Chiefs pick up wins over Blues and Hurricanes in pre-season game-of-three-halves
The Chiefs have returned from last year's winless Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign with two first-up pre-season victories over the Blues and Hurricanes in Upper Hutt on Saturday.
The three North Island franchises took part in a game-of-three-halves at Maidstone Park, with each side facing off against each other one half at a time.
Without any of their 2020 All Blacks, the Chiefs emerged victorious in both of their encounters, running out 19-14 winners against the Hurricanes before following that up with a 12-5 win over the Blues.
In the place of their established stars, the Chiefs fielded numerous non-contracted and second-string players, as did the Blues and Hurricanes, although the hosts did have Peter Umaga-Jensen and Du'Plessis Kirifi, both of whom were part of last year's All Blacks Tri-Nations squad.
There was also plenty of chopping and changing of players between all of the halves across all three teams, with players given the chance to shake off some pre-season rust and impress their respective coaches for places in starting teams.
In the first of the three halves, the Hurricanes bagged an early lead through hooker James O'Reilly, before his opposite Samisoni Taukei'aho dotted down in the 11th minute.
A Ruben Love try and conversion edged the Hurricanes out to a nine-point buffer, but converted tries to two-test All Blacks loose forward Luke Jacobson and non-contracted lock Samipeni Finau were enough for the Chiefs to win.
The second half saw the Chiefs do battle with the Blues in a tight affair, with a try to Shaun Stevenson and a penalty try cancelling out the Harry Plummer try to give Clayton McMillan's side victory.
The final half pitted the Hurricanes and Blues against each other, and it was the Aucklanders who got off to the better start when promising fullback Zarn Sullivan crossed the line in the fifth minute.
However, tries to halfback Jonathan Taumateine and wing Wes Goosen later in the half were enough to see the Hurricanes home.
The final week of Super Rugby Aotearoa pre-season kicks-off next Friday when the Highlanders take on the Hurricanes in Alexandra, while the Blues and Crusaders will square off at Eden Park on Saturday.
Super Rugby Aotearoa kicks-off on February 26 when the Highlanders host the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Chiefs 19 (Tries to Samisoni Taukei’aho, Luke Jacobson, Samipeni Finau; 2 conversions to Bryn Gatland)
Hurricanes 14 (Tries to James O’Reilly, Ruben Love; 2 conversions to Love)
Chiefs 12 (Try to Shaun Stevenson, penalty try)
Blues 5 (Try to Harry Plummer)
Hurricanes 14 (Tries to Jonathan Taumateine, Wes Goosen; 2 conversions to Jackson Garden-Bachop)
Blues 5 (Try to Zarn Sullivan)
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I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
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