The Chiefs ran out to a 59-12 win in their only previous Super Rugby encounter with Moana Pasifika (19 March 2022); it was the second biggest win in the Chiefs’ history in the competition.
The Chiefs will be looking to avoid back-to-back regular-season defeats in Super Rugby for the first time since March 2021 after succumbing to a 25-0 loss to the Blues last time out; it was the first time in Super Rugby history that the Chiefs failed to score a point in a game.
- The men from the Waikato have lost their last two home games in Super Rugby after having enjoyed a six-game winning streak on home soil before that span; they have scored just 19 points across their last two games on home turf in the competition.
- Moana Pasifika lost their most recent Super Rugby match (53-12 v Hurricanes, 12 April 2022); the 41-point loss was their second biggest defeat in the competition (59-12 v Chiefs, 19 March 2022).
- The Chiefs have crossed the gain-line on 73 carries per game in 2022, the most of any team in the competition; only the Brumbies (49) have made fewer per game in this category than Moana Pasifika (51).
- Moana has made 91 carries per game in 2022, the second-fewest of any team (Brumbies – 82) and 35 per game fewer than the Chiefs (126) who have made the most of any side.
- The Chiefs have won 13 lineouts per game (incl. steals) in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season; only the Brumbies (14 per game) have averaged more in the campaign.
- Moana Pasifika has made 140 tackles per game this season, the second-most of any team (Crusaders – 160) and 27 per game more than the Chiefs (113).
Players to watch
- Pita Sowakula has gained 300 metres this season, the second-most of any forward in the competition (Harry Wilson – 313).
- Henry Stowers has made 87 tackles this campaign; only one player has made more (Tom Christie – 130).
Match detail
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1.00: PEEEP! We are underway at FMG Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand.
3.00: Anzelo Tuitavuki cannot take Henry Taefu’s pass, and the ball rolls out. Lincoln McClutchie began the attack from inside his half, but the Chiefs have managed to win a penalty advantage after a sustained attack.
5.00: Niko Jones is offside, and Bryn Gatland goes to the corner.
8.00: The Chiefs go through the phases but strong defending keep the hosts out.
9.00: Moana wins a relieving penalty after losing their lineout, yet another.
10.00: NO TRY! Alex Nankivell makes a break around Henry Taefu and throws an outrageous back-door pass to Chase Tiatia, who dives in to score; however, the fullback is tackled by William Havili, and his foot touches the chalk. 0-0
11.00: TRY! Luke Jacobson picks up the ball as the opposition pack goes backwards, and dots down for his 10th Super Rugby try. Another lost lineout by the islanders gave the Kiwis another attacking scrum, and they made the visitors pay. 5-0
13.00: CONVERSION! Gatland adds the extras. 7-0
15.00: TRY! Etene Nanai-Seturo finishes a wonderful solo effort after Gatland sent the winger through a hole from a lineout. Nanai-Seturo bounced off Niko Jones and swerved Timoci Tavatavanawai before slipping Ereatara Enari’s tackle to score. 12-0
16.00: CONVERSION! Gatland adds another two. 14-0
19.00: TRY! Anzelo Tuitavuki gets his first Super Rugby try after taking Enari’s long, flat pass, and he beats Shaun Stevenson to the flag to put Moana Pasifika on the scoreboard. 14-5
21.00: MISS! The kick is well wide from Lincoln McClutchie. 14-5
23.00: Another sustained attack (10 phases) puts the visitors under pressure; however, this time, the visitors keep up Stevenson to win the turnover after the winger is isolated.
25.00: Chiefs assistant coach Nick White, speaking to Sky Sports, is unhappy with Moana Pasifika scoring with their first attack inside the home team’s red zone.
26.00: Mahonri Ngakuru’s deliberate knock-on allows Gatland to take a shot from in front.
28.00: PENALTY! Gatland makes no mistake. 17-5
31.00: The Chiefs go close again, but a knock-on by Josh Lord kills an almost certain score for the hosts.
