The Chiefs' Cortez Ratima scores, and is embraced by Leroy Carter, at FMG Stadium in Hamilton, on Saturday night. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport
The Chiefs have destroyed Moana Pasifika in Hamilton, retaking the top spot in Super Rugby Pacific with an astounding 85-7 win. Clayton McMillan's side scored 13 tries to one in the win, which was built on a massive dominance of possession from start to finish.
Leroy Carter and Cortez Ratima were both the benefactors of the Chiefs' ruthless aggression, both scoring hat tricks and sending a message to the All Black selectors for the impending first squad naming of the year on 23 June. Carter, who switched over to the Chiefs from the All Blacks Sevens this year, may well have had another one but his first half effort was rubbed out by the TMO.
It didn't matter if all three of his had, though. The Chiefs were so dominant that players were queuing up to score, which started with Shaun Stevenson in the eighth minute.
From there Tupou Vaa'i and Quinn Tupaea got over, then Damian McKenzie just before half-time. That made the score 31-0, an eerily similar situation to the last time the sides met back in round six. In that match the score was 31-7 at the break, then Moana managed to score four tries in the second half on their way to a 50-35 loss.
While Ardie Savea pulled one back for Moana, the Chiefs hit back straight away to trash any thoughts of a repeated comeback. Samisoni Taukei'aho barged over, then Carter grabbed two in five minutes, before Ratima achieved the same feat. Daniel Rona was well rewarded for a really good game when he collected a cross kick to score.
Just to rub it in, the game ended with the Chiefs being awarded a penalty try for a scrum infringement.
While this is a massive body blow for Moana, it's not quite fatal. They now travel to Wellington needing to beat the Hurricanes next weekend and the Blues to either lose or not get a bonus point against the Waratahs earlier in the afternoon.
The Chiefs now hold a one point lead over the Crusaders at the top of the ladder, and can seal the top spot with a win over the now knocked-out Highlanders back in Hamilton on Friday.
See how the game played out, with RNZ's blog:
Team lists
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Luke Jacobson (c), 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson
Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Gideon Wrampling
Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Samuel Slade, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Ardie Savea (c), 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Kyren Taumoefolau, 15. Tevita Ofa
Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Allan Craig, 20. Sione Havili Talitui, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Julian Savea, 23. Jackson Garden-Bachop
