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.