Chiefs dominate Moana Pasifika 85-7 in Super Rugby Pacific Round 15
Chiefs crush Moana Pasifika 85-7 in Super Rugby Pacific Round 15
©Photo by Michael Steele - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
The Chiefs delivered an emphatic warning to the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific competition with a crushing 85–7 victory over Moana Pasifika in Hamilton.
The one-sided Round 15 encounter not only reaffirmed the Chiefs’ attacking depth but also extinguished much of Moana Pasifika's hopes of a maiden playoff appearance this season.
From the opening whistle, the Chiefs were in complete control.
Shaun Stevenson opened the floodgates in the 8th minute with a clinical finish following sharp backline movement. Tupou Vaa’i soon added a second, capitalizing on forward dominance at the set piece.
The backs got involved with tries from Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, and Quinn Tupaea, each showcasing the Chiefs’ pace and precision on attack.
McKenzie's game management and off-the-cuff creativity repeatedly tore holes in the Moana defence. By halftime, the Chiefs were cruising at 31–0, with the result already beginning to feel inevitable.
Moana Pasifika's only moment of cheer came early in the second half when captain Ardie Savea crossed the whitewash in the 48th minute after a rare phase of attacking continuity. But that brief spark was quickly extinguished.
What followed was a relentless scoring spree from the Chiefs. Leroy Carter ran riot on the left wing, securing a hat-trick in just over 15 minutes. Cortez Ratima also completed his own hat-trick, with two additional second-half tries demonstrating his explosive pace around the ruck and support play.
Daniel Rona added his name to the growing list of scorers, and a penalty try further punished the visitors, who simply had no answer to the hosts' clinical finishing. By the final whistle, the scoreboard read a staggering 85–7—a statement win if there ever was one.
With this result, the Chiefs have cemented a top-two finish in the Super Rugby Pacific table, ensuring home advantage in the playoffs.
Their performance was a display of squad depth, composure, and ruthless execution—qualities that make them genuine title contenders heading into the finals.
