FOR a second successive week, the Chiefs have produced a second-half fightback to claim a Super Rugby victory over a Kiwi rival.
This time it was the three-time defending champion Crusaders on the wrong end of it, defeated 25-15 in a typically enthralling derby between these two in Hamilton on Saturday night.
The crowd of 13,611 at FMG Stadium Waikato were left with yet more confidence in this reinvigorated franchise under Warren Gatland, who have now taken an early lead in the New Zealand conference, following their similarly stunning second-half surge against the Blues in round one.
It was the sixth successive Kiwi derby that the Chiefs had found themselves behind at halftime. But it was the fourth time they hadn’t lost one.
Down 12-3 early thanks to a Sevu Reece double, their heroic defence kept them in it, and it was blindside flanker Lachlan Boshier who put in a second successive masterclass in a barnstorming turnover-winning display.
Second-half tries to Solomon Alaimalo and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi got the home side a slender lead and they were good enough to hold on, while the Crusaders got into uncharacteristic errors and ended up losing to the Chiefs for a second time in a row, following defeat in Fiji last year.
It had all looked so promising for the visitors, as makeshift first-five David Havili – deputising for the injured Richie Mo’unga set up both Reece’s efforts, first by foot then by hand.
The Chiefs had limited ball at the right end of the park, and just as it looked like the returning Damian McKenzie would spark them and score, a sneaky Tom Sanders turned the ball over on his own line and the Crusaders got out of jail, as the match turned on a frantic period of play.
Crusaders ill-discipline kept the home side in it though, and when the count got to 6-1 after the visitors were pinged for an early drive defending a lineout, the Chiefs took exception and the frustration boiled over, as an all-in dust-up ensued.
This was the niggly rivalry everyone was familiar with.
