THE CHIEFS KEPT their play-off hopes alive by mounting a staggering fightback to pull off a shock 40-27 victory over the Crusaders in a Super Rugby classic.
Colin Cooper’s side came into the New Zealand derby in Suva at the bottom of the New Zealand Conference, but stunned the defending champions in a 10-try thriller on Saturday.
Ronan O’Gara is a backs coach with the Crusaders but has been heavily linked with a move away from the side. He recently confirmed that he is considering an offer from Top14 side La Rochelle, who reportedly want to recruit him as their next backs coach.
The Chiefs looked to be heading for a thrashing when they trailed by 20 points midway through the first half at ANZ Stadium, tries from Scott Barrett, Mitchell Drummond and Sevu Reece putting the Crusaders in command.
There was just a point in it at half-time, though, after Solomon Alaimalo, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Jesse Parete crossed.
Chiefs v Crusaders | Super Rugby 2019 Rd 16 Highlights
— Super Rugby (@SuperRugby) June 1, 2019
Fijian fans were treated to an exhilarating match in Suva with @ChiefsRugby coming from behind to end their 5 game winless run against @crusadersrugby, 40-27.#SuperRugby #CHIvCRU pic.twitter.com/9eIF5tRlI6
Braydon Ennor struck for the Crusaders – already assured of a play-off spot – in the second half after Anton Lienert-Brown had failed to find touch, but Brad Weber finished at the other end to reduce the deficit.
There was even more drama to come as Shaun Stevenson raced under the posts to put the Chiefs in front, then captain Sam Cane came up with a huge turnover close to his own line before Tumua Manu snaffled a short drop-out to dot down after Jack Debreczeni missed a shot at goal.
The result moves the Chiefs up to third place on the Conference table to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Meanwhile, the Jaguares maintained their 100% record against Australian sides this season with a 34-23 defeat of the Reds at Suncorp Stadium.
Santiago Carreras scored two of five tries for the Gonzalo Quesada’s men, who hold a seven-point lead at the top of the South African Conference with two matches to play.
The Brumbies have a five-point advantage at the summit of the Australian Conference following a 42-19 thumping of the Sunwolves in Toyko, hooker Connal McInerney scoring a hat-trick after coming off the bench.
Additional reporting by Sinéad Farrell
Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:
Can’t really say I am surprised. Thought we might have a proper game 15 minutes in, but Leinster ooze talent, and just strangled our game. I would say Fitzgerald is a lovely footballer on front foot ball, but he takes the ball a bit too deep for my liking, and it ends up with all the players being smashed behind the gameline – against Leinster, that’s kamikaze. I feel if we had played Leinster two weeks ago we would have had a better chance, as they were clearly focused on a bigger prize, whereas this was a wounded Leinster restoring pride. Munster next, and I expect it will again be a bit of a mixed up squad for Connacht versus a first choice Munster squad at home full of Saffa bruisers playing like it’s the Heineken cup final. Not looking forward to it.
@Joe Vlogs: the year Connacht won the league they had a team of guys that were lucky to avoid injury for the most part of that season. That same core of players every game won them the league. They’ve a really small squad and when your missing as many players as they were last night it’s going to be hard for them to compete, but on they’re day they can beat anyone.
Does anybody know what the status is on Tom Farrell’s knee injury?
@Aidan Prior: just regarding our league winning season I think you’re totally off the mark. While we had a few key guys, nobody bar Bealham played every game, and he started the season at loosehead due to an injury to Buckley, and was behind White at tighthead until his injury. We managed rotation as any team does, I wouldn’t think we had a core of players any more or less than we’ve had any other season, we swapped in and out 4 different fly-halves all season, the difference was when we had a few of the non-first team lads out they performed. We had injuries to guys at key points of the season but just got on with it. I think we had some luck, but we had a far superior coaching set up, and attitude within the squad. That’s not to go hard on the current guys it’s just the reality.
@Joe Vlogs: it wasn’t full strength v Ulster and it won’t be against Connacht. You can also rest assured that they won’t be treating a match against Connacht like a Heineken Cup final. As for the South African comment, you sound like you’ve a chip on your shoulder.
@Joe Vlogs: Cloete was the only staffer that started against Ulster but you couldn’t really call him a bruzzer
@Joe Vlogs: Connacht started 8 from Leinster, 3 from Australia, 3 from Connacht and a Munster man. You really think you can have a go at Munster who started just 1 SA and started 11 from Munster?
@Joe Vlogs: cry more
@Aidan Prior: we had an injury crisis the year we won the Pro14, we couldn’t name a full bench in a Challenge Cup game away to Falcons week before Xmas. In New Year Carty got injured in Dubai, and MCGinty got his break.
Fundamental difference is calibre of squad overall, experience/physicality wise, likes of Muldowney, White, McCartney Naoupu. Friend has to cover lack of quality in squad filling with guys who’ve not completed full academy terms, saw it in immaturity of reverse penalty Murray conceded kicking the ball after bad lineout that lead to 2nd try and implosion. Then you’ve got guys like Oliver who didn’t make it at Munster most likely because of lack of game intelligence, all energy but does stupid stuff all the time, real momentum killers.
@Patrick Breen: of course I’m not saying that they played the same team every week but they had a close knit group of about 25 solid players that were there there abouts all season. The had a good attacking backline, a steady OH, and a capable pack. The loss of Muldowney, McGinty and Hendshaw was massive. Then this year the loss of Roux, Farrell, O’Brien and Bundee for the most part has been really felt. I don’t think they’ve been able to once field their best 15.
Connacht lineout used to be an issue and has been resolved but cant say the same for attacking or defending maul. Maul defense is shocking and thought we would have improved since the dragons schooled us in it. All credit to leinster but no excuse for try count of 8-2 and could have been worse.