Blues snatch 20-19 win over Chiefs in final seconds

In one of the most thrilling finishes of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs, the Blues stunned the Chiefs 20–19 in the quarter-final held on June 7, 2025, at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.

A try in the 84th minute by replacement lock Josh Beehre, converted under pressure by Beauden Barrett, turned heartbreak into euphoria for the Auckland-based side and sealed their place in the semi-finals.

The game began at 7:05 PM local time with the Chiefs looking dominant early. By the 5th minute, Damian McKenzie had slotted in the first penalty, putting the home side up 3–0.

The Blues responded quickly in the 12th minute when Caleb Clarke crashed over for the game's opening try, which Barrett converted to take a 7–3 lead.

However, the Chiefs gradually tightened their grip. McKenzie added another penalty in the 19th minute, bringing the score to 7–6.

The Blues looked momentarily rattled, and a failed lineout in the 24th minute almost handed the Chiefs another opportunity, though the Aucklanders held on.

Just before halftime, in the 36th minute, McKenzie added another three points from the tee, pushing the Chiefs ahead 9–7. That score remained unchanged going into the break, with both teams having shown flashes of brilliance but unable to fully capitalize.

The second half kicked off with renewed urgency. At the 44th minute, McKenzie extended the Chiefs’ lead with yet another penalty, taking the score to 12–7.

The Blues tried to hit back but were denied a crucial try in the 52nd minute when Hoskins Sotutu was judged to have made a double movement just before grounding the ball.

The Chiefs took full advantage of the momentum. In the 59th minute, centre Daniel Rona found a gap in the Blues' defensive line and stormed over the try line. McKenzie's conversion pushed the lead to a daunting 19–7 with just over 20 minutes remaining.

With time running out, the Blues began to shift gears. In the 65th minute, a penalty allowed Barrett to add three points and bring the Blues within nine. At 19–10, the tide was beginning to turn, but the Chiefs still looked in control.

The turning point came in the 74th minute when the Blues went deep into Chiefs territory. Sustained pressure and repeated phases tested the Chiefs' defensive structure.

In the 78th minute, Barrett knocked over another penalty to bring the score to 19–13. A one-score game now, the Blues had less than two minutes to conjure a miracle.

The final sequence began after the 80-minute mark, with the Blues hammering away at the Chiefs' line. Phase after phase, tackle after tackle, the Chiefs held firm—until the 84th minute.

That’s when Josh Beehre, fresh off the bench, spotted a slight gap, reached out, and grounded the ball millimetres short of the dead-ball line.

With the stadium in stunned silence, Beauden Barrett lined up the conversion from wide out. Under immense pressure, he calmly slotted it through the posts.

The whistle blew immediately after, confirming the Blues' 20–19 victory in one of the most dramatic conclusions in Super Rugby Pacific knockout history.