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