McKenzie steers Chiefs to Super Rugby upset in Auckland

02/15/2025 04:48 AM

SATURDAY WRAP: Damian McKenzie scored two tries as his Chiefs beat the Blues 25-14 on Saturday to extract a measure of revenge for last year's Super Rugby Pacific Final defeat.

All Black playmaker McKenzie crossed twice in the second half and finished with 20 points as the Chiefs fought back from an eight-point deficit in wet conditions at Eden Park.

The Blues won the all-New Zealand Final 41-10 at the same venue eight months ago.

The home side looked ready to repeat that outcome after tries by Dalton Papali'i and AJ Lam put them 14-6 clear at half-time.

However, they paid for their indiscipline in the second spell, with the Chiefs hitting the front in the final quarter after Josh Fusitua was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.

Debut wing Leroy Carter put the visitors ahead before fullback McKenzie slid over to make the outcome safe, using his pace to outstrip the defence for a second time.

As well as contributing four turnovers, Reimer dived across the line in the 67th minute and burrowed over again in the 74th for the visitors to go ahead 34-32.

Replacement flyhalf Declan Meredith added the extras for a four-point win.

Stand-in skipper Lonergan said he was proud of the efforts of his under-manned side to lift at the end after 13-hours travel to Suva via Melbourne.

"So proud, to be able to play six debutants and they go out there and show that kind of heart at the end to be able to claw back that deficit, it's a credit to them," Lonergan told Stan Sport.

"They worked so hard through the pre-season, they've just been grinding behind the scenes and for them to now get the chocolates here at the end, I'm so happy.

"Our set-piece there at the end, really sort of got us back there in the game and a couple of good tries to Lukey Reimer there that I'm sure we won't stop hearing about."

See below for Saturday's scores and scorers!

Fijian Drua 32-36 Brumbies

The scorers:

For Fijian Drua:
Tries: Kuruvoli, Loganimasi, Karawalevu 2
Cons: Muntz 3
Pens: Muntz 2

For Brumbies:
Tries: Reimer 2, Sapsford, Van Nek, Pollard, R. Lonergan
Cons: Lolesio 2, Meredith

Teams:

Fijian Drua: 15 Isikeli Rabitu, 14 Ponipate Loganimasi, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Kemu Valetini, 11 Vuate Karawalevu, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (co-captain), 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Meli Tuni, 19 Vilive Miramira, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Frank Lomani (co-captain), 22 Peni Matawalu, 23 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.

Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Hudson Creighton, 12 Austin Anderson, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Rory Scott, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Lachlan Shaw, 3 Feao Fotuaika, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Blake Schoupp.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Lington Ieli, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Judah Saumaisue, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Kadin Pritchard.

Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant referees: Michael Winter, Stu Curran
TMO: Marcus Playle

Blues 14-25 Blues

The scorers:

For Blues:
Tries: Papali'i, Lam
Cons: Barrett 2

For Chiefs:
Tries: McKenzie 2, Carter
Cons: McKenzie 2
Pens: McKenzie 2

Teams:

Blues: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Cameron Suafoa, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 Nathaniel Pole, 17 Josh Fusitua, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Che Clark, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Fin Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes.

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Josh Lord, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Brodie McAllister, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Reuben O'Neill, 19 Tupou Vaa'i, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Anton Lienert Brown, 23 Emoni Narawa.

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Ben O'Keeffe
TMO: Brett Cronan