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At Levin Domain, Levin: Chiefs Manawa 53 (Luka Connor 3, Tanya Kalounivale, Kennedy Simon, Chelsea Bremner, Georgia Daals, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Dhys Faleafaga tries; Tenika Willison 3, Hazel Tubic con) Hurricanes Poua 21 (Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Ayesha Leti-I’iga, Rhiarna Ferris tries; Carys Dallinger 3 con). HT: 22-21.
Hooker Luka Connor’s hat-trick inspired the Chiefs Manawa to their commanding nine-try win against the Hurricanes Poua to kick off Super Rugby Aupiki in style.
The defending champions scored 48 unanswered points after a shaky start at the Levin Domain on Saturday and the Black Ferns hooker was in terrific form, as their forwards flattened the Poua to win 53-21.
The blueprint of the Black Ferns’ Rugby World Cup victory last year – an expansive, attacking game plan – was on display in some of the Hurricanes’ moves in the first half.
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However, their attempts to offload and keep the ball alive were blunted by the Chiefs’ superiority with their set piece, their scrum, and efficient work around the breakdown.
Six of their starting eight in the forwards were current or former test players and, led by World Cup winners such as Kennedy Simon, Chelsea Bremner, Tanya Kalounivale and Connor, they laid the platform to assert control after trailing the Poua 21-5 after 22 minutes.
The Hurricanes looked dangerous in attack, but the Chiefs were better at the basics and effective with their lineout drive, as light rain fell steadily throughout a one-sided contest in Levin.
Connor completed her hat-trick on the hour with another smart finish close to the line and impressive loose forward Dhys Faleafaga came off the bench to score their ninth try in the final minutes.
Earlier, the Hurricanes loaded their left edge and two breaks from lock Joanah Ngan-Woo gave them a 14-0 lead inside six minutes.
Kerry Marshall/Getty Images
Luka Connor scored three tries as the Chiefs kicked off Super Rugby Aupiki with a convincing win.
Ngan-Woo bumped off Black Ferns team-mate Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu in the build-up to Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate’s opener and her long, looping pass gave Ayesha Leti-I’iga the space to score the Poua’s second.
The hosts broke down their left again when Carys Dallinger’s cross-field kick towards Leti-I’iga was grabbed by openside flanker Rhiarna Ferris, who sprinted more than 50 metres to finish a fabulous try.
However, the Chiefs took the lead on half-time on the back of their pack’s dominance, rolling the Hurricanes forwards in all four of their first-half tries.
Prop Kalounivale crashed over, Connor crossed twice, and skipper Simon smartly planted the ball down from No 8 when their scrum rolled over the Poua’s line.
Connor’s second was the last play before the break after the Hurricanes lost Krystal Murray to the sinbin because of the home side’s repeated infringements.
They were under great pressure from the Manawa machine.
The big moment
The Chiefs scoring three tries in six minutes early in the second half propelled them towards their bonus-point victory.
Kerry Marshall/Getty Images
Tanya Kalounivale making a carry for the Chiefs against the Hurricanes.
Bremner and halfback Marino-Tauhinu touched down either side of Georgia Daals’ classic winger’s try from playmaker Hazel Tubic’s excellent pass.
Marino-Tauhinu’s try gave them a 19-point lead with 29 minutes left. The Hurricanes never threatened to stage a comeback.
MVP
Connor departed in the 65th minute after a faultless performance. Never mind the three tries, her lineout throwing was accurate, her carries were strong, her defence was mean, and she was inspirational in their pack’s total control.
Match rating: 6/10
The first half was wildly entertaining when the Hurricanes had space, but the Chiefs found their ruthless rhythm and shut the hosts down.
The big picture
Crystal Kaua got the better of counterpart Victoria Grant in their first meeting since the pair became the first women’s head coaches in Super Rugby Aupiki.
The Chiefs will be on the road again next weekend and face the Blues in Albany on Saturday.
The Hurricanes head south in round two to play Matatū in Christchurch next Saturday.
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