Highlanders dash Chiefs’ play-off hopes
Otago outfit manage to upstage defending Super 15 champions
The Chiefs' two-year reign as Super Rugby champions was likely finished on Friday after they were beaten 29-25 by the Highlanders, who stayed on track for their first play-off place in 12 years.
All Blacks fullback Ben Smith finished a brilliant counter-attacking try in the 49th minute to give the Highlanders a decisive lead after they trailed 13-10 at half-time.
Fly-half Lima Sopoaga added 16 points – six goals from six attempts – to reach 150 points for the season, a record for the Dunedin franchise.
It was an ugly win, but a win’s a win so we’re happy
The Hamilton-based Chiefs started the match in eighth place, clinging to play-off contention, but with only two matches remaining in the regular season probably cannot now achieve the top-six finish which would allow them to contest the post-season.
The Highlanders were in fifth when the Super Rugby season resumed after a month-long break for the June test internationals. The win moved them temporarily top of the New Zealand conference at the start of the 17th of 19 regular-season rounds.
Their lead peaked at 13 points, 26-13, with Sopoaga's final penalty, and they led by 11 points, 29-18, when Sopoaga's replacement, Hayden Parker, added his only penalty in the 71st minute. But the Chiefs fought back on both occasions with tries showing their fierce determination to defend the Super Rugby title they won in 2012 and 2013.
Smith's try was the turning point in a tight match. All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith started the move with a daring break-out from within his own 22.
New All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa carried the movement on with a powerful run before turning the ball outside to winger Richard Buckman, who was the player of the match.