The Chiefs have survived a spirited and spectacular comeback from Moana Pasifika to extend their lead atop the Super Rugby standings.
But Clayton McMillan admitted he wasn’t entirely satisfied with their 50-35 win, having taken their foot off the gas to let slip a potentially precious bonus point.
“It was pretty clinical (in the first half) and we had that chat at half-time around challenging the lads about what team do we want to be and, unfortunately, we didn’t quite live it,” the Munster-bound coach said.
“But I don’t want to be disrespectful to Moana because they really turned it up in second half, got a good power game going and exposed us in a couple of areas, so that will serve us well going forward.
“It bordered on getting a little bit embarrassing there for a moment, so the bye comes at a timely period.”
Indeed, after running in six first-half tries to lead 43-7 at half-time, the Chiefs conceded four straight converted tries, including an intercept runaway try to fullback William Havili in the 74th minute, to see Moana Pasifika cut the margin to eight points.
However, a surging rolling maul try to Samisoni Taukei’aho with a couple of minutes left on the clock ensured there would be no miracle comeback.
“Our first half killed us,” Havili said. “We know that we can put teams away with set-piece and our phase play, but penalties, loose balls, we’ve just got to be better.”
The Chiefs survived a stunning second half comeback from Moana Pasifika at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
The Chiefs couldn’t have come out of the blocks quicker against the rising Moana Pasifika side.
Effectively playing in front of a home crowd in Pukekohe because of the game’s relocation from Tonga, the Chiefs got on the board through Damian McKenzie in the second minute.
It wasn’t long either before their opening try, with hooker Bradley Slater scoring in just the eight minute.
The tries didn’t stop, with Moana Pasifika slipping off tackles and being blown off the park and the Chiefs took full advantage of the perfect conditions with Shaun Stevenson scoring after a bullet pass from McKenzie.
Halfback Xavier Roe then scored one of the simplest tries of his career when Slater was deemed just short of the line.
Moana’s hopes of coming back into the clash were then given another dagger when stand-in-captain Tom Savage was shown a yellow card after a series of penalties in quick succession in the 28th minute.
A minute later flying winger Leroy Carter was over and the Chiefs led 29-0 by the half-hour mark.
While Havili scored soon after to give Moana some hope, two quick tries to finish the half, including one to McKenzie, saw the Chiefs head into the main break up by 36 points.
McMillan called for the Chiefs to show a ruthless edge, but it was Tana Umaga’s men who came out with a point to prove. They quickly showed it.
Prop Abraham Pole scored and then replacement hooker Sama Malolo also got on the scoreboard to ensure their strong start to the second half was well rewarded.
Moana continued to gain a foothold in the clash as the Chiefs dropped balls, were penalised for clumsy work at the breakdown and poor set-piece work.
Two more tries to Moana Pasifika, including one to Tuna Tuitama and Havili, saw them close the margin to eight points.
But a mistake from Havili from the boot gave the Chiefs some more territory and possession and this time the Super Rugby heavyweights made no mistake.
Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson tipped his hat at Moana’s character during their second half surge.
“I think everything was going right for us in the first half,” Jacobson said.
“We had some really good set-piece completion, we were getting some good metres in our attack and it felt like nothing could go wrong at that point.
“But then second half, Moana came out strong, we started to lack a bit in our set-piece areas, gave them a chance and they got some good wind in their sail.
“I would have liked to have defended better, it wasn’t quite how we wanted the second half to go, but happy to come away with the win. But credit to Moana for coming out hot in the second half.”
Asked whether it was mentally tough to repeat their first-half feats, Jacobson admitted subconsciously it was but again said their opponents deserved respect for their response.
“It is, I guess, a little bit tough but we want to have that ruthless edge that we come out and finish those games without a big comeback like that, so that’s something we’ve got to look at,” he said.
“Look, Moana are a quality side and we can’t expect to get it as easy as we had in the first half. We probably didn’t get it super easy, but we made it look a bit easier by doing the basics really well.
“Happy with where we are going into the bye week, I think there’s a few bodies that’ll appreciate the week off, so happy with where we are at, but we know that means nothing. There’s a long season to go. We’ve got to freshen up and be ready to go and ready to hiss.”
The 15-point win saw the Chiefs extend their lead atop the Super Rugby standings on 18 points, four points clear of the Crusaders, Reds and Brumbies.
Moana Pasifika are last on six points.