The Reds went closest to gaining a berth in the closest contest of the weekend before going down 24-46 to the Chiefs in Hamilton. The Brumbies suffered a record playoff loss, 66-12, to the Hurricanes.
As a result, the Hurricanes will host the highest-placed losing side, the Blues, in Wellington on Saturday evening, while the Chiefs will have to beat the defending champion Crusaders in Hamilton on Friday evening.
Hurricanes 66 (1) Brumbies 12 (6)
Hurricanes' firepower was unleashed on the Brumbies in the first playoff game, and it came from every direction. Poor weather conditions were constant, with the swirling breeze a frustration. But it was the Hurricanes’ complete disdain for any inhibitions the weather might cause that broke the Brumbies early.
Dominant scrum power, significant lineout control and absolute control in the loose across the 80 minutes came initially through co-skipper Du’Plessis Kirifi, No8 Peter Lakai and the under-estimated veteran Brad Shields, then from the bench when Brayden Iose joined the fray. Up 38-7 at the break, having scored five tries with ball play that defied the conditions, the Hurricanes had the luxury of clearing the bench early in the second half to rest their key playmakers for next week’s semifinal.
The Brumbies were unable to respond to the all points attack and solid defence, scoring a try in each half, the first of which went to wing Corey Toole running onto a lob over the home backline into unpatrolled space, a lesson ahead of the contest next week. It was the greatest defeat suffered by any side in Super Rugby playoffs, the highest score by the Hurricanes against the Brumbies, a side that has been a bogey team in the past, and the 38 points conceded in the first half were the most in the Brumbies’ history.
Making light of the windy conditions, Ruben Love, not only in his direction of play, managed 100 percent from the kicking tee for a personal haul of 21 points. Inside him, halfback Cam Roigard demonstrated he is running into form at the right time of the season with two tries, while the contribution of lock Warner Dearns to the lineout supplemented his work around the field with locking partner Caleb Delany. Overall, this was a near-perfect team performance.
Hurricanes 66 (Caleb Delany, Cameron Roigard 2, Warner Dearns 2, Billy Proctor, Ngane Punivai 3 tries; Ruben Love 9 con, pen) Brumbies 12 (Corey Toole, Tane Edmed tries; Ryan Lonergan con). HT: 38-7
Crusaders 52 (3) Blues 31 (4)
Thirty-two unbeaten playoff games in New Zealand assure institutional knowledge in abundance, and the Crusaders demonstrated that again when showing more patience, continuity and support than the Blues could muster in what was their fourth consecutive loss. Yet, the manner of the Blues' start, a smart second-minute try to halfback Sam Nock off a planned lineout move, offered hope of a sterner Blues effort. But early dominance yielded only the one try, which the Crusaders negated nine minutes later when wing Sevu Reece crossed for his 74th Super Rugby try, all off the back of a Blues turnover loss.
Then, Blues No8 Malachi Wrampling hit Crusaders flanker Leicester Fainga’anuku too high in a tackle and was ultimately red-carded after a review. In the remaining 20 minutes before a substitute got back in the game, the Crusaders had scored four tries to one, by the Blues loose forward Anton Segner. At 33-14, however, the game was all but gone.
All the Crusaders stars came out to shine, captain and second five-eighths David Havili producing some outstanding touches to score a try himself, while helping fullback Johnny McNicholl to post a hat-trick of tries. But it was Fainga’anuku, again, who was a constant thorn in the Blues' side in the loose with his ability to create opportunities by unleashing his sheer power. Wing Chay Fihaki and first five-eighths Taha Kemara shared in the first-half try-scoring action, with replacement hooker Manumaua Letiu scoring the last for the Crusaders.
The Blues did finish with 31 points, thanks to tries from second five-eighths Xavi Taele, replacement fullback Payton Spencer and wing Caleb Clarke, each of which showed what the Blues were capable of, but without the unerring finish the Crusaders demonstrated.
Crusaders 52 (Johnny McNicholl 3, Sevu Reece, David Havili, Chay Fihaki, Taha Kemara, Manumaua Letiu tries; Kemara 5 con; Rivez Reihana con) Blues 31 (Sam Nock, Anton Segner, Xavi Taele, Payton Spencer, Caleb Clarke tries; Zarn Sullivan 3 con). HT: 33-14
Chiefs 46 (2) Reds 24 (5)
Crucial tries either side of halftime, outstanding defence, and a stunning last 15 minutes powered the Chiefs to a semifinal home game when they finally quelled a determined Reds unit in wet conditions in Hamilton. The Reds pounded the Chiefs’ line several times, often putting more than 20 phases together with inside backs combination halfback Tate McDermott and first five-eighths Carter Gordon constantly probing and looking for chances for their forwards to charge into rucks. But at the key moments, the Chiefs held firm and then had the fitness to come through in the long run.
The Reds demonstrated their intent when scoring the first try through lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto six minutes into the game. The Reds lost him 13 minutes later to the sin-bin for a high tackle, which, with another head blow in the tackle from a team mate, saw No8 Wallace Sititi leave the field. The Chiefs scored their first try in the resulting play, with hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scoring. But as was the case throughout the game, every time the Reds scored, the Chiefs struck back quickly. Twice wing Kyren Taumoefolau scored in response, the first after eight minutes and the second at halftime, just after the Reds had sneaked ahead 17-15.
Then, six minutes into the second half, at a penalty in front of their posts, the Reds took their eye off the ball and Damian McKenzie, back at first five-eighths after three weeks out, raced to tap the ball and cross untouched for a try. In a game in which he posted his century of points for the season, he scored a second try that settled the issue, while he also pulled off a superb back flick pass from a Reds downfield kick that gave fullback Isaac Hutchinson the time and space to launch himself on the burst to score an outstanding solo try. McKenzie scored 26 points to be on 121 points over the season by game’s end.
Chiefs 46 (Kyren Taumoefolau 2, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Damian McKenzie 2, Isaac Hutchinson tries; McKenzie 5 con, 2 pen) Reds 24 (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Aidan Ross, Matt Fassler tries; Carter Gordon 3 con, pen). HT: 22-17
