Rugby: Table-toppers survive test of character

Chiefs halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow looks for, and needed, all the support he could get on Saturday night. Photo / Getty Images

All the rugby psychologists will have a theory about the Chiefs' narrow win against the Blues.

There will be some who will suggest the Chiefs had mentally banked the bonus-point win before they arrived at North Harbour Stadium. Others will link the distraction of impending All Black selections for a clutch of youngsters with their lack of concentrated grit.

Some will recognise the return of men such as Rudi Wulf and Rene Ranger for an upsurge in the Blues fortunes, while there will be others who will point to some passion, abrasion and attitude which had been absent.

What no one would dispute though was the entertainment value before the Chiefs go into a month's hiatus on top of the New Zealand conference after their 41-34 victory.

It was rollicking rugby, not as pure as the Crusaders' demolition of the Highlanders the night before, but it had a high enjoyment factor.

"It was probably pretty entertaining for the people in the crowd and sitting at home but a bit nerve-racking for the people in the coaches' box," Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said. "We scored some really good tries tonight but we did not build pressure for long enough."

His side got penalised too often for going off their feet and they did not clean out as effectively as they should. The quality of the tackling was also frayed but he could not fault their character.

The 20,200 crowd who turned up on a fine night and ignored the sides' standings in the Super 15 got their money's worth.

They watched the Chiefs kick away several times and then get hauled back, they saw three players sent to the sinbin, Asaeli Tikoirotuma equal a franchise high with four tries and Ranger produce a piece of solo outrage to brighten his poor season.

Sonny Bill Williams was a dangerous dervish and Piri Weepu never left the bench after tweaking a hamstring during the warmups.

There was something for everyone. The scrums bashed away all night, Brodie Retallick showed his great skills in the air, Aaron Cruden hovered and danced, kicked and ran well but sometimes lost his lines on defence.

Young flanker Sam Cane showed some strong touches and plenty of pace but he was also stood up a couple of times as his lively rugby education continued.

Tikoirotuma sealed the victory, claimed a bonus point on his own and equalled his franchise high with his final try when he followed Robbie Robinson's grubber kick and left Wulf flailing in his wake.

"He was very nervous pre-Christmas," Rennie said of the Fiji-born wing. "We had a lot of belief in him but I'm not sure he did. But he has fronted big time - and he has grown quickly and that was some real quality finishing."

If Tikoirotuma's pace was stunning, so was Williams' work in scoring his try. He pirouetted, shimmied, skipped and hopped in a 5m zone and then lunged at the line having beaten Daniel Braid, Ali Williams, Luke Braid, Alby Mathewson and James Parsons.

The Blues traipsed away mourning another defeat but one where the staff finally saw some backbone.

"But we hate losing, that's the bottom line," Pat Lam said. "We are happy with the effort but sick of losing."