McKenzie kicks Chiefs to Super Rugby semi-final win over Brumbies
Both teams scored three tries in Hamilton but fly-half McKenzie landed eight shots from nine, including six penalty goals, in a 22-point haul as the Chiefs booked a place in next week's final against the Canterbury Crusaders.
The Crusaders beat the Auckland Blues 21-14 on Friday and are seeking their eighth title in nine seasons.
The Chiefs have not won the title since 2013, having lost in the final the past two seasons.
All Blacks sharpshooter McKenzie was at the heart of a clinical Chiefs display, setting up two tries and saving one when he held up Brumbies fullback Tony Wright over the line.
"Outstanding performance from the lads. Obviously the Brumbies came out of the blocks fast, like we knew they would, and I just loved the way we were really composed," the 30-year-old told Sky Sport.
"When we got in their 22 we managed to come away with points most of the time, so very pleasing."
The Brumbies lost Wallabies fly-half Noah Lolesio, who failed a head injury assessment in the opening minutes and was replaced by Jack Debreczeni.
They soon had a one-man advantage when Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i was shown a yellow card for a high tackle and capitalised with a try by hooker Billy Pollard from a lineout drive.
The Chiefs responded with a clever try by winger Emoni Narawa, who scampered through at the base of a ruck to score.
McKenzie converted and then landed all four of his penalty shots before the interval, with the Brumbies pushing too hard for turnovers at the breakdown.
The visitors scored a second try before the break when Debreczeni picked out winger Corey Toole with a cross kick to trail 19-12.
Toole crossed again through a fine solo try soon after the restart to close within two points.
Narawa bagged his second following a break from McKenzie, who kicked two more penalties and threw the last pass to put replacement back Josh Jacomb over for their final score.
"We had to play close to a perfect game to come over here and get the result," Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa said.
"We probably saw in the second half that our accuracy let us down and, off the back of that, probably our discipline as well."
Saturday's decider in Christchurch will be the fourth successive all-New Zealand final since Super Rugby Pacific launched in 2022.
The Brumbies have lost in the semi-finals in each of those seasons. No Australian team has won a play-off match in New Zealand in 21 attempts.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
Cummins flags Australia shake-up after WTC defeat as Ashes loom
The five-wicket defeat at Lord's on Saturday, after posting a 74-run first-innings lead, has renewed focus on Australia's top order which has struggled since opener David Warner retired 17 months ago. The elevation of out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne as Usman Khawaja's fifth opening partner since Warner bowed out did not work, while the experiment of Cameron Green at three flopped. The 38-year-old Khawaja is also under the microscope, scoring nought and six as his lean spell against pace continued. Green made four in the first innings and lasted only two balls before departing for a duck in the second as the new-look top three managed a total of 49 runs in the match. Australia's batting woes were laid bare, particularly in the second innings, when only a plucky unbeaten fifty from fast-bowler Mitchell Starc and 43 from wicketkeeper Alex Carey gave the Proteas a tough chase. "There's probably quite a few people in the line-up that wish they could have done a little bit more," Cummins told reporters. "The top three was an obvious one in this game." Fresh start With the 2027 WTC cycle kicking off when Australia travel to the West Indies for a three-Test series beginning in Barbados on June 25, the skipper admitted "it does feel like a little bit of a fresh start". "We've got a couple of weeks before the first Test in the Windies, so we'll sit down and have a bit of a think after we digest this game," he said. "But for me, I think a new WTC cycle in some ways does feel like a bit of a reset. "It's probably more for the selectors and for me to sit down and map it ahead." Compounding Australia's woes, veteran Steve Smith, who hit a majestic first innings' 66, is doubtful for the first West Indies Test after dislocating his finger. If he is ruled out, gung-ho teenager Sam Konstas, who played two Tests against India last summer before being dropped, could slot back in alongside Khawaja. That would allow Labuschagne to drop back to three, should he survive the axe after averaging just 25.63 in Tests during the 2024/25 season. There is also the option of Josh Inglis, who was in the WTC squad, as an opener. Australian media made it clear that change was needed, with The Australian newspaper calling the defeat a "wake-up call" with the five-Test Ashes series against England beginning in November. "Father Time is undefeated and selectors must now be decisive over key calls for the future," it said. Cummins acknowledged all cards were on the table with only five months to go until the first Ashes Test in Perth beginning on November 20. "Coming to this match, you've got guys like Sam Konstas and Scotty Boland and Josh Inglis, all those guys were right on the fringes," he said. "So I think again, after this Test match, everyone gets thrown back into the conversation." © 2025 AFP
France 24
9 hours ago
- France 24
Fearless Chiefs plot raid on Crusaders fortress in Super Rugby final
The Chiefs advanced to a third successive grand final appearance with an accomplished 37-17 semi-final win over the ACT Brumbies on Saturday. After losing the 2023 decider to the Crusaders and last year's to the Auckland Blues, coach Clayton McMillan believes his team are ready to take the next step and lift the silverware for the first time since 2013. Standing in their way on Saturday will be the competition's greatest side, who have never been beaten at home in Super Rugby knockout matches. The Crusaders are chasing a 13th full-season Super Rugby title and have won all 31 of their play-off matches in Christchurch dating back to 1996. Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said he and his team will be unfazed as they plot their raid on the Crusaders home fortress. "We don't have any fear about going down to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," McMillan told reporters after the semi-final victory. "We're one team that's had our fair share of success down there but we still know it's not going to be easy. "They've got a formidable record and they're a quality team." Under McMillan, the Chiefs have won three of their last five matches in Christchurch, all in the regular season, including last month's 35-19 victory when they fought back from 16 points down. Since then the Crusaders have won six straight matches, including Friday's tense 21-14 semi-final takedown of the defending champions Auckland Blues. McMillan says his team showed they have the mindset to win a big match with their pragmatic performance against the Brumbies. All Blacks fly-half Damian McKenzie kicked six penalty goals as the Chiefs turned to forward control and territory to see off the Australian visitors. "We've never shied away from the fact that we've been in the last two finals and haven't quite got the job done," McMillan said. "We're under no illusion as to what it takes. "But one of our Achilles heels in the past has been that we've wanted something so bad that it actually just becomes a little bit detrimental sometimes. You try a little bit too hard." The final will be the last match of McMillan's five-year tenure before taking up the head coach post at Irish club Munster.
France 24
12 hours ago
- France 24
Thompson in six-way tie for LPGA lead in Michigan
On a day when multiple players threatened but failed to break free atop the crowded leaderboard at Blythefield Country Club, Thompson was tied on 11-under 205 with Spain's Carlota Ciganda, South Korean Choi Hye-jin, Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom and Sofia Garcia of Paraguay. The leaders were two strokes clear of Australian Karis Davidson, who fired a one-under 71 for 207, with another four players tied on 208. For Thompson, it's another crack at a title she missed out on in a playoff last year, and a chance to add to her tally of 11 LPGA titles for the first time since 2019. "Feel good about it," said Thompson, who is making just her sixth start of the season as she plays a limited schedule. "Hopefully I won't need my short game as much tomorrow. That's the goal. I didn't hit it my best today, but I tried to stay in the moment, stay positive and make the saves when I needed them." Thompson started the day one adrift and after a bogey at the third reeled off three straight birdies at four, five and six. She responded to a bogey at the ninth with birdies at 10 and 11 and after a bogey at 14, birdied 16 and 18. Choi, who was one of four players sharing the overnight lead, had three birdies without a bogey in her three-under 69 and had a chance to take the solo lead but missed a six-foot birdie putt at 18. Ciganda, also among the first-round leaders, made her fourth birdie of the day at 18 to cap her 69 and keep her name in the leading bunch. Sagstrom, winner of the LPGA Match Play earlier this season, thrust herself into contention when she picked up five shots in the space of three holes with eagles at the fourth and sixth sandwiched around a birdie at the fifth. She had three birdies and three bogeys the rest of the way in a five-under 67. Garcia had the solo lead at 13 under after an eagle and four birdies in her first 10 holes. But she fell back with three straight bogeys at 13, 14 and 15 before salvaging a share of the lead with a birdie at the last. Koerstz Madsen, who won her lone LPGA title in Thailand in 2022, was 13-under with a two-shot lead after six birdies through 16 holes. But she closed with back-to-back bogeys and said nerves were a contributing factor. "I know some of the swing got really fast at the end, so it's good that I can go and work on that and know what Swing thought I have to think about when that happens for tomorrow," she said.
