Dominant Chiefs, Waratahs clinch play-off berths
The Waikato Chiefs and the New South Wales Waratahs both secured their places in the Super Rugby play-offs after demolishing their respective rivals on Saturday.
The Waikato Chiefs and the New South Wales Waratahs both secured their places in the Super Rugby play-offs after demolishing their respective rivals on Saturday.
The Chiefs put in a brilliant defensive effort to keep the Reds try-less at Lang Park in a 24-3 demolition in Brisbane.
They also spoiled departing scrum-half Will Genia and former skipper James Horwill's final game in front of home fans.
We tried to honour him as best we could. The way he played defence was the way we played tonight
The Chiefs and the Reds wore black armbands in memory of former All Black Jerry Collins, who died in a car crash with his wife in France on Friday.
A minute's silence was also held before the start of the match, as it was at other weekend games.
Chiefs captain Liam Messam, who scored a try yesterday, said it was a difficult night for the New Zealand side as many of the players knew the 34-year-old Collins, who played 48 tests for the All Blacks.
"We tried to honour him as best we could," said 31-year-old Messam. "The way he played defence was the way we played tonight."
In Bloemfontein, the Waratahs' Israel Folau's hat-trick of tries helped secure a 58-33 thrashing of South Africa's Cheetahs.
When fly-half Dan Carter put in a pinpoint crossfield kick to Nadolo's left wing in the 12th minute, Fiji-born Nadolo soared high, plucked the ball out of the air with his right hand, then controlled it with his left and plunged over his marker to score.
Earlier in the day lock Lopeti Timani scored a second-half try, which clinched the Melbourne Rebels' 21-20 win over the Pretoria-based Bulls, eliminating the three-time champion Bulls from play-off contention.
Bulls centre Burger Odendaal crashed over in the 60th minute for what seemed to be the match-winning try, but the television match official ruled he could not see the ball grounded and the try was disallowed.
