Chiefs claim top scalp

Wendell Sailor is tackled by Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu. Phil Walter / Getty Images

Chiefs 37 Waratahs 33

It seems like it was easier to be a Chiefs supporter in the bad old days, when they started the season badly, got worse and then faded towards the end.

Back then, expectations were never raised so never dashed.

That had to be preferable to the agony of this season that got a whole lot worse last night even though, paradoxically, the Chiefs finally took the major scalp they have craved all this Super 14 season.

Agonising because the Chiefs played some splendid football that, had it been in evidence for greater periods throughout their campaign, would have seen them still in contention during these final weeks.

Maybe that lack of pressure was the key, though. Maybe knowing they had nothing to lose was the secret to the forwards snorting fire. Maybe the backs played with such uninhibited grace because it didn't seem like such a big deal if they dropped a few balls or ran some dud lines.

The emotion that came with knowing it was Mark Ranby's, David Hill's, Deacon Manu's and probably Jono Gibbes' last game in Hamilton no doubt also helped.

Coach Ian Foster would be wise to pin down the exact source of the motivation and store some for next season. If his side can play like this in 2007, he will be a little more comfortable that technical director Warren Gatland is not a lurking threat.

The pack, full of honest workhorses who don't shirk the hard yards, was able to get just a little bit more than parity. Marty Holah was outstanding, his scrapping on the ground a joy to behold, while skipper Gibbes charged into everyone as if they had offended him. It made all the difference.

It meant the Chiefs backs were playing on the front foot, running against opponents who were shuffling inches backwards.

And that was enough to allow Chiefs ball carriers to find ways through what has previously been a very structured Waratahs defence.

It was also enough to allow the Chiefs to keep ahead in a game that was enthralling, not just for its quality but for the way the home side never panicked whenever the Waratahs threatened to build some momentum.

It was classic drama, with both sides going try-for-try until Sitiveni Sivivatu played soccer down his wing after 65 minutes and dribbled past Lote Tuqiri to pounce on the ball and push the Chiefs out to an unassailable 37-26 lead.

It was then that Foster must have been cursing his side for their previous close-but-no-cigar failures, while also looking to next season with a heightened sense of excitement.

And while Foster is thinking about next season, he might want to ponder how he will be able to persuade the Blues to once again release Sam Tuitupou. The diminutive second five-eighths is most definitely back to his battering best and delivered a performance that virtually assured he will return to the same ground on June 10 to face Ireland in the first All Black test of the year.

There was nothing fancy in his work last night. Just very straight, very hard running that time and time again saw him blast past the first tackle and create space further out.

His power-to-size ratio is one that continues to confound and the Waratahs underestimated it when Tuitupou took possession 10m out early in the first half with a wall of blue in his path. The head went down, the shoulder dipped and somehow Tuitupou was lunging to press the ball down for five points.

As impressive as that was, Tuitupou's former Auckland team-mate Mils Muliaina matched it a few minutes later when he hit the line smartly and then just kept going all the way to the chalk. It was a timely reminder that Muliaina is capable of explosive bursts that turn games.

And lest anyone should have missed his first trick, he provided another 10 minutes into the second half when he hit Byron Kelleher's flat pass off the ruck and used his power to go over in the tackle.

But the neatest trick of the night was pulled off by Mat Rogers and Tuqiri when the first five-eighths floated a beautiful cross kick the full width of the field straight into the arms of the awaiting winger.

If Peter Hewat had been able to produce the same sort of magic with his goal-kicking, the Waratahs may have threatened to collect more than two bonus points.

Chiefs 37 (S. Tuitupou, M. Muliaina (2), S. Sivivatu tries; D. Hill 3 pens, 4 cons).
Waratahs 33 (M. Rogers, A. Freier, L. Tuqiri, T. Polota-Nau, R. Elsom tries; P. Hewat 2 pens, con).

Standings after round 13

Played, points
Crusaders 12 47
Waratahs 12 44
Hurricanes 12 43
Brumbies 12 38
Sharks 12 33
Bulls 12 33
Chiefs 12 32
Blues 12 29
Highlanders 12 26
Stormers 12 23
Cheetahs 12 23
Reds 12 18
Cats 12 14
Force 12 11