The Chiefs' Leroy Carter scores against the Crusaders, at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch, on Saturday night. Photo: Martin Hunter/ ActionPress
The Chiefs have scored 32 unanswered points to beat the Crusaders 35-19 in Christchurch. The result sees Clayton McMillan's side take an iron grip on first place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, with one hand on locking in the home advantage for the play-offs.
It was an incredible turnaround for the Chiefs, who had been bullied a bit by the Crusaders in the first half hour of the game. Tom Christie, Scott Barrett and Antonio Shalfoon all barged over from close range for the Crusaders as their tight game plan was working exactly as planned, however everything changed just before half-time.
Emoni Narawa, who had been one of the Chiefs' best, had the ball ricochet into his hands after Sevu Reece attempted to intercept a Shaun Stevenson pass. The Chiefs winger scored, then after the break Damian McKenzie crossed the line for his first try of the season after quickly switching play following a nice lineout move.
Six minutes later Leroy Carter scored the try of the match, after Gideon Wrampling showed some good hands to pick up a David Havili kick. Wrampling quickly got the ball to the flying winger, who showed outstanding pace and footwork to go 70 metres to give the Chiefs a lead they never relinquished.
Two more McKenzie penalties pushed the lead out, before Wallace Sititi finished off an 18 phase movement to remove all doubt on the result.
The Chiefs now take a week off, which they'll need because this was a very physical encounter despite the ultimately comfortable margin.
The Crusaders head to Sydney to face the Waratahs and now have to rely on other results to get first place back in the last three weeks of the regular season.
Read how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog:
Team lists
Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Cullen Grace, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Rivez Reihana, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Ioane Moananu, 17. George Bower, 18. Seb Calder, 19. Jamie Hannah, 20. Corey Kellow, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Brodie McAlister, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neil, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Gideon Wrampling
