2015 Chiefs season

2015 was another tough year for the Chiefs rugby team. They won 10 of their Super Rugby games and finished 5th overall on the table for the 2nd year in a row, and 3rd behind the Hurricanes and Highlanders in the New Zealand Conference. Playing the Highlanders in the qualifying finals in Dunedin was always going to be tough losing 24-14.

Chiefs

2015 season
Head coach	Dave Rennie
Captains	Liam Messam Aaron Cruden
Stadium	Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Baypark Stadium, Mount Maunganui ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Overall competition	5th
N.Z. Conference	3rd
Record	Won 10, Lost 7
Top try scorer	All: Charlie Ngatai (6)
Top points scorer	All: Aaron Cruden (93)
← 2014 2016 →

Standings

The final standings of the 2015 Super Rugby season were:

New Zealand Conference
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Hurricanes	16	14	0	2	458	288	+170	58	31	9	1	66
2	Highlanders	16	11	0	5	450	333	+117	54	40	6	3	53
3	Chiefs	16	10	0	6	372	299	+73	40	27	4	4	48
4	Crusaders	16	9	0	7	481	338	+143	56	39	8	2	46
5	Blues	16	3	0	13	282	428	−146	29	50	2	6	20

Overall standings
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Hurricanes	16	14	0	2	458	288	+170	58	31	9	1	66
2	Waratahs	16	11	0	5	409	313	+96	50	41	5	3	52
3	Stormers	16	10	1	5	373	323	+50	32	35	2	1	45
4	Highlanders	16	11	0	5	450	333	+117	54	40	6	3	53
5	Chiefs	16	10	0	6	372	299	+73	40	27	4	4	48
6	Brumbies	16	9	0	7	369	261	+108	45	21	6	5	47
7	Crusaders	16	9	0	7	481	338	+143	56	39	8	2	46
8	Lions	16	9	1	6	342	364	−22	33	41	2	2	42
9	Bulls	16	7	0	9	397	388	+9	37	39	4	6	38
10	Rebels	16	7	0	9	319	354	−35	35	42	3	5	36
11	Sharks	16	7	0	9	338	401	−63	37	43	3	3	34
12	Cheetahs	16	5	0	11	357	531	−174	44	65	4	2	26
13	Reds	16	4	0	12	247	434	−187	32	53	3	3	22
14	Blues	16	3	0	13	282	428	−146	29	50	2	6	20
15	Force	16	3	0	13	245	384	−139	28	43	3	4	19

Results

The following fixtures were released on 18 September 2014:[1]

Round 1	14 February 2015	Blues	18–23	Chiefs	QBE Stadium, Albany
	19:35	Pen: Ihaia West  5', 29', 38', 45', 59', 71' (6/6)	Report[2] Scoreboard[3]	Try: James Lowe  12' Bryce Heem  15' Con: Damian McKenzie  13', 16' (2/2) Pen: Damian McKenzie  20', 33', 47' (3/5) Cards: Matt Symons 44' to 54'	Attendance: 11,100 Referee: Chris Pollock

Round 2	20 February 2015	Chiefs	19–17	Brumbies	Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
	17:35	Try: Charlie Ngatai  15' Con: Aaron Cruden  16' (1/1) Pen: Aaron Cruden  7', 33', 68', 80' (4/4)	Report[4] Scoreboard[5]	Try: Ita Vaea  19' Con: Christian Lealiifano (0/1) Pen: Christian Lealiifano  5', 44', 58' (3/3) Nic White  14' (1/2)	Attendance: 6,985 Referee: Steve Walsh

Round 3	28 February 2015	Chiefs	40–16	Crusaders	Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
	19:35	Try: Sonny Bill Williams  13' Augustine Pulu  22' Charlie Ngatai  33' Tom Marshall  63' James Lowe  67' Con: Aaron Cruden  23', 34', 68' (3/5) Pen: Aaron Cruden  31', 49', 55' (3/4) Cards: James Lowe 8' to 20' Damian McKenzie  78'	Report[6] Scoreboard[7]	Try: Andrew Ellis  45' Con: Colin Slade  46' (1/1) Pen: Colin Slade  3', 8', 26' (3/5) Cards: Matt Todd 21' to 31'	Attendance: 18,166 Referee: Mike Fraser

Round 4	6 March 2015	Chiefs	17–20	Highlanders	Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
	19:35	Try: penalty try  48', 57' Con: Aaron Cruden  49', 57' (2/2) Pen: Aaron Cruden  5' (1/4) Andrew Horrell (0/1) Cards: James Lowe  78'	Report[8] Scoreboard[9]	Try: Patrick Osborne  35' Con: Lima Sopoaga (0/1) Pen: Lima Sopoaga  20', 28', 40' (3/3) Marty Banks  77', 80' (2/2) Cards: Joe Wheeler 46' to 57'	Referee: Nick Briant

