The Chiefs have moved up the Super Rugby ladder and all but secured their inclusion in finals, putting on a commanding display to dispatch the Western Force on a wet night in Waikato.
Trailing 29-7 at halftime, the Force were their own worst enemies for much of the game, with discipline and execution at the ruck falling short on multiple occasions. Off the back of a strong set-piece performance, the Chiefs piled on nine tries – including a hattrick to winger Daniel Rona – to win 56-7.
The win is the biggest the Chiefs have ever managed over the Western Australian side, besting their 53 – 10 victory in 2016. However, it was not all good news for the Waikato side, with star Damian McKenzie limping off in the 56th minute with an apparent HIA concern.
Missing the kick-off in the first ten seconds, the Force struggled to keep pace in the opening half hour, as tries to Emoni Narawa, Rona and Tupou Vaa’i and a flawless night from the boot from Damian McKenzie saw the hosts pick up the bonus point in the opening twenty minutes.
Referee James Doleman during the round 11 Super Rugby Pacific match between Chiefs and Western Force at FMG Stadium Waikato, on May 04, 2024, in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
The Force came back well in final ten minutes, earning a penalty try – however they were unable to double their score going into halftime, with Sam Spink held up over the try line.
Ill-discipline proved costly early in the second half, as the Chiefs piled on a further four tries in the second half to push the hosts past fifty.
The result is a significant dent in the Force’s finals hopes, with the WA franchise now having to win every single game to be considered a mathematical chance – and the Super Rugby Predictor giving them a 9% to make finals.
More to come.
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