The Crusaders' grip on Super Rugby Pacific is over, ripped away in the most brutal fashion by a Chiefs side that produced one of the great finals-football performances at FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday night.
The Chiefs won 49-12, a result that flipped years of playoff heartbreak on its head. It was their biggest win over the Crusaders and, more strikingly, the heaviest defeat in the Christchurch club's Super Rugby history. By half-time it was 42-5, the home side already out of sight in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 22,000.
Hamilton's wing Kyren Taumoefolau set the tone with two early tries, the first a piece of opportunism as he chased down a Damian McKenzie grubber, nudged it infield and scooped up to score. Isaac Hutchinson, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Leroy Carter and lock Tupou Vaa'i all crossed before the break as the Chiefs raced to a barely believable 28-0 lead inside 24 minutes. Replacement halfback Xavier Roe added the eighth try late on. McKenzie, pulling the strings at first-five, finished with seven conversions.
For the Crusaders, it was a night to forget and a sorry farewell for departing coach Rob Penney, whose three seasons in charge ended in an embarrassing blowout 12 months after he steered the club to the title. The absence of Will Jordan at fullback blunted their attack, but it was the defence that fell apart, missing tackle after tackle as Chiefs runners cut through. Chay Fihaki and David Havili scored their only tries. The visitors also lost flanker Leicester Fainga'anuku to an ankle injury, while veteran wing Sevu Reece, another player moving on, could do little to stem the tide.
First-year head coach Jono Gibbes has now guided the Chiefs into a fifth final in six years — and their fourth in a row. The harder task remains. The club has not won a title since 2012 and has lost three deciders to the very Crusaders side they have just dismantled. Wallabies midfielder Lalakai Foketi was a calm, creative presence in the carnage, while All Blacks midfielder Quinn Tupaea carried strongly before an ankle knock forced him off in the second half.
The Chiefs' opponent in next weekend's final will be decided on Saturday, when table-topping Hurricanes host the Blues in Wellington. The Blues sneaked into the semi-finals as the wildcard despite losing their qualifier, and start as underdogs against a Hurricanes team in the form of the competition. Win it, and the Hurricanes will host the decider in the capital.
After a sloppy, error-strewn second half that yielded just one try apiece, the Chiefs eased off knowing the job was long done. The questions now are whether they can finally shake their finals demons — and which New Zealand side stands between them and a first crown in 13 years.
