Chiefs counter Blues’ blitz
2 Jun 2012
GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Chiefs’ 41-34 bonus-point victory over the Blues in Albany.
Seventy-five points, nine tries and 13 kicks at goal were scored in this highly entertaining and closely contested New Zealand derby. Four of those five-pointers were dotted down via Chiefs wing Asaeli Tikoirotuma, who equalled the Super Rugby record for most tries scored by a player in one match. He becomes the 10th player to achieve this feat.
But despite Tikorotuma’s fine finishing, the Blues scored four tries of their own to create a competitive clash. The hosts have struggled for confidence and cohesion throughout the season, but they were an improved team in this encounter. Two of their tries came in the final quarter against a 14-man Chiefs side, who lost lock Michael Fitzgerald for punching (their second yellow card of the match). This forced a late 34-34 deadlock.
A comeback win was on the cards as the Aucklanders looked determined in the dying stages, but the Chiefs regained the ascendancy when they returned to 15 men. During an attacking move in the 70th minute, fullback Robbie Robinson put through an accurate chip, which saw Tikorotuma outsprint the Blues’ covering defence to score the match-winning try.
The haul of maximum log points will see the Chiefs hold pole position in the Kiwi conference and on the overall table for another week, while the Blues claim two consolation log points.
The visitors enjoyed the better start in the first half as they surged into a 20-10 lead by the half-hour mark. Flyhalf Aaron Cruden’s clever chip exposed the opposition’s rushed defence and put Tikoirotuma through for his first try, while inside centre Sonny Bill Williams held off five defenders on route to the chalk. Cruden added the extras and two penalties.
However, the Blues fought back bravely and levelled matters by half-time. Both teams were reduced to 14 men when Blues flank Steven Luatua and Chiefs wing Maritino Nemani were sin-binned for dangerous tackles in quick succession. The game loosened up thereafter and Blues wing Lachie Munro slid in at the corner thanks to a strong run from speedster Rene Ranger. This saw the scoreboard read 20-20 at the break.
The Chiefs started the second stanza strongly, and impressive build-up play allowed Tikorotuma to complete his hat-trick by the 55th-minute. With the 34-20 advantage, the Chiefs were expected to cruise to victory.
The Blues flipped the script when Fitzgerald was yellow-carded moments later. Fullback Rudi Wulf and Ranger crossed the chalk to break down the deficit, but the Chiefs still managed to clinch their 11th win of the season following Tikorotuma’s record-equalling fourth try.
77 Comments
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2 Jun 2012, 11:19 am
@chch(chch)-46:
If you had it your way there wouldn’t be one Blues player in black.
2 Jun 2012, 11:20 am
Well THAT was too close for comfort.
I always knew that with so many star players the Blues would eventually stop misfiring and produce a strong performance, Of course, it had to be against a team I had $340 on, but them’s the breaks.
Good job Blues, and good job Chiefs for eking out the win.
2 Jun 2012, 11:24 am
Ranger would not fail in a black jersey. He is up there with Hougaard as the strongest backs in rugby and can break through tackles at will.
2 Jun 2012, 11:30 am
todd
no one really cares about how much dollars you bet on who and what the odds and your winning was.
go to a sports gambling forum for that.
2 Jun 2012, 11:38 am
AB’s got a shitload full of options at back Dagg, Chiefs or Hurricanes FB
About 6 Fijian wings plus Gear, Ranger, Kahui, Sonny Bill, Ellison, Smith, Fruen, Guildford, Savea
At 10 Taylor, Carter, Barrett, Cruden
At 9 they should go with Perenara
2 Jun 2012, 11:48 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-54: Gotcha. Although in my defence, all I said was the amount bet, not what the odds were or how much I won. I also talked about things other than gambling.
But I still accept your general point.
2 Jun 2012, 11:54 am
@Todd W(Todd W)-56:
Hey Todd don’t listen to him, he can’t stop talking about how many houses he owns, his in demand worldwide skills and how ugly NZ woman, don’t accept anything that w anker says.
