Brisbane Global Rugby Tens Final
Chiefs 12 def Crusaders 5
17:40 – Final – Crusaders vs. Chiefs
The Chiefs have been crowned champions of the inaugural Brisbane Global Rugby Tens with a 12-7 victory over the Crusaders.
Fuelled on by the emotion of the tragic passing of former Chief, Sione Lauaki overnight, the Chiefs, led by Lauaki’s good friend Liam Messam, bounced back from a first up loss on day one to win their next five games on their way to the title.
The Crusaders dominated play early, as they have done in each of their previous five matches in this tournament. The seven-time Super Rugby champions looking very comfortable in this abbreviated format of the game.
Their dominance and pressure was rewarded when they formed a driving maul off a lineout 10 metres out from the line, the first driving maul of the whole weekend, and it proved successful as Andrew Makalio scored.
The Chiefs weren’t ready to be play second fiddle though.
Buoyed on by their large and vocal support base at Suncorp Stadium, the Chiefs turned opportunity into results when Luke Jacobson toed through a lose ball by the Crusaders and won the race to dot down for five points.
Tim Nanai-Williamson converted to put the Chiefs in front.
It was the impetus for a chiefs’ charge in the second half and despite losing Brad Weber (knee) and Mitch Graham (lower leg) to injury, they managed to cross again in the second half through Taleni Seu.
The seven-point advantage proved to be enough for the Chiefs as they defended with courage and commitment to hand the Crusaders their first loss of the weekend.
Fittingly, it was Liam Messam who put the game to bed, carrying the ball in touch as the final whistle blew.
After the game he paid tribute to his current team and former team-mates: “All the boys, good work and last but not least, this one’s for you, my brother.”
Chiefs 12 (Jacobson, Seu tries; Nanai-Williams conv)
Crusaders 7 (Makalio try)
Results:
Waratahs 14 def Rebels 12
Chiefs 33 def Wild Knights 5
Reds 12 def Samoa 5
Crusaders 17 def Blues 12
Hurricanes 32 def Toulon 0
Bulls 26 def Highlanders 17
Quarter Finals
Chiefs 12 def Reds 10
Crusaders 12 def 7
Bulls 17 def Force 12
Hurricanes 7 def Highlanders 5
Semi Finals
Chiefs 26 def Bulls 14
Crusaders 17 def Hurricanes 7
10:00 – Game 16 – Rebels vs. Waratahs
The Waratahs have recorded their first win of the tournament in the opening game of day two, defeating the Rebels 14-12.
Fly-half Bryce Hegarty starred for the Tahs, scoring a try from inside his own half to register first points.
Ben Meehan responded immediately for the Rebels in similar fashion. Harry Jones scored a silky individual try, his second of the tournament, with an impressive chip-and-chase to put NSW up 14-7.
Tom English showed great strength to dot down in the corner to bring the deficit back to two and a chip kick from Meehan almost paid dividends right on full time but he lost the ball over the line after being ankle-tapped by Hegarty – the desperate defensive lunge saving victory in the face of defeat.
The Waratahs’ wildcard, Lote Tuqiri said: “I was very nervous yesterday but I got on the ground and I got that nervous energy out and sort of felt comfortable enough. I can only thank the Waratahs and Duco Events for having me on.”
Waratahs 14 (Hegarty, Jones tries; Hegarty, Jones convs)
Rebels 12 (Meehan, English tries; Meehan conv)
10:27 – Game 17 – Chiefs vs. Wild Knights
The Chiefs have moved through to the quarter finals after beating day one surprise packets Panasonic Wild Knights 33-5.
The game started with a moment’s silence in the stadium to acknowledge the passing of former Chiefs and All Blacks legend Sione Lauaki.
The emotional opening fuelled the Chiefs’ performance, running in three tries to take a 21-0 lead at half time.
The Kiwi dominance continued after the break with two more tries, Tim Nani-Williams proving to be a master with ball in hand, bamboozling the Wild Knights defence and setting up attacking raids for the Chiefs.
Panasonic managed to get on the board with the last play of the game but it was too little, too late.
Chiefs 33 (Nanai-Williams, Seu, Webber, Jacobson, Alaimalo tries; 4 conv)
Wild Knights 5 (Hasegawa try)
10:54 – Game 18 – Reds vs. Samoa
The Reds have collected their first win of the tournament with an entertaining 12-5 win over Samoa.
After finishing day one with a draw and a loss, the Reds finally clinched a result much of their play had warranted from the first day.
The home side opened the scoring with a contender for try of the tournament after Eto Nabuli made a break, beating three defenders, before linking with Karmichael Hunt who passed back inside to young half back Moses Sorovi to score under the posts.
Samoa finally got on the board in the second half after dominating much of the possession and territory.
