Tough match for the Chiefs at Eden Park, with the Auckland team lifting the trophy 21 years after last time
Hoskins Sotutu (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)
The fans who expected a balanced match must have been disappointed. The Super Rugby Pacific final, the first in 28 years between these two teams, was unprecedented: the Blues beat the Chiefs 41 to 10 and became champions.
The rain did not affect the technical qualities of the team coached by Vern Cotter. Right from the start, the Blues had the Chiefs on the ropes with a direct play that slowly crumbled the opposing defense.
The greater physicality of the Auckland franchise made the difference. At the end of the match the try count was 5 to 1 in favor of the Blues, confirming the home team’s superiority.
One of the great protagonists of the match was Caleb Clarke, author of three tries and many runs with ball in hand. At the end of the contest the Blues were able to deservedly celebrate a title that had been missing since 2003.
Read also, Summer Nations Series: the test match calendar for June and July
The Blues-Chiefs scoresheet
Blues 41 (Tries: Clarke 3, Lam, A. Ioane; Conversions: Plummer 5; Free kicks: Plummer 2)
Chiefs 10 (Tries: Parker; Conversions: McKenzie; Free kicks: McKenzie)
Blues: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Substitutions: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Bryce Heem, 23 Cole Forbes.
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Jimmy Tupou, 3 George Dyer, 2 Tyrone Thompson, 1 Aidan Ross.
Substitutions: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Daniel Rona.
Blues-Chiefs highlights
onrugby.it © all rights reserved
Dear Readers,
OnRugby has been offering you free, timely, daily information on the world of the oval ball for over 10 years. Our work has a cost that is repaid by advertising, especially personalized advertising.
When information on the release of cookies or similar technologies is proposed to you, we ask you to support us by giving your consent.