33.00: Moana lose possession after winning a free-kick inside their 22.
35.00: A big scrum by the home forwards sees them win a penalty, Gatland boots to the 22.
36.00: Superb defending by the visiting forwards, this time. They hold up the Chiefs to win another turnover inside their red zone.
37.00: TRY! Alex Nankivell collects Tupou Vaa’i’s misplaced pass, and scoots away to score his ninth SR try. Vaa’i broke through a hole on the side of a ruck, raced into the 22 before passing to Brad Weber. Weber could not gather, but Nankivell did. 22-5
38.00: CONVERSION! Gatland slots another from in front. 24-5
40.00: Moana kick a penalty to the opposition’s 22 for a last attack before the break.
41.00: Niko Jones knocks on at the back of the maul.
The halftime score was Chiefs 24 Moana Pasifika 5
41.00: PEEEP! We are back under in the TRON!
44.00: TRY! Ereatara Enari goes through a hole next to the breakdown and speed into the 22 before offloading to the supporting Solomone Kata to score under the sticks. 24-10
46.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 24-12
49.00: A lot of kicking since halftime as the teams look to play in the other half.
51.00: TRY! Nankivell has a brace after a sublime counter-attack involving backs and forwards. The chiefs sent the ball through the hands to Nakivell. The centre combined with Jacobson, who sent Nanai-Seturo away down the touchline. The winger put in a deft chip-kick as the cover-defender arrived, and Nankivell collected to run in untouched. 29-5
52.00: YELLOW CARD! Chris Apoua hit Mitch Brown with a shoulder to the flanker’s jaw, and the prop is off for 10 minutes. 29-5
52.00: CONVERSION! Gatland adds another. 31-5
56.00: TRY! Gatland sent a pass to Tiatia, who steps inside the defender and throws a long pass to Nanai-Seturo for the winger’s second. 36-5
58.00: CONVERSION! Gatland knocks over his fifth two-pointer. 38-12
61.00: Chiefs go close, but the attack is snuffed out.
64.00: Moana are not giving up or in, they have had some possession, but nothing to show for it.
67.00: Another sustained attack by the visitors goes 10 phases as they march into the Chiefs’ 22.
71.00: A knock-on kills a 15-phase attack, but the visitors have a penalty; they go to the corner.
73.00: Nothing comes from the promising attack, the Chiefs clear.
76.00: Chiefs go close, but Moana counter-attack to halfway. Weber is off injured.
78.00: Chiefs win another lineout to set-up another attack inside the opposition’s 22.
79.00: TRY! A 15-phase attack ends with Rivez Reihana claiming his maiden Super Rugby try.
80.00: CONVERSION! Gatland’s kick is good. 45-12
81.00: Rivez Reihana clears to touch after the hooter sounds.
FULL TIME
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The final score is Chiefs 45 (24) Moana Pasifika 12 (5)
Scorers
Chiefs
Tries – Jacobson, Nanai-Seturo (2), Nankivell (2), Reihana
Pen – Gatland
Con – Gatland (6)
Drop –
Cards –
Moana Pasifika
Tries – Tuitavuki, Kata
Pen –
Con – McClutchie
Drop –
Cards – Apoua (Yellow, 52′)
Match Officials
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1: Dan Waenga
Assistant Ref 2: Stu Curran
TMO: Shane McDermott
Teams
Chiefs: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Bryn Gatland, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Luke Jacobson (co-captain), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Mitch Brown, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 George Dyer, 19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Brad Weber (co-captain), 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Jonah Lowe.
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Solomone Kata, 12 Henry Taefu (captain), 11 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 10 Lincoln McClutchie, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Sione Tu’ipulotu, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Michael Curry, 5 Mahonri Ngakuru, 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Ray Niuia, 1 Ezekiel Lindermuth.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi, 18 Suetena Asomua, 19 Alex McRobbie, 20 Josh Kaifa, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Fine Inisi, 23 Lolagi Visinia.
