Rugby: Chiefs confirm a solid season

Brodie Retallick (right) of the Chiefs takes the lineout ball from Sam Whitelock (left). Photo / Getty

For the first three years of Dave Rennie's reign at the Chiefs, clashes with the Crusaders conformed to a certain pattern.

Two closely fought encounters, split one apiece during the regular season and, more often than not, followed by a titanic battle in the semifinals.

Not this year, though. This year the Chiefs have, for the first time under Rennie, beaten the Crusaders in both round-robin matches. And they've done it quite comfortably.

Friday night's +17 winning margin in Christchurch and the +24 mark from February's meeting in Hamilton represent two of the three biggest wins in the past four years of this rivalry. In fact, before this one-sided season, only one game out of eight was decided by double digits.

Whatever the measure, the Chiefs have had the Crusaders' number during this campaign, and the dual defeats they have dealt Todd Blackadder's team render a rematch in the playoffs unlikely.

The Chiefs' dominance has been built on defence, ceding a solitary try in 160 minutes of action against the red-and-blacks. They kept the Crusaders from crossing the line at home on Friday night, despite spending large stretches of the first half defending inside their own territory.

And the blank preserved the Chiefs' competition-leading record of eight tries conceded in nine matches, with just one of those arriving in four games on the road.

Aaron Cruden hurt his knee. Photo / Getty

"[The defence] is a big indicator of our character," Rennie told Newstalk ZB. "Even near the end, when we were searching for a fourth try, the boys refused to let in a soft one. It was a big part of our game, especially our defensive set piece stuff."

The set piece was particularly impressive against a Crusaders pack that featured five All Blacks and came into the encounter with an imposing record, leading the competition with a 96 per cent success rate at scrum time.

The Chiefs pack enjoyed a couple of tightheads and had the Crusaders under pressure on a number of other occasions, while the lineout was even better. Led by Brodie Retallick's seven wins, the Chiefs had 16 successful lineouts compared with the home side's five, stealing three against the throw.

Retallick and Sam Cane were the standout All Blacks among the forwards, with the openside flanker owning the personal duel against Richie McCaw.

"I thought Sam was phenomenal," Rennie said. "Obviously the amount of rugby he's getting, consistently starting at 7 for us, he's sensational. So I'm really rapt for him."

About the only downside for the Chiefs was the knee injury suffered by Aaron Cruden midway through the first half, with the first five needing to be replaced but being able to limp off the field without assistance.

The Chiefs are at least blessed with a ready-made replacement for Cruden, if he is unable to take the field when his side host the Force on Friday, with talented teenager Damian McKenzie waiting in the wings after being rested from the Crusaders match.