2 Jun 2012, 12:12 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-54:
Says the man who keep reminding us about his s.exual conquests around the world.
How does that belong on this site? Isn’t it better suited for some porn site?
2 Jun 2012, 12:14 pm
@nama1(nama1)-58: Teeheehee!!!
2 Jun 2012, 12:20 pm
@nama1(nama1)-58:
You what they say about the ones who talk about it.
2 Jun 2012, 12:21 pm
You know what they say.
2 Jun 2012, 12:25 pm
@nama1(nama1)-58:
I think Ferns boasts and Fantasy rugby are about on a par.
2 Jun 2012, 12:27 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-60:
Yeah!!!
Old Fern is probably one of those who don’t get some…except in his dreams of course.
2 Jun 2012, 12:27 pm
Thanks guys. I still take his general point though. In the future I might mention my betting once in a while but I will make an effort not to harp on about it in every thread. I don’t want to be one of those people who soapbox.
2 Jun 2012, 12:32 pm
@nama1(nama1
yip he sure talks a good story
@Todd W(Todd W)-64:
this is a blog talk about whatever you want
2 Jun 2012, 13:24 pm
Fern, is that you?
Cape Town – A 24-year-old woman has been accused of raping her boss’s teenaged son.
The Daily Voice reported that the woman had been employed as a domestic worker for a Bergvliet family.
She was fired after her employer found out that she allegedly forced the 15-year-old to have *** with her.
2 Jun 2012, 13:27 pm
what a game! that blues player in the fight should also have been sent off, imho.
great straight right though
2 Jun 2012, 13:27 pm
@Todd W(Todd W)-64: don’t listen to fernly, without his guppy crowd, he is a puppy…talk about your bets if you wanna,he certainly tells everyone about his indian fiance, house on the dam & everyday braais.
2 Jun 2012, 13:35 pm
THE South African Rugby Union
(SARU) has reached agreement on
a ground-breaking new
remuneration arrangement for
2012, which will see SARU’s
financial commitment to Springbok
player costs increase to R57,6m.
The deal was signed with the South
African Rugby Players’ Association
(SARPA) and Sarpacom Pty Ltd (the
players’ rights management
company) after several weeks of
negotiation and will be applied
retrospectively from January 1,
2012.
Jurie Roux, the CEO of SARU,
explained that the new model
contained three key elements:
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer
will be able to sign as many as 30
players on Springbok retainer
contracts. In previous years only
10 to 20 Springboks had been
contracted.
SARU will pay the National Players
Trust a market related intellectual
property rights fee each year (of
which a portion will be directed to
the Springbok Sevens Players’
Trust) for collective appearances
and the right to use collective
attributes of the players in the
activations of sponsor partners. In
the previous two years, SARU paid
the Players’ Trust on a per-
appearance basis for the use of
players’ attributes and
appearances.
An amount has been allocated to
recompense provincial unions for the loss of players to the Springbok
squad.
2 Jun 2012, 13:37 pm
go nick!!!!!!
2 Jun 2012, 13:37 pm
nick for SARU president!
2 Jun 2012, 13:47 pm
Blues almost snatched a draw. 2 log points in the bag
2 Jun 2012, 13:57 pm
OK. I’m off to watch some live club rugby before I return to my TV screen to watch the Stormers bliksem the Pink Tollies. See that Umkhonto??
…and no, there won’t be any messtekery Quota-Sux/Grant100 or whatever name you pretend to blog under now.
2 Jun 2012, 13:58 pm
@viewer(viewer)-72: Ranger getting back to his best,Blues played a good game today,but scored most of their tries against 14 men.
2 Jun 2012, 13:59 pm
@nama1(nama1)-73:
2 Jun 2012, 16:49 pm
@Todd W(Todd W)-52:
So tell the details?
I got $2.75 for the 1-12pt Blues loss… thought they weren’t going to make it… but second week in a row they’ve made some moolah…
3 Jun 2012, 07:37 am
Asaeli Tikoirotuma became the 11th player to score 4 tries in a game, not the 10th ….
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