Before that it looked like Queensland would take the lead into the sheds after prop Aidan Ross, who played 101 games for the Chiefs before joining the Reds, burrowed over.
The match was stopped in the 17th minute after Chiefs No.8 Wallace Sititi was left shaking on the ground after a sickening head knock.
Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was given a yellow card by referee James Doleman for the initial contact, but the TMO ruled that major injury was caused by a head clash with Chiefs prop Sione Ahio which meant it wasn't elevated to red.
While he was able to sit in the medi-cab to be driven from the field, Sititi was taken to hospital for further treatment.
McKenzie's second try came in the 46th minute with the clever No.10 catching the Reds napping with a quick tap off a penalty to score under the posts.
His own conversion pushed the scoreline out to 29-17 before he added another in the 64th minute.
Queensland's reserve hooker Matt Faessler wrestled one back but a try by dashing fullback Isaac Hutchinson, which was set up by a miracle backhand pass by McKenzie, sealed their fate.
Chiefs 46 (Taumoefolau 2, McKenzie 2, Taukei'aho,, Hutchinson; Cons: McKenzie 5 con, 2 pens) Queensland Reds 24 (Salakaia-Loto, Ross, Faessler; Gordon 3 con, 2 pen)
