Super-sized thrashing: Bulls run free to record triumph
"THE gods were with us": That's how Victor Matfield, the captain of
South Africa's Bulls, described his team's 61-17 demolition of New
Zealand's Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday - the biggest
winning margin in a Super rugby final.
Chiefs out to defy the odds stacked against them
SO FAR the Super 14 finals series hasn't exactly been prosperous for New Zealand rugby.
Unlikely finalists Chiefs turn up in a higher place
THE Chiefs' back line would do honour to the silver fern-crested
jersey of the All Blacks, but captain Jono Gibbes is in reluctant
retirement and Test enforcer Keith Robinson departed with New
Zealand's demise in the World Cup.
Super 14 final preview
The travel-weary Chiefs face a mammoth task trying to become only
the fifth side to win a Super rugby title.
Munster to help Messam's milestone
Liam Messam reckons his Munster experience with the All Blacks will
help him handle 50,000 Bulls fans.
Chiefs scan videos for Bulls flaws
Coach Ian Foster used the long flight to South Africa to pore over
hours of video footage of the Bulls.
Chiefs find Springboks in their beds
The South Africans are up to their old tricks, forcing a
last-minute hotel change on the Chiefs.
Chiefs must break Bulls' chokehold
The vanquished Crusaders rate the Chiefs a chance against the
irrepressible Bulls because of their attacking skills.
Sivivatu ruled out of final
Chiefs lose star winger for the Super 14 final as Ian Foster's side
have another major obstacle to overcome.
Bulls avert pea-souper final
Super 14 final between Bulls and Chiefs will be held in the early
hours of Sunday morning.
No missed chances as Chiefs triumph
The Chiefs are through to their first Super 14 rugby final.
Chiefs v Hurricanes
The Chiefs enter their first-ever home Super rugby semi-final on a
roll.
Chiefs put brave face on injuries
The Chiefs admit All Black midfielder Richard Kahui looks
increasingly unlikely to start their Super 14 semi-final.
Chiefs snuff out Brumbies' hopes
THE Chiefs clinched their first home semi-final and probably ended the Brumbies' season in the process with a dour Super 14 victory in rainy Hamilton last night.
Chiefs v ACT Brumbies
Weather no friend of Brumbies
Chiefs skipper Mils Muliaina says kicking will be important in
crucial showdown against Brumbies.
Chiefs the team to beat now - Mealamu
Home advantage would be a massive edge to the Bulls but the Chiefs
remain the side to beat in the Super 14, according to one of their
former players and current Blues captain Keven Mealamu.
Donald wins battle of No 10s
Chiefs star Stephen Donald shook off a bad case of jet-lag to
produce his match-winning show against the Hurricanes - and no
doubt gave the watching All Blacks coaches as sound a night's sleep
as they've had since Dan Carter tore up his Achilles tendon.
Chiefs show Hurricanes who's the boss leading into play-offs
Chiefs pass a true test of character by beating the Hurricanes 16-8 in a top-of-the-table Super 14 contest in Hamilton yesterday.
Chiefs survive Hurricanes in finals prelude
THE CHIEFS passed a true test of character by beating the Hurricanes in a top-of-the-table contest in Hamilton last night.
Chiefs v Hurricanes
The match of the round between the two form teams of the
competition
Muliaina re-signs with New Zealand
All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union through 2011 on Wednesday, becoming another key player secured