Round 5	14 March 2015	Stormers	19–28	Chiefs	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
	15:00	Try: Kobus van Wyk  19' Con: Kurt Coleman  20' (1/1) Pen: Kurt Coleman  15', 23', 35' (3/4) Demetri Catrakilis  63' (1/1)	Report[10] Scoreboard[11]	Try: Aaron Cruden  27' James Lowe  48' Sam Cane  71' Con: Aaron Cruden  28', 49' (2/3) Pen: Aaron Cruden  5', 40', 60' (3/4)	Attendance: 42,247 Referee: Jaco Peyper

Round 6	21 March 2015	Sharks	12–11	Chiefs	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
	19:10	Pen: Patrick Lambie  3', 32', 40', 60' (4/6) Cards: Bismarck du Plessis  18' François Steyn  28'	Report[12] Scoreboard[13]	Try: Sam Cane  34' Con: Aaron Cruden (0/1) Pen: Aaron Cruden  6', 29' (2/3) Drop: Aaron Cruden (0/1) Cards: Hika Elliot  15'	Attendance: 18,564 Referee: Angus Gardner

Round 7	28 March 2015	Chiefs	37–27	Cheetahs	Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
	16:30	Try: Michael Leitch  2' Liam Messam  18' Sam Cane  68' Andrew Horrell  76' Con: Aaron Cruden  3', 19', 69', 77' (4/4) Pen: Aaron Cruden  46', 53', 61' (3/3) Cards: Michael Fitzgerald 24' to 35' Ben Tameifuna 32' to 41'	Report[14] Scoreboard[15]	Try: Boom Prinsloo  28' Heinrich Brüssow  54', 80' Con: Joe Pietersen  29', 55' (2/2) Willie du Plessis  81' (1/1) Pen: Joe Pietersen  8', 11' (2/3) Cards: Heinrich Brüssow 66' to 76'	Attendance: 11,610 Referee: Craig Joubert

Round 8	4 April 2015	Chiefs	23–16	Blues	Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
	19:35	Try: James Lowe  28' Tom Marshall  68' Con: Aaron Cruden  29', 69' (2/2) Pen: Aaron Cruden  18', 59', 75' (3/5)	Report[16] Scoreboard[17]	Try: Jerome Kaino  47' Con: Daniel Bowden  48' (1/1) Pen: Daniel Bowden  34', 54' (2/2) Ihaia West  81' (1/1)	Attendance: 14,248 Referee: Mike Fraser

Round 10	17 April 2015	Crusaders	9–26	Chiefs	AMI Stadium, Christchurch
	19:35	Pen: Dan Carter  7', 37', 43' (3/6)	Report[18] Scoreboard[19]	Try: Michael Leitch  21' James Lowe  40' Liam Squire  71' Con: Andrew Horrell  22' (1/3) Pen: Aaron Cruden  10' (1/1) Tim Nanai-Williams  19' (1/1) Andrew Horrell  59' (1/2) Cards: Sam Cane 6' to 17'	Attendance: 14,500 Referee: Nick Briant

Round 11	24 April 2015	Chiefs	35–27	Force	Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
	19:35	Try: Charlie Ngatai  19' Hika Elliot  39' penalty try  46' Tim Nanai-Williams  66' Con: Marty McKenzie  20', 40', 47' (3/4) Pen: Marty McKenzie  7', 18', 24' (3/3)	Report[20] Scoreboard[21]	Try: Angus Cottrell  15' Luke Morahan  56' Matt Hodgson  62' Heath Tessmann  77' Con: Luke Burton  57', 63' (2/4) Pen: Luke Burton  10' (1/1) Cards: Ian Prior  28'	Attendance: 13,948 Referee: Angus Gardner

Round 12	2 May 2015	Rebels	16–15	Chiefs	AAMI Park, Melbourne
	19:40	Try: Scott Higginbotham  18' Nic Stirzaker  39' Con: Jack Debreczeni (0/2) Pen: Jack Debreczeni  6', 35' (2/2) Bryce Hegarty (0/2)	Report[22] Scoreboard[23]	Try: Charlie Ngatai  58' Michael Leitch  69' Con: Damian McKenzie  59' (1/2) Pen: Andrew Horrell  23' (1/2) Cards: James Lowe 34' to 45' Liam Messam  75'	Attendance: 13,023 Referee: Andrew Lees