But the Reds snuffed out any chance of a comeback when Karmichael Hunt put Andrew Ready through a hole to score and wrap up the win. The victory should see the Reds move through to the Quarter Finals, if the Crusaders can knock off the winless Blues in the next game.
Wildcard Radike Samo said it was great to be back in a Reds jersey: “So far so good. Yesterday we didn’t come up with the results but it was good to run out there with the boys. It’s been a while since I ran out on Suncorp Stadium.”
Reds 12 (Sorovi, Ready tries; Paia’aua conv)
Samoa 5 (Mealoi try)
11:22 – Game 19 – Blues vs. Crusaders
The Crusaders have maintained their unbeaten record with a 17-12 victory over the Blues, ending their Kiwi peers’ tournament.
The Crusaders opened up an insurmountable lead with two tries in the first half to George Bridge and Sione Fifita.
They extended their advantage when Mataele scored under the posts early in the second half.
The Blues found some fight with second half tries to Ambrose Curtis and Pasqualle Dunn, but the skill and defensive starch to hold on for win number and finish top of Pool B.
Crusaders 17 (Bridge, Fifita, Mataele tries; 1 conv)
Blues 12 (Curtis, Dunn tries; Trainor conv)
11:50 – Game 20 – Hurricanes vs. Toulon
The Hurricanes have ended Toulon’s tournament with a dominant 32-0 victory in their final pool game.
Nehe Milner-Skudder was at his elusive best, scoring one try and setting up several others with his typically scything runs.
The Hurricanes ran in six tries, three in each half, to say au revoir to Toulon who only managed one try over the weekend.
Jonah Lowe bagged a double for the Canes, his second coming right on the stroke of full time. The Hurricanes now have two wins from their three pool games.
Hurricanes 32 (Lowe 2, Milner-Skudder, Aso, Falcon, Aumua tries; Falcon conv)
Toulon 0
12:17 – Game 21 – Highlanders vs. Bulls
The Bulls have recorded a come-from-behind victory to stun the Highlanders, 26-17, and finish on top of Pool C.
The Highlanders started strong with two tries through Jason Emery and Gareth Evans, but once the Bulls wrestled back some possession they found their scoring power.
Tian Schoeman scored their first but the Highlanders responded through Matt Faddes. That was the end of the Highlanders’ scoring however, as the Bulls ran in three second half tries.
Warrick Gellant started the onslaught and this was followed by tries for JT Jackson and Piet Van Zyl.
Bulls 26 (Schoeman, Gellant, Jackson, Van Zyl tries; Gellant 3 conv)
Highlanders 17 (Emery, Evans, Faddes tries; Emery conv)
12:48 – Quarter Final 1 – Reds vs. Chiefs
The Chiefs have secured a spot in the final four with a thrilling 12-10 win over the Reds.
Queensland started strongly with a try to damaging centre Samu Kerevi.
Shaun Stevenson responded for the Chiefs, but the Reds kept their noses in front with a spectacular try to Kerevi on half time.
Ill-discipline cost the Reds in the second half with yellow cards to Taniela Tupou and Leroy Houston, and the extra man advantage helped the Chiefs find the match winner as Stevenson bagged his second right under posts.
The Chiefs will face either the Bulls or Force in the semi final.
Chiefs 12 (Stevenson 2 tries; conv)
Reds 10 (Samu 2 tries)
13:22 – Quarter Final 2 – Crusaders vs. Wild Knights
The Crusaders juggernaut has rolled in to the semi finals after beating the Wild Knights 12-7.
The Crusaders looked every bit the heavyweights we’ve come to know dominating possession and territory in the opening half and it translated to the scoreboard with tries to George Bridge and Seta Tamanivalu.
But foul play threatened to derail their dominant performance as Digby Ioane and Tamanivalu were shown yellow cards either side of half time.
That opened the door for the Wild Knights to demonstrate some of the spirited rugby that has thrilled fans over the past two days.
The Crusaders showed how much this tournament means to them as they scrambled and tackled to a stand still to keep their wining advantage. Panasonic captain, Daniel Heenan, bagged a consolation try on full time to capped a wonderful individual weekend for himself and although the Wild Knights were knocked out, they have been big winners with the Brisbane Tens fans.
Crusaders 12 (Bridge, Tamanivalu tries; McKenzie conv)
Wild Knights 7 (Heenan try; Barnes conv)
13:56 – Quarter Final 3 – Bulls vs. Force
The Bulls have continued their dream run by defeating the Force 17-12 to progress to the semi finals.
The Force looked like they were going through to the final four when they skipped out to a 12-0 lead via tries to Chance Peni and Alex Newsome.
But the half time break gave the Bulls the breather they needed, running in 17 unanswered points to knock the last Aussie side out of the competition.
Warrick Gellant continued his stellar weekend bagging another try which was followed by a 5-pointer to Tian Schoeman.
Francois Brummer dotted down in the corner shortly after to complete the victory. The Bulls will meet the Chiefs in the first semi final.
