Wed 6 Jun 2012 | 09:49
Classic Encounters - The Blues vs Chiefs thriller in North Harbour

10
Comments

The Chiefs and the Blues, on opposite ends of the Super Rugby table, produced a thriller on the weekend, one of the best games of the year. It went back at forth throughout, but ended 41-34 to the visitors after their speedy winger scored his fourth try.

Chiefs flyer Asaeli Tikoirotuma stole the show with a hat-trick, and one extra for good measure. He equalled the individual try-scoring record for a Super Rugby match.

The Blues' dynamic Rene Ranger was unlucky to be on the losing side after he scored one of the individual tries of the season, and helped create another. While he's not a regular All Black, he does things on the rugby field that very few others can.

The game was tied at 20-20 at halftime and the same pattern continued in the second period, but the late try by Tikoirotuma sealed it, bringing a relieved smile to captain Liam Messam's face.

"We are definitely happy with the five points. They were hard earned. It was a tough game and full credit to the Blues they really took it to us," he said. 

There were a number of tries that could have been featured here on their own, with two of Tikoirotuma's in particular being of the highest standard, and Rangers effort worthy of it's own post too. For now though we'll get these highlights up so you can see all the action for yourself.

The Blues picked up two points, but the Chiefs remain top of the table at the mid-season break.

10 Comments

  • 3:47 AM 11/08/2012

    Ranger is deadly, I'd have him in my side.

  • bigoullexy
    10:50 PM 17/06/2012

    I completely agree, every card in the super rugby seems to be followed by a yellow. If there is seriously dangerous play during a game then a citing officer can pick up by themselves. They don't need the referee to bombard them with every rough tackle or scrap.

  • pretzel
    1:25 AM 07/06/2012

    But does it mean that if the referee does not show a white card then the citing commissioner ignores the whole incident?

    The whole fight that broke out a week or so ago was put on a white card, wouldn't the citing commissioner have had a look regardless of whether it was on the white card or not..?

  • ron_mexico
    7:46 PM 06/06/2012

    Straight out of the Carlos Spencer playbook, it seems. great stuff

  • pretzel
    7:40 PM 06/06/2012

    I detest the use of the white card... what is the point in punishing a player after the game... the aim in yellow/red cards are to punish not only the offending player, but also his team... last time I checked rugby was still a team sport, white cards are a cop out..

  • fettsack
    3:45 PM 06/06/2012

    Great game! Just from theses 5 minutes I can tell Ranger played a great game, Tikoirotuma too obviously!
    Also, from multiple super 15 highlights I'm under the impression that Aaron Cruden is in a great season.
    I think the Chief's n5 was really stupid to start a fight, especially at this point in the game, while he was in the bin the Blues scored twice and put themselves back in the game.

  • technomouse
    3:37 PM 06/06/2012

    I found myself making sex noises throughout much of this clip... some glorious moves.

  • paimoe
    3:31 PM 06/06/2012

    Kinda shows that the Blues would have been much much better had Wulf and Ranger not been injured. Even better if Mealamu and Kaino were still there to bring some order.

    Unfortunately Nonu and Weepu decided to suck this season.

  • wrong
    2:44 PM 06/06/2012

    i wish i hadnt

  • wrong
    1:44 PM 06/06/2012

    wouldn't see a match like this in the Aviva.

    Also if people continue to brand decent tries as "one of the best of all time" or like i saw on a video the other day "the best try of the decade" (when we are only 2 years into this decade) when a truly special try does come along then it wont have nearly as much impact if people continue to say such things over any try.