McKenzie makes another big World Cup statement
MATCH REPORT: Flyhalf Damian McKenzie and fullback Shaun Stevenson led the Chiefs counter-attacking game as the Hamilton-based team beat the Highlanders 52-28 to extend their winning start to the season in Super Rugby Pacific to 10 matches.
The duo had a designing hand in five of the six tries scored by the Chiefs in their bonus-point win.
Another came from a 90-metre intercept by centre Daniel Rona, who scored two tries in his second Super Rugby match.
McKenzie also kicked seven conversions and a penalty for 17 points in a flawless performance which saw him surpass 1000 points in Super Rugby.
The magnitude of the Chiefs' win belied the fact they barely touched the ball in the first 20 minutes.
The Highlanders had 85 percent of possession in that period and the few fragments the Chiefs got their hands on they kicked away and kicked badly, allowing the home team to score the first try through prop Ethan de Groot.
The Chiefs then scored four tries before halftime, including possibly the best of the season, and conceded another to lead 28-14 at the break.
"We had to work very, very hard for it," Chiefs captain Brad Weber said.
"Most of our tries came from counterattack.
"I wouldn't say we have free licence [to counterattack].
"We've certainly got a plan with our counterattack but also with the back three we've got and when Damian gets back there you want them to express themselves when the situation allows it and we certainly encourage them to do that."
The scorers:
For Highlanders:
Tries: De Groot, Smith, Gilbert, Frizell
Cons: Gilbert 4
For Chiefs:
Tries: Rona 2, Narawa, Stevenson, Lienert-Brown, Dyer, Weber tries
Cons: McKenzie 7
Pen: Mckenzie
Highlanders: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Connor Garden-Bachop, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 11 Scott Gregory, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Hugh Renton, 7 Billy Harmon (captain), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Will Tucker, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Mitch Hunt, 23 Jona Nareki.
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Peniasi Malimali, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Luke Jacobson, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Pita Gus Sowakula, 5 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 John Ryan, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Alex Nankivell
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Stu Curran (New Zealand), Jackson Henshaw (New Zealand)