Round 14	16 May 2015	Hurricanes	22–18	Chiefs	Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
	19:35	Try: Ma'a Nonu  10', 68' Ardie Savea  46' Con: James Marshall  11', 69' (2/3) Pen: James Marshall  38' (1/1)	Report[24] Scoreboard[25]	Try: Charlie Ngatai  40' Sam Cane  75' Con: Damian McKenzie  40' (1/2) Pen: Damian McKenzie  13', 24' (2/3) Cards: Liam Squire 49' to 59'	Attendance: 17,770 Referee: Glen Jackson

Round 15	22 May 2015	Chiefs	34–20	Bulls	Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
	19:35	Try: Liam Messam  23' Bryce Heem  28' Augustine Pulu  54', 56' Tim Nanai-Williams  80' Con: Damian McKenzie  24', 55', 57' (3/5) Pen: Damian McKenzie  6' (1/2) Cards: Sam Cane 69' to 79'	Report[26] Scoreboard[27]	Try: Jan Serfontein  9' Bjorn Basson  13' Lappies Labuschagné  73' Con: Handré Pollard  14' (1/3) Pen: Handré Pollard  16' (1/2)	Attendance: 13,714 Referee: Chris Pollock

Round 16	30 May 2015	Highlanders	36–9	Chiefs	Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
	19:35	Try: Patrick Osborne  29' Waisake Naholo  44' Richard Buckman  72' Ben Smith  78' Con: Lima Sopoaga  45', 73' (2/4) Pen: Lima Sopoaga  9', 12', 61', 67' (4/5)	Report[28] Scoreboard[29]	Pen: Damian McKenzie  18', 51', 58' (3/4)	Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Nick Briant

Round 17	6 June 2015	Reds	3–24	Chiefs	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
	19:40	Pen: Quade Cooper  6' (1/2)	Report[30] Scoreboard[31]	Try: Bryce Heem  25' Liam Messam  32' Charlie Ngatai  69' Con: Andrew Horrell  26', 33', 70' (3/3) Pen: Andrew Horrell  51' (1/2) Cards: Michael Leitch 39' to 49'	Attendance: 25,841 Referee: Mike Fraser

Round 18	13 June 2015	Chiefs	13–21	Hurricanes	Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
	19:35	Try: Bryce Heem  16' Con: Marty McKenzie  17' (1/1) Pen: Marty McKenzie  27', 31' (2/2) Cards: Tom Marshall 35' to 44'	Report[32] Scoreboard[33]	Try: penalty try  35' Conrad Smith  38' James Marshall  54' Con: James Marshall  36', 39', 55' (3/3)	Referee: Chris Pollock

Qualifier	20 June 2015	Highlanders	24–14	Chiefs	Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
	19:35	Try: Waisake Naholo  24', 43' Con: Lima Sopoaga  44' (1/2) Pen: Lima Sopoaga  6', 57', 66', 80' (4/4) Drop: Waisake Naholo (0/1)	Report[34] Scoreboard[35]	Try: Brodie Retallick  60' Con: Andrew Horrell (0/1) Pen: Andrew Horrell  8', 28', 40' (3/5)	Attendance: 22,500 Referee: Chris Pollock

Squad

The Chiefs squad for the 2015 Super Rugby season were:

2015 Chiefs squad
Props Jarrod Firth Mitchell Graham Jamie Mackintosh Pauliasi Manu Ben Tameifuna Siate Tokolahi Hookers Hika Elliot Quentin MacDonald Rhys Marshall Locks Michael Allardice Brian Alainu'uese Michael Fitzgerald Brodie Retallick (c) Matt Symons	Loose Forwards Johan Bardoul Sam Cane Mitchell Crosswell Ross Filipo Tevita Koloamatangi Michael Leitch Liam Messam (c) Sean Polwart Liam Squire Maama Vaipulu Scrum-halves Kayne Hammington Augustine Pulu Brad Weber Fly-halves Aaron Cruden (c) Marty McKenzie	Midfield Andrew Horrell Anton Lienert-Brown Charlie Ngatai Seta Tamanivalu Sonny Bill Williams Wingers Hosea Gear Bryce Heem James Lowe Tim Nanai-Williams Fullbacks Tom Marshall Damian McKenzie
(c) denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped. Nathan Harris[36] and Tawera Kerr-Barlow[37] were both omitted from the squad after injuries ruled them out for the entire season.

