All Black winger Sitiveni Sivivatu scored two tries and flyhalf Stephen Donald kicked 20 points as the Waikato Chiefs beat the Canterbury Crusaders 30-24 in a Super 14 rugby match on Friday.
The Chiefs strengthened their claim to a place in the tournament semifinals and weakened Canterbury’s grip on a home play-off advantage as they won at Jade Stadium for the first time since 1998. Their unexpected success snapped the Crusaders’ run of 26 consecutive home, wins stretching back over the past three years.
Sivivatu touched down in both halves, showing pace, anticipation and skill to run down speculative kicks while Donald kept the Chiefs in front for almost three quarters of the match with seven goal kicks from eight attempts.
The Chiefs monopolised possession in the first half and led 20-13 at half-time. Canterbury closed to 20-19 after 50 minutes but Sivivatu’s second try in the 73rd minute proved a game-breaker and clinched the Chiefs’ seventh win in 13 games.
The win lifted Waikato to third place in the standings after the first match of a final round that will decide all play-off places and home advantages. The Chiefs are not yet certain of a semifinals place and could yet be supplanted by the Auckland Blues, Bulls or ACT Brumbies.
”It’s out of our control now,” said Chiefs captain Tom Willis.
”We did what we had to do. Now we have to sit back and see what happens.”
Canterbury scored a last-minute try through All Black captain Richie McCaw to take a bonus point that put them two points clear at the top of the table. That point ensured they will make the semifinals but the Sharks and Blues could yet deny them home advantage.
”The first half was quite a slog,” McCaw said. ”We felt we couldn’t get our hands on the ball. The Chiefs put us under pressure, forced mistakes and kept coming up with penalties, which made it tough.”
Crusaders flyhalf Stephen Brett opened the scoring with a second-minute penalty, but Donald landed his first two penalty goals in the 14th and 17th minutes to give the Chiefs a 6-3 lead.
Canterbury scored the first try of the match through lock Ross Filipo in the 25th minute and Brett converted to put the Crusaders ahead 13-6, but Donald chipped away at the margin with two goals.
Sivivatu’s first try, chasing and expertly controlling a kick from All Black fullback Mils Muliaina, gave the Chiefs a lead they didn’t relinquish.
Canterbury rallied in the second half, strengthened their defence and gained more possession, closing within a point with two Brett penalties.
Donald nudged Waikato to a four-point lead with his sixth penalty and Sivivatu scored from a kick by Sione Lauaki to decide the match. McCaw’s try came too late to change the result. — Sapa-AP