Isaac Hutchinson scores a try for the Chiefs against the Crusaders. Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport
If Chiefs coach Jonno Gibbes was allowed to write the script himself, he couldn’t have penned a better first-half performance than the one his team produced in their 49-12 semifinal win over the Crusaders.
The Chiefs were simply sensational in the opening 40 minutes, ruthlessly racking up a scarcely believable 42-5 scoreline.
The defending champs had no answers, as the Chiefs ran in seven stunning tries to slam the gate shut on Crusaders hopes before halftime.
As flawless as the first was, the second half was equally as sloppy, with the Chiefs adding just one more try to their total.
First-five Damian McKenzie conducted the carnage with typically mercurial touches, while wing Kyren Taumoefolau opened the scoring with a couple of corkers.
First, centre Lalakai Foketi sent him away, before a dinky McKenzie grubber landed at Taumoefolau’s feet, as he expertly nudged it back infield, beat the cover and scooped it up to score a stunner.
Foketi then busted them right open in the midfield, linking with fullback Isaac Hutchinson to spin over the chalk in the tackle of wing Chay Fihaki.
Hooker Samesoni Taukei’aho went in next, before some individual brilliance by Crusaders first-five Taha Kemara saw him explode through with some silky footwork, throwing it wide to Fihaki to finish in the corner.
The joy was short-lived though, as the Chiefs struck straight back, McKenzie floating a beautiful ball to wing Leroy Carter, who waltzed over.
More magic followed, as Liam Coombs-Fabling chipping over the top and regathering, finding Foketi rampaging down the sideline, who threw it inside to lock Tupou Va’ii to dive over.
The try left a shellshocked Crusaders staring down the barrel of a record halftime deficit.
After the fireworks of the first, the match meandered to an inevitable result with an error-riddled second half, just one try for each side.
Second-five David Havili pulled one back for the Crusaders with a determined drive over the line, but replacement halfback Xavier Roe closed the show in the 79th minute, with a strong run from the ruck.
The second 40 was disjointed, but the damage had well and truly been done in one of the most clinical and decisive wins in Chiefs history.
Now into a fourth straight final, the side have the opportunity to banish the demons of three consecutive defeats in the big dance.
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For the first time in Super Rugby history, no Australian will feature.
The Blues face a red-hot Hurricanes side in the capital on Saturday night.
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The result was also good news for the Blues, who sneak into the semis as ‘lucky losers’.
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