The Chiefs scored 13 points in the last five minutes to secure a laboured 27-14 bonus-point win over the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
The result sees the Chiefs match the Crusaders' perfect start to the season with four wins from four matches, and lifts them back to the top of the New Zealand conference and the combined Australasian log. Along with the two Kiwi powerhouses, the Stormers are the only other unbeaten side left in the competition.
With speculation rife which Australian side will be cut from the proposed restructured tournament, there was little to show why the Rebels should avoid the axe. They've now slumped to three successive defeats, conceding 149 points and scoring just 38.
As expected, the Chiefs – thanks to a superior stake in territory and possession – enjoyed better scoring opportunities from the start, but the Rebels defence held firm for the best part of the match. It took late efforts by Sam Cane and fullback Shaun Stevenson to secure the win for the visitors.
Despite several cynical infringements resulting in kickable penalties, the score remained deadlocked for the opening quarter, with Reece Hodge and Damian McKenzie missing four penalty attempts between them.
Lock Dominic Bird eventually opened the scoring with 22nd-minute try. Defending on his own line, Rebels centre Tom English ripped the ball away in a tackle, but they failed to secure possession and Bird pounced to dot down.
The Rebels, though, accumulated 11 unanswered points, via two penalties and a try by wing Marika Koroibete, who finished spectacularly in the right corner. The hosts' stern defence continued to frustrate the Chiefs.
Lock Brodie Retallick's converted try put the visitors in the lead by three, but Jackson Garden-Bachop levelled matters with a third penalty.
With a draw on the cards, the Chiefs' star players combined for a late flurry. McKenzie wrestled back the dominance with a penalty goal, followed by Cane and Stevenson's tries to finish a game that the Chiefs will want to forget, despite the result.
Rebels – Try: Marika Koroibete. Penalties: Jackson Garden-Bachop (3).
Chiefs – Tries: Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Shaun Stevenson. Conversions: Damian McKenzie (2). Penalty: McKenzie.
Rebels – 15 Jack Debreczeni, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Tom English, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Nic Stirzaker (c), 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Steve Cummins, 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Fereti Sa’aga.
Subs: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Murray Douglas, 20 Jake Schatz, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Sione Tuipulotu, 23 Ben Volavola.
Chiefs – 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Stephen Donald, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Sabastian Siataga, 1 Kane Hames.
Subs: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Mitchell Brown, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Aaron Cruden, Johnny Faauli.
Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