The Bulls’ Jesse Kriel said: “The game’s not over until the fat lady sings so, there again, the boys, a good second half performance. Everyone doing their part and doing their job and I think yeah, it paid off.”
Bulls 17 (Gelant, Schoeman, Brummer tries; Gelant, Schoeman convs)
Force 12 (Peni, Newsome tries; Ruru conv)
14:30 – Quarter Final 4 – Highlanders vs. Hurricanes
The Hurricanes won arguably the most thrilling game of the day with a come from behind 7-5 victory over the Highlanders to book their place in the semi finals.
Both teams played territorial rugby, turning each other around with tactical kicking. It paid dividends for the Highlanders in the end when they stole a line-out inside the Canes’ 22 metre zone, allowing Adrian Smith to win a foot race to the corner, giving his side a 5-0 half time lead.
The tense arm wrestle continued in the second half and as the match wore on, Hurricanes started to get on top.
They finally crossed the line with a try in the corner to Ricky Riccitelli, with just over a minute to go.
Jordie Barrett proved he’s a superstar in his own right with a clutch kick from the sideline to snatch victory at the death. Nehe Milner-Skudder said: “He’s class. Must be something in that Barrett blood, I think.”
The Hurricanes will now face the undefeated Crusaders in an all-Kiwi semi final.
Hurricanes 7 (Riccitelli try; Barrett conv)
Highlanders 5 (Smith try)
“He’s class, must be something in that Barrett blood I think.” Nehe Milner-Skudder, Hurricanes, on Jordie Barrett’s sideline conversion.
15:31 – Semi Final 1 – Chiefs vs. Bulls
The Chiefs have booked their place in the first ever Brisbane Global Rugby Tens final with a commanding 26-14 victory over a spirited Bulls side.
The Chiefs struck first through try-scoring machine, Shaun Stevenson and surged further ahead when they were awarded a penalty try. Solomon Alaimalo was deemed to have been tackled without the ball when chasing a kick which looked like it was going to be a certain try. Alaimalo crossed for his own for pointer minutes later to give the chiefs a 21-0 lead at half time.
Andre Riaan Warner struck first for the Bulls after the break, threatening a comeback that has become familiar from the South African side today.
It was short lived however as Alaimalo bagged a double to put the result beyond doubt.
It’s the end of the road for the Bulls who’ve played with a lot of flair and spirit on Day 2. While the Chiefs will meet either the Crusaders or Hurricanes in the final.
Chiefs 26 (Alaimalo 2, Stevenson, penalty try; Nanai-Williams 2, Stevenson 1 conv)
Bulls 14 (Warner 2 tries; Gelant 2 conv)
“It feels like we’re back at Waikato Stadium, it’s a bit hotter for sure but the support has been fantastic!” Brad Webber, Chiefs
15:57 – Semi Final 2 – Crusaders vs. Hurricanes
The Crusaders will meet the Chiefs in the final of the inaugural Brisbane Global Rugby Tens after defeating the Hurricanes 17-7 in the second semi final.
The Crusaders started in the same fashion they’ve played all weekend, with dominance. Despite their clear difference in class, they were unable to find points in the opening five minutes.
They finally opened the scoring just before half time when Quinten Strange played the support role to collect a pop pass at the line and dive over.
Bryn Hall furthered the advantage in the second half and it looked like the Crusaders were going to go through comfortably.
But Jordie Barrett had other ideas. Coming on as a replacement midway through the second half, Barrett collected the ball in midfield and put through a deft kick, showing the Barrett pace we’ve come to expect from his All Black brother, Beauden, to beat everyone to the ball and score under the posts.
The crowd were on their feet for what was a tense finish but a penalty 22 metres out from the Hurricanes line gifted the Crusaders an easy shot at goal, and with the three point kick they kept their undefeated streak alive.
Crusaders 17 (Strange, Hall tries; McKenzie, Hunt convs; Hunt pen)
Hurricanes 7 (Barrett try, conv)
16:40 – Exhibition Match – QLD Women vs. NSW Women
After a thrilling 10-all draw in yesterday’s match, NSW have won a tight battle against QLD 5-0.
QLD had the lions share of possession in the first half but were unable to come up with any points. The game was as thrilling as any of the men’s matches, with both teams playing free-flowing, hard-hitting rugby.
NSW had first crack with the ball in the second half and came up with a try almost immediately through Emily Chancellor.
The girls in sky blue were then made to hold on as QLD finally won some possession in the second half and they pressed closer and closer to the try line.
NSW lost a player to the sin bin on full time and QLD kicked to the corner, looking for the match tying play.
After several phases inside the 10 metre zone, the referee deemed a QLD pass had gone forward as Liz Patu burrowed over the line, giving NSW a thrilling victory.
NSW 5 (Chancellor try)
QLD 0