Chiefs show no mercy as they take apart Blues
- 12 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Led by All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi the Chiefs have destroyed a timied Blues 59-34 in Super Rugby Pacific in Hamilton.
The Blues were aiming for a home qualifying final when the playoffs start next week, but just couldn't keep up with a Chiefs who were resting around eight of their frontline players.
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The Chiefs ran in nine tries to five from a shellshocked Blues side who were left chasing their opponents.
Captaining the Chiefs for the first time, Sititi had a top all-round game and scored a try, taking a quick penalty tap and catching the Blues defence napping.
It started when Reon Paul broke through the line, finding speedster Kyren Taumoefolau on the burst for their first points.
Tyrone Thompson put the home side in front with a rolling maul try before Sinkinson struck to put them up 19-10, capitalising on slick handling between the forwards and backs.
AJ Lam’s try on half-time reduced the margin but failed to quell the momentum of the second-placed Chiefs.
Sititi restored the lead in the 45th minute with a powerful effort to give them an 11 point lead.
Rookie Blues hooker Eli Oudenryn scored a dream debut try six minutes into his Super Rugby career.
But it was the Chiefs that were intent on heading into the finals with momentum as they scored three straight tries.
Sinkinson started it with his second, followed by fullback Liam Coombes-Fabling. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi’s 62nd-minute try gave them a commanding 25-point lead, ending any hopes of a Blues comeback.
Paul got a try of his own to bring up the half-century after a dominant scrum, filling the void left by the rested Quinn Tupaea.
Caleb Clarke and Xavi Taele got consolation tries, but it was too little, too late for the victors as the Chiefs’ win sees the Blues resigned to fourth spot on the ladder, jumped by the red-hot Crusaders.
The Blues led early and were down by just four points at halftime, and still in the contest in the 53rd minute at 26-20 - but then Chiefs cut loose.
The Blues suffered their third NZ derby loss in a row, after going down to the Crusaders and Hurricanes in recent weeks.
The Chiefs will have a home qualifying final against Queensland Reds next Saturday (6.40pm kickoff), while Blues will play the Crusaders in Christchurch (4pm kickoff).
The Hurricanes host the Brumbies at 6pm Friday.
Chiefs 59 Â Daniel Sinkinson 2, (Kyren Taumoefolaurone Thompson, Wallace Sititi, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Reon Paul, Josh Jacomb 6 con, Tepaea Cook-Savage con) Blues 34 (Torian Barnes, AJ Lam, Eli Oudenryn, Caleb Clarke, Xavi Taelen; Zarn Sullivan 3 con, pen). HT: 19-15.