'Simply brilliant': Chiefs gun Damian McKenzie dazzles in sweet grand final revenge
Updated . First published at
Damian McKenzie delivered a second half masterclass as the Chiefs gained sweet revenge for last season's Super Rugby Pacific grand final loss to the Blues at Eden Park.
The Blues were on track for a repeat victory as they led 14-6 at half time but a combination of McKenzie magic - and extraordinary impact from the Chiefs bench - got the visitors home 25-14.
Keeping the Blues scoreless in the second 40 minutes was an extraordinary effort as Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan's selection gamble proved a masterstroke.
Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match ad free, live and on demand
Leroy Carter of the Chiefs celebrates after scoring a try. Getty
McMillan named one of the best benches in Super Rugby history, featuring All Blacks Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown and Emoni Narawa.
Ratima in particular was superb and the halfback made one incredible try-saving tackle on All Blacks teammate Mark Tele'a.
Former sevens star Leroy Carter had a terrific debut on the wing and scored a try but McKenzie - who moved from fullback to No.10 in the second half - was best on ground with two game breaking tries.
READ MORE: Suaalii mobbed by fans during victory interview
READ MORE: Schmidt breaks silence on 'disappointing' Wallabies exit
READ MORE: 'Unreal': Waratahs hero dropped 25kg in pre-season
"McKenzie in the second half, simply brilliant," All Blacks great Jeff Wilson said.
The Blues hammered the Chiefs 41-10 in last year's final but McMillan's men muscled up on Saturday night as a strong round for the competition continued.
"Outstanding feeling, you know, Blues are the benchmark," McKenzie said.
"They were last year and when you come up to Auckland, the rain started coming in when we were driving to the ground, I thought: 'oh, hello, here we go again.'
"But put it down to our forwards tonight. They were enormous. The Blues have got a great forward pack. I thought our forwards really muscled up, met fire with fire and allowed us to score some tries.
"Really proud of the way the boys went and chased the game in the second half. Played territory, put the ball in front of our forwards, and when our forwards got an opportunity to carry, they just went through the front door. I'm extremely proud of the work they put in.
A pitch invader runs on to the field at Eden Park. Getty
"We haven't won here since 2020, so it's a tough place to win, but a great start for us. It's a tough competition, you've got to get better every week and that's just a stepping stone for us, but we're really proud of that performance."
Neither side were at their fluent best in a scrappy contest played in pouring rain in front of 25,200 in Auckland, but McMillan's side were more dogged and determined.
Vern Cotter's team fell flat despite the return of All Blacks star Beauden Barrett at fullback.
The Blues made countless mistakes and crumbled in the first match of their title defence.
They were reduced to 14 men when replacement prop Josh Fusitu'a caught Chiefs loose forward Finau with a high shot, giving the visitors an advantage at a key time in the second half.
The home crowd were fuming that Finau hadn't been penalised for tackling Caleb Clarke in the air, but Fusitu'a's hit was earlier in the play and spotted on review.
Dalton Papali'i of the Blues celebrates after scoring a try with Cameron Suafoa. Getty
Finau was later ordered off for a head injury assessment.
There was almost silence when Carter crossed to regain the lead in the final quarter.
The rain returned, heavily, and the Blues couldn't get into a position to respond.
The Chiefs instead tightened their grip, as McKenzie sealed a fabulous victory with his second try in the closing moments after his pivotal switch to five-eighth ahead of the final quarter.
They savoured every second of this success and celebrated wildly.
Notable absentees aside, such as Sam Darry, Hoskins Sotutu (both injured) and Akira Ioane (Japan), the Blues had looked too strong for spells.
Anton Segner and Laghlan McWhannell made solid returns to their pack alongside skipper Patrick Tuipulotu.
However, the visitors muscled up with more conviction than last June's one sided final, a night their forwards would rather forget, and greatly unsettled Cotter's men.
More so, they were clinical, hitting 19 unanswered points.
Finau and Vaa'i lifted the vigour of their forwards to drive the hosts back, despite Blues No.10 Harry Plummer maintaining his decent form from last season.
The Blues had reverted to their uncompromising style that led to last year's glory to build early pressure.
The Chiefs withstood the first onslaught and a classic McKenzie burst gave them an opening from which their talismanic playmaker booted the first penalty.
It knocked the Blues off their stride and some soft mistakes in the midst of a typical, brief Auckland downpour gave the visitors more belief.
While McKenzie added another penalty, the Blues established the first half lead when Dalton Papali'i went over from a relentless attack that is the trademark of Cotter's side, their forwards barging through the Chiefs.
Eden Park had been quiet until Papali'i slammed the ball down.
They were on their feet again when a swift counter attack set Tele'a free, finding AJ Lam in support for a sucker punch on the stroke of halftime.
But the Chiefs were excellent in keeping the hosts scoreless after the break and took some shine off the occasion of All Blacks prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi's 150th Blues appearance.
The Chiefs now host the Crusaders in Hamilton on Friday night in a fascinating contest between the 2023 finalists.
Leroy Carter of the Chiefs celebrates a try to Damian McKenzie. Getty
The Blues head south to face the Highlanders in Dunedin next Saturday.
At Eden Park, Auckland: Chiefs 25 (Damian McKenzie 53', 75', Leroy Carter 66' tries; McKenzie 2 con, 2 pen) Blues 14 (Dalton Papali'i 28', AJ Lam 40' tries; Beauden Barrett 2 con). HT: 6-14
