This article originally appeared stuff.co.nz And reproduced with permission
Oli Norris saved the Chiefs’ blush by scoring a stunning 80th-minute match-winning effort against the Rebels in Melbourne on Sunday.
As his team dropped four points, the reserve prop got the ball about 10 meters away from the host line and showed an exciting mix of speed, strength and posture to break his path and win the spectators a thrilling 33-30 Super Rugby Pacific win at AAMI Park.
The Chiefs seemed ready to be on the wrong end of a huge upset result, the Rebels must have beaten the Blues 71-28 at Eden Park over the weekend and coach Clayton Macmillan must have been wondering what to do to create his mix and match selection strategy for the encounter.
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But in the end, there was a sigh of relief all around because the young Luzhead Norris didn’t choose a better time to dot down for the first five-pointers, which in all its glory pushed the Chiefs to fourth place on the stairs, putting them on top. Track to host a Home Quarter Final.
Co-captains Brad Weber and Josh Ion returned from injury and as they endured some mixed moments, Ion later came to his part, a huge part of a spectator attack that ended with five attempts, and a key run just before Norris. ‘Magic.
The Rebels dominated early on, yet had a 3-0 scoreline to show up to the quarter mark and eventually, with some balls at the other end, the Chiefs hit twice through Luke Jacobson and Chase Tiatier, who were late for Etene Nanai-Seturo. Left wing inclusion.
But just as the spectators seemed to be turning the knife on the halftime stroke, Hulking Rebels prop pon fa’moussili sin-bind Josh Lord to the ball off his huge shot at the Nitoa au Cuii, Carter Gordon defended his side blushes.
Rebel No. 10 picks up an ion pass and goes 70m off the coast for one of those 14-point swing trials, meaning the hosts were just 12-10 behind at the break.
The chiefs could not make money for their one-man benefits, guilty of a few drops early in the second stanza, and in fact, it was the small-handed rebels who hit, led when Ion’s pass went to the ground and Andrew Callaway jumped, Wallabis winger Hacking forward and chasing, and suddenly the rebels advanced to 17-12.
Although their leadership was short-lived. As the chiffra seemed to come to a halt, Ion dropped a piece of brilliance from the middle, and a few moments later Samisoni Toukeyaho held his way, then hours later, Narawa scored in a great personal effort. , Scattering the rebels everywhere while she was dancing in line.
But in 26-17, the chiefs invited the rebels to return directly, making a complete mess to collect Carter Gordon high kicks in their backyard, and instead it was Hodge who ran to collect and cross his path.
Fullback then hit two penalties, and Luke Jacobson received a yellow card for high profile, the Chiefs had to bring something special.
They certainly did.
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