Cruden keeps Chiefs’ title defence alive
Champions fight off Hurricanes, but must still beat the Blues next weekend to have any chance of reaching top-six play-offs
Aaron Cruden kicked 14 points and won a contest with fellow All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett as the Chiefs beat the Hurricanes 24-16 on Friday to keep alive their defence of the Super Rugby title.
Cruden also helped to create a second-half try for lock Brodie Retallick, which clinched victory for the Chiefs, who needed to beat the Hurricanes and must beat the Blues in their last regular-season match next weekend to have any chance of reaching the top-six play-offs.
The Chiefs, champions in the lpast two seasons, started the match in ninth place and rose to seventh with their two-tries-to-one win.
We wanted to get back to what we do best which is up the guts, then chuck it wide, and it worked
The Hurricanes stayed in fifth place but their chances of reaching the play-offs are now slight as they have a bye in next weekend’s final round.
The Chiefs showed the benefit of their play-off experience, playing intelligent rugby in what was effectively a knockout match.
They commanded possession and territory in the first half, mostly keeping the ball in hand and using strong ball-carriers such as lock Mike Fitzgerald and back-rower Liam Squire to attack the gain line.
"The effort's been there all year but we probably haven't put that on to the paddock," Cruden said. "It was good to see it tonight.
"We wanted to get back to what we do best which is up the guts, then chuck it wide, and it worked for us tonight. There were a few doubters out there coming into the match and I guess a bit of fear among ourselves, but through fear comes courage, and the boys showed a lot of that."
The Chiefs built a 16-6 lead at half-time, which was indicative of their superiority.
Cruden kicked three penalties and converted a 28th-minute try by prop Jamie Mackintosh.
Cruden then provided the vital link in a short-side move, which led to Retallick's try just before the hour mark. He twisted through several tackles before providing the last pass to the All Blacks lock, who crashed on to the ball at pace.
Barrett kicked three penalties and the conversion of a 64th-minute try by centre Hadleigh Parkes. His first penalty carried him past 200 points for the season, making him the 11th player and the fourth from New Zealand to reach that milestone.
