Chiefs take down valiant Brumbies to advance to final

The Chiefs have secured a 19-6 victory over the ACT Brumbies in the second semi-final of Super Rugby Pacific.

Both teams were drawn into the dogfight as defence and the wet conditions dictated the clash.

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Damian McKenzie was perfect from the boot with his four penalties, keeping the hosts in front for the majority of the game.

Fellow All Black Brodie Retallick then iced the game with three minutes to go with the lone try of the match to seal their place in the final.

They will face the Crusaders in a rematch of 2021's Super Rugby Aotearoa Final after the defending champions thumped the Blues on Friday.

The match was a brutal battle from the opening whistle as the game turned into a kicking battle in the tough conditions.

The Chiefs once again relied on the boot of Damian McKenzie to control the game, opening the scoring via a penalty.

Stephen Larkham’s side won the territory battle early but in a repeat of last month’s battle in Canberra, couldn’t find a way to pierce the Chiefs’ line.

They then lost Jack Debreczeni to a head knock as McKenzie and replacement playmaker Noah Lolesio traded penalties.

Buoyed by a strong crowd, the Chiefs camped themselves inside the Brumbies’ 22 as the visitors started to draw the ire of referee Nic Berry.

On three occasions the Chiefs were held up over the line and Tom Wright’s bold short dropout nearly blew up in his face when Shaun Stevenson almost crashed over.

Fortunately for the Wallaby, the Brumbies’ defence rallied to force the mistake, heading into the break down 6-3.

The defensive battle continued into the second half as the visitors’ rolling maul couldn’t find a way over the line.

McKenzie and Lolesio continued to trade three-pointers as the game continued to wind down.

The Brumbies had some chances late in the final quarter, however, the Chiefs defence remained resolute.

They went to the well and the reliable rolling maul with 12 minutes to go, only for the hosts to force the mistake 5 metres out.

With the game in the balance, the All Black flyhalf proved the difference, beginning with his fourth penalty of the night, nailing it from halfway.

The playmaker then broke the line with three minutes to go, allowing Brodie Retallick to crash over the line for the lone try of the game.

"We knew it was going to be a hell of a wrestle, we said all week we were going to come over here and throw everything at them and we did," Brumbies captain Nic White said.

"Fair play to them, they held on, we held on -- it was always going to come down to one moment.

"They are a good side, but certainly we did everything we could out there."

CHIEFS 19

TRIES: Retallick

CONS: McKenzie 1/1

PENS: McKenzie 4/4

BRUMBIES 6

PENS: Debreczeni 0/1, Lolesio 2/2

CHIEFS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei'aho, George Dyer, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaai, Samipeni Finau, Sam Cane (co-c), Luke Jacobson, Brad Weber (co-c), Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Anton Lienert-Brown, Alex Nankivell, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson

RESERVES: Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, John Ryan, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Pita Gus Sowakula, Cortez Ratima, Josh Ioane, Rameka Poihipi

BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Lachlan Lonergan, Sefo Kautai, Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Pete Samu, Nic White (c), Jack Debreczeni, Ollie Sapsford, Tamati Tua, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright

RESERVES: Connal McInerney, Blake Schoupp, Rhys Van Nek, Darcy Swain, Luke Reimer, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole

Referee: Nic Berry

Assistant Referees: Paul Williams, Jordan Way