Player statistics

The Chiefs players' appearance and scoring statistics for the 2015 Super Rugby season are:

Player	Apps	Tries	Cons	Pens	DGs	Pts	YC	RC
Michael Allardice	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Brian Alainu'uese	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Johan Bardoul	8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sam Cane	15	4	-	-	-	20	2	-
Mitchell Crosswell	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Aaron Cruden	8	1	14	20	-	93	-	-
Hika Elliot	15	1	-	-	-	5	-	1
Ross Filipo	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Jarrod Firth	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Michael Fitzgerald	15	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Hosea Gear	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mitchell Graham	11	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Kayne Hammington	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bryce Heem	16	4	-	-	-	20	-	-
Andrew Horrell	13	1	4	6	-	31	-	-
Tevita Koloamatangi	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Michael Leitch	13	3	-	-	-	15	1	-
Anton Lienert-Brown	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
James Lowe	11	5	-	-	-	25	3	-
Quentin MacDonald	13	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Jamie Mackintosh	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pauliasi Manu	16	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rhys Marshall	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tom Marshall	14	2	-	-	-	10	1	-
Damian McKenzie	16	-	7	9	-	41	1	-
Marty McKenzie	6	-	4	5	-	23	-	-
Liam Messam	14	3	-	-	-	15	1	-
Tim Nanai-Williams	9	2	-	1	-	13	-	-
Charlie Ngatai	11	6	-	-	-	30	-	-
Sean Polwart	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Augustine Pulu	16	3	-	-	-	15	-	-
Brodie Retallick	8	1	-	-	-	5	-	-
Liam Squire	4	1	-	-	-	5	1	-
Matt Symons	14	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Seta Tamanivalu	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ben Tameifuna	15	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Siate Tokolahi	17	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Maama Vaipulu	10	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Brad Weber	17	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sonny Bill Williams	10	1	-	-	-	5	-	-
penalty try	-	3	-	-	-	15	-	-
Total	17	41	29	41	-	386	13	1

Notes and references

1. "SupeRugby Fixtures 2015" (PDF). SANZAR (Press release). 18 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
2. "Chiefs do enough to beat Blues". SANZAR. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blues 18-23 Chiefs". South African Rugby Union. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
4. "Cruden wins it at the death". SANZAR. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Chiefs 19-17 Brumbies". South African Rugby Union. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
6. "Chiefs thump the Crusaders". SANZAR. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Chiefs 40-16 Crusaders". South African Rugby Union. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
8. "Highlanders steal it at the death". SANZAR. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Chiefs 17-20 Highlanders". South African Rugby Union. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
10. "Chiefs send Stormers to their first defeat". SANZAR. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Stormers 19-28 Chiefs". South African Rugby Union. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
12. "13-man Sharks edge the Chiefs". SANZAR. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
13. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Cell C Sharks 12-11 Chiefs". South African Rugby Union. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
14. "Chiefs accelerate to victory". SANZAR. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
15. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Chiefs 37-27 Toyota Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
16. "Chiefs win ninth in a row over Blues". SANZAR. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
17. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Chiefs 23-16 Blues". South African Rugby Union. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
18. "Chiefs make a statement against Crusaders". SANZAR. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
19. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Crusaders 9-26 Chiefs". South African Rugby Union. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
20. "Chiefs top Force in exciting clash". SANZAR. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
21. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Chiefs 35-27 Force". South African Rugby Union. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
22. "Rebels stun Chiefs in Melbourne". SANZAR. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
23. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Rebels 16-15 Chiefs". South African Rugby Union. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
24. "Nonu double sinks Chiefs". SANZAR. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
25. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Hurricanes 22-18 Chiefs". South African Rugby Union. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
26. "Chiefs run away from Bulls in Rotorua". SANZAR. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
27. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Chiefs 34-20 Vodacom Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
28. "Highlanders re-ignite season with BP win". SANZAR. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
29. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Highlanders 36-9 Chiefs". South African Rugby Union. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
30. "Chiefs spoil Genia, Horwill's farewell". SANZAR. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
31. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Reds 3-24 Chiefs". South African Rugby Union. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
32. "Hurricanes triumph in New Plymouth". SANZAR. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
33. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Chiefs 13-21 Hurricanes". South African Rugby Union. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
34. "Highlanders move on to semi-finals". SANZAR. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
35. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Highlanders 24-14 Chiefs". South African Rugby Union. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
36. "Hika Elliot to rejoin Chiefs" (Press release). Chiefs. 26 November 2014. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
37. "Size returns to create strong Chiefs backline". Waikato Times. Fairfax NZ. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.

External links

• Official Chiefs website
• Official Super Rugby website
• Official Facebook page