Match Reports

The BNZ Crusaders have dropped one point below the Chiefs on the Investec Super Rugby ladder after conceding a 23-13 loss in Fiji. 

A last minute penalty goal by Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie denied the BNZ Crusaders a bonus point in the first Super Rugby game to be held in Fiji.

Given the wet conditions it was no surprise that the game maintained the intensity of all the local derbies this year. And team-mates many may have been for the All Blacks a week ago but loyalties were back with their franchises.

Locks Brodie Retallick, who nearly stole the show with a dramatic breakout from a goal-line maul on a 40m run when no-one was aware he had secured the ball, and Dominic Bird for the Chiefs and Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett battled through the tight exchanges in some stiff play while in the loose the blindside Taleni Seu for the Chiefs and Jordan Taufua were also at it all night with Taufua, especially, continuing the strong form he has shown all season.

Making much of the early play, courtesy of a fine penalty kick to the corner, into the wind, by first five-eighths Richie Mo'unga the Crusaders poured pressure on the Chiefs defences. But they were largely undone, as the Chiefs won turnovers, and then used the power of the scrum to turn the pressure back.

Mo'unga landed a penalty goal in the 17th minute, but it was scant reward for the possession they had enjoyed.

That point was reinforced four minutes later when from a mid-field scrum, Chiefs No.8 Tom Sanders made a fine run to the left and when the ball was moved it was centre Seta Tamanivalu who chipped into vacant space in front of the Crusaders goal-line and wing James Lowe raced through to secure the first try of the game.

With the Chiefs making good use of the trailing wind to get back into Crusaders territory, it was an attempting clearing kick that was tapped back infield by Chiefs hooker Hika Elliot who was making his 100th appearance for the side that set up the next action.

Elliot's diversion of the ball fell to fullback Damian McKenzie saw him unleash devastating acceleration to break through and as he reached Israel Dagg he moved to the outside in order to transfer the ball in the tackle to halfback Brad Weber, whose equally dazzling acceleration took him clear of the cover defence to run in for the try.

As half-time loomed a clearing kick by Mo'unga looked to have lacked depth but with wing Nemani Nadolo having a busy first half in front of his home crowd and getting up to secure the ball, the Crusaders broke out superbly. Centre Kieron Fonotia carried the ball forward and with halfback Andy Ellis and No.8 Kieran Read continuing the momentum, the Crusaders had a great chance.

That was turned into seven valuable points when the ball was moved wide courtesy of a long pass by hooker Codie Taylor to flanker Jordan Taufua on the sideline. He drew the defence then in-passed to wing Jone Macilai who set the Suva crowd alight as he scored.

The BNZ Crusaders were lucky three minutes into the second half when an Ellis pass was intercepted by Donald. He passed to Elliot who kicked down field and after a chase by replacement wing Sam McNichol and McKenzie, a try to second five-eighths Anton Lienert-Brown was over-ruled as McKenzie put a foot into touch.

Desperation started to affect the Crusaders after McKenzie extended the lead to 10 points with a 56th minute penalty goal.

The Crusaders were twice awarded penalty chance within easy kicking distance but they opted for kicks to the corner and lineouts, but as was the case in the first half, the Chiefs' defences held. Finally with six minutes remaining Read opted to have Mo'unga kick for goal to reduce the margin to seven.

But the Chiefs responded immediately when from a penalty around halfway, replacement first five-eighths Aaron Cruden drilled the ball right into the corner. The Crusaders won the lineout, but Nadolo's clearing kick from in-goal was charged down giving the Chiefs a five-metre scrum.

Scorers: Chiefs 23 (James Lowe, Brad Weber tries; Damian McKenzie 2 con, 3 pen) Crusaders 13 (Jone Macilai tries; Richie Mo'unga con, 2 pen)