Fly-half Damian McKenzie inspired the Waikato Chiefs to a stunning 30-19 victory over the Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday, securing a spot in the Super Rugby final against the Auckland Blues. The Chiefs dominated early, scoring two of their three tries in the first six minutes, with McKenzie converting all six of his shots at goal to keep them ahead throughout the semi-final in Wellington.
The Blues will host the all-New Zealand final at Eden Park next Saturday after defeating the ACT Brumbies 34-20 in their semi-final. Both the Chiefs and Blues are seeking redemption after losing finals to the Canterbury Crusaders over the past two seasons. The Chiefs, who last won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013, aim to break their title drought, while the three-time champion Blues seek their first Super Rugby crown since 2003.
Despite being the top qualifiers and having a home advantage, the Hurricanes were unable to recover from an early 17-7 halftime deficit. McKenzie controlled the game with his precise kicking and tactical play, amassing 15 points. The Chiefs overcame several setbacks, including the pre-match injury of fullback Shaun Stevenson and the early exit of All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho due to a leg injury.
Even with two yellow cards reducing them to 14 players twice, the Chiefs’ defense held strong against the Hurricanes’ potent attack. Early tries from Samipeni Finau and Cortez Ratima, both converted by McKenzie, set the tone for the match. McKenzie also added two penalties to maintain the Chiefs’ lead.
A crucial moment came when 21-year-old Wallace Sititi intercepted a pass and charged 60 meters downfield, setting up Daniel Rona’s try, which solidified the Chiefs’ control. McKenzie sealed the victory with a 50-meter penalty goal, while a late try by the Hurricanes’ Billy Proctor was merely a consolation.
The Chiefs’ triumph sets up a highly anticipated final against the Blues, promising an exciting conclusion to the Super Rugby season.
