Four-try Sivivatu sinks Blues

Sione Lauaki © Getty images

All Black winger Sitiveni Sivivatu set a franchise record by scoring four tries as the Chiefs beat the Blues 63-32 in Hamilton on Saturday.

Sivivatu's first try after three minutes was his 33rd for the Chiefs in the Super 14, equaling the try-scoring record for Waikato previously held by winger Roger Randle. Sivivatu's second, in the 14th minute, set a new mark at 34 tries before he added two more.

Sivivatu was also the first Waikato player to score four tries in a Super 14 match.

Those tries left Auckland breathless, 28-8 down after 25 minutes in a normally closely contested local derby.

Waikato added to the visitors' discomfort with tries to All Blacks Richard Kahui and Brendon Leonard, flanker Liam Messam and inside centre Callum Bruce. Flyhalf Stephen Donald kicked eight conversions, while Mike Delany kicked one.

The Blues managed five tries - two to Joe Rokocoko and others to fellow All Black backs Isaia Toeava and Anthony Tuitavake, and to replacement winger Jamie Helleur - but were overwhelmed by the Chiefs' pace and combination.

The Blues were flawed and predictable, aiming their attack at the strong Chiefs midfield, while the home side cut the Aucklanders' defence to pieces out wide.

"It was great. It was probably our best performance," Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina said. "It's taken us two years to get these guys and we finally did it."

Muliaina, who plays with Sivivatu in the All Blacks backline, said the international winger was in superb form.

"He was pretty greedy. He could have passed outside to me a couple of times," he joked. "Really, he's world-class and it's great to see him go over the tryline."

Sivivatu's first three tries gave the Chiefs a 28-8 lead after 25 minutes and they never gave up the lead or their momentum.

The Blues tried desperately to fight their way back into the match, and eventually claimed a bonus point for four tries, but their defence was laid bare by a rampant Waikato team.

"We had a couple of errors which made it hard for us, but managed to scrape away with a point out of that so it was good to come away with something," captain Keven Mealamu said. "You're a couple of inches off the pace here and you get blown away."

SCORERS
Chiefs:
Tries - Sitiveni Sivivatu (4), Richard Kahui, Brendon Leonard, Lelia Masaga, Liam Messam, Callum Bruce. Conversions - Stephen Donald (8), Mike Delany.
Blues:
Tries - Joe Rokocoko (2) Isaia Toeava, Anthony Tuitavake, Jamie Helleur. Conversions - Jimmy Gopperth (3). Penalty - Gopperth.

Read more on the Super 14 page.

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