Chiefs Going for B2B!

The motivating nemonic in Chiefs land this week will be B2B - Back to Back. The Chiefs have a glorious chance to secure back to back Super Rugby titles next Saturday night when they host the Final for the 2nd year in a row in their backyard in Hamilton.

Expect big queues for tickets to the biggest show in the City of the Future this week after the Chiefs rallied from behind on the scoreboard against the Crusaders in their semifinal on Saturday. Dave Rennie must have given the boys a stern word at halftime after the Chiefs seemed bereft of ideas against a resolute Crusaders defence early on.

At first, the Chiefs looked fresh from the bye dominating possession but the Crusaders fought back and won several penalties off the Chiefs to lead 9-3 at half-time.

If the first half was a shootout between boots, the second half was a far more open affair with the Chiefs finally finding gaps in the tiring Crusaders defence and scoring through Leila Masaga and then Aaron Cruden via the intercept.

The Crusaders did strike back brilliantly through Izzy Dagg but despite kicking themselves to a point behind the Chiefs, they couldn't quite get the 2 they needed to get themselves into the Final.

It was a game worthy of a Final and the Chiefs must surely be favourites next Saturday against their opponents, a surprise Brumbies side who would have travelled from South Africa to Hamilton in days.

The Brumbies indeed were value for their lead for much of the game in the Bulls' stronghold in Pretoria and kept the parochial crowd silent for much of the game. The Bulls, fresh from the bye, did rally in the 2nd half and were leading 23-19 having turned down several shots at goal to extend the margin only for the Brumbies to score a very late and dramatic winner right at the end in yet another thrilling semifinal.

The Brumbies kicked superbly and played the Bulls at their strengths and deservedly reach the Final against the Chiefs. However, their biggest challenge now lies ahead and Jake White must now attempt to summon the last bit of energy from his young charges for the Final after a gruelling last two weeks which has seen them clock enough mileage points.

So bring on the Final next Saturday! Meanwhile Crusaders fans must be kicking themselves at their missed opportunity - they probably would have had a good chance of victory in Canberra had the final been held there.