Hill breaks run of bad luck with brilliant return

Chiefs 37 Waratahs 33

Illness and injury have given David Hill plenty of time to reflect on rugby and life this year.

So he must have woken up yesterday morning feeling pretty good, having steered the Chiefs round Waikato Stadium and bagged a 100 per cent success rate with his goalkicking to ensure a first win over a top-four team this season.

A viral complaint ruined Hill's campaign, costing him the buildup period and the first four games. When he did return a bang on the knee stole two more matches from his schedule. Saturday was only his second start of the competition, and his first at No 10.

"Three or four months without pulling the boots on puts stuff into perspective," the 27-year-old New Zealand A and Maori representative said.

He admitted he went through a stage of not knowing how to make a contribution and of struggling to feel part of the campaign. His display on Saturday should have gone some way to banishing those memories.

He notched seven from seven shots at goal and for all the valuable contributions around him, his kicking ultimately won the game.

"He's always been a quality goalkicker, and just to get him back on the park was a real boost," Chiefs coach Ian Foster said.

Waratahs fullback Peter Hewat, the competition's top points scorer going into the weekend, had a shocker, snaring three from seven.

The win was built on spirit. For chunks of the first half, defence seemed a dirty word for both teams as gaps opened up and were not shut smartly enough. But the Chiefs dug deep, backs like Byron Kelleher, Sam Tuitupou, Mils Muliaina - who scored two tries - and up front captain Jono Gibbes, Steven Bates, Marty Holah and Simms Davison led a performance which reeked of collective resolve.

And, if the whispers are correct, it might be the final appearance in Chiefs colours for several players, with Mark Ranby already confirmed as Japanese-bound, and questionmarks over prop Deacon Manu, Gibbes and Hill for next year.

Gibbes was coy on his plans, saying only "I can definitely confirm it's an ongoing process" to sort out his movements next year. Hill was content to savour the night, and with the propping slots in good shape, the time seems right for Manu to make a move.

The Waratahs arrived in Hamilton armed with the toughest defence in the competition, but there was a dereliction of duty on Saturday, partly down to their strong-running opponents.

Muliaina's first try was a beauty, slipping between two tacklers then shifting outside Hewat. That had followed Tuitupou, on the cutback, charging through three tackles as he further enhanced his already persuasive case for another call from the All Black selectors.

The Chiefs had let Mat Rogers weave past five defenders on a 45m run to the line and hooker Adam Freier burrowed across as the match rattled along at a point-a-minute rate for the first half-hour.

The Waratahs, chiefly through Daniel Vickerman, ruled the lineout but if they thought the spirit might seep out of the Chiefs in the second spell, they were wrong.

Heads could have dropped when Rogers expertly plopped a crossfield kick into the flying Lote Tuqiri's arms for a marvellous try at the start of the second half. But this was a night to show the faithful their true colours, and 10 minutes from the end of an entertaining contest, the Chiefs got the decisive score.

Sitiveni Sivivatu rounded off a Kelleher-initiated breakout with some deft soccer dribbling skills to dive across and create a nine-point cushion.

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie said his side faced a long week as they prepared to host the Hurricanes on Saturday, with a home semifinal the carrot.

The Chiefs head to Eden Park, with personal and collective pride the inspiration.

Said Hill: "I don't think we'll be looking at any points tables this week."