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 coachDave Rennie
CaptainsLiam Messam
Aaron Cruden
StadiumWaikato Stadium, Hamilton
Baypark Stadium, Mount Maunganui
ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Overall competition5th
N.Z. Conference3rd
RecordWon 10, Lost 7
Top try scorerAll: Charlie Ngatai (6)
Top points scorerAll: 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
1Hurricanes161402458288+17058319166
2Highlanders161105450333+11754406353
3Chiefs161006372299+7340274448
4Crusaders16907481338+14356398246
5Blues163013282428−14629502620
Overall standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Hurricanes161402458288+17058319166
2 Waratahs161105409313+9650415352
3 Stormers161015373323+5032352145
4 Highlanders161105450333+11754406353
5 Chiefs161006372299+7340274448
6 Brumbies16907369261+10845216547
7 Crusaders16907481338+14356398246
8 Lions16916342364−2233412242
9 Bulls16709397388+937394638
10 Rebels16709319354−3535423536
11 Sharks16709338401−6337433334
12 Cheetahs165011357531−17444654226
13 Reds164012247434−18732533322
14 Blues163013282428−14629502620
15 Force163013245384−13928433419

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 Westpac 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

Hookers

Locks

Loose Forwards

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Midfield

Wingers

Fullbacks

(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 Allardice7-------
Brian Alainu'uese2-------
Johan Bardoul8-------
Sam Cane154---202-
Mitchell Crosswell3-------
Aaron Cruden811420-93--
Hika Elliot151---5-1
Ross Filipo2-------
Jarrod Firth2-------
Michael Fitzgerald15-----1-
Hosea Gear6-------
Mitchell Graham11-------
Kayne Hammington0-------
Bryce Heem164---20--
Andrew Horrell13146-31--
Tevita Koloamatangi2-------
Michael Leitch133---151-
Anton Lienert-Brown6-------
James Lowe115---253-
Quentin MacDonald13-------
Jamie Mackintosh5-------
Pauliasi Manu16-------
Rhys Marshall4-------
Tom Marshall142---101-
Damian McKenzie16-79-411-
Marty McKenzie6-45-23--
Liam Messam143---151-
Tim Nanai-Williams92-1-13--
Charlie Ngatai116---30--
Sean Polwart1-------
Augustine Pulu163---15--
Brodie Retallick81---5--
Liam Squire41---51-
Matt Symons14-----1-
Seta Tamanivalu6-------
Ben Tameifuna15-----1-
Siate Tokolahi17-------
Maama Vaipulu10-------
Brad Weber17-------
Sonny Bill Williams101---5--
penalty try-3---15--
Total17412941-386131

Notes and references
  1. "SupeRugby Fixtures 2015" (PDF). SANZAR (Press release). 18 September 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.