The Chiefs signed off their Super Rugby Pacific regular season in style, running in a glut of tries to beat the Blues 59-34 in a Bombay Hills derby at FMG Stadium Waikato, and handing the captaincy, and the night, to young loose forward Wallace Sititi.
With a home play-off already secured, the Chiefs had the luxury of freshening up their side, but there was still plenty riding on the contest. The Blues arrived needing a win to lock down third place and a home qualifying final at Eden Park, but instead they were swept aside by a home team in irresistible form.
It was tight early. The Chiefs led 19-15 at half-time in an end-to-end opening 40 that had the bells ringing around FMG Stadium, with both sides trading tries. After the break, though, the Chiefs simply pulled away, their attack clicking into gear as the points flowed and the Blues' resistance crumbled. By the finish, the hosts had racked up 59 points to 34.
At the heart of it was Sititi, who led the side for the first time after, by his own account, getting the call only on Monday. The young loose forward, widely tipped as a future All Black, capped the night with a try, around his fifth of the campaign, and was generous in sharing the credit afterwards.
"I'm just grateful to the boys," Sititi said. "I asked for their services at the start of the week and we built into this game. I'm just so happy and so proud of the boys, and happy to get the result as well."
The occasion was a family affair, with his relatives in the stands. "I got the call on Monday and it just sort of built into the week," he said. "It's a different week when you've got this role and I'm just happy and grateful, like I said, to the boys. I can only give all the thanks and the honour back to the Lord."
Sititi also revealed the meaning behind his try celebration, dedicating it to a close friend going through a difficult time. "That's for my good mate," he said. "He's somebody that I followed into battle and somebody that I always hold close to my heart, not only himself but also his wife. They mean a lot to me and I always carry that close to my heart."
A crowd of more than 20,000 roared the Chiefs home, and Sititi made clear the side will need them again. "There was a lot of reason not to come tonight, but there are amazing fans and they showed out," he said. "We're going to need you guys next week as well. Hopefully we can go all the way this year."
For the Blues, the defeat was a deflating end to the regular season, their hopes of a home qualifying final gone. For the Chiefs, it was the perfect launchpad into the play-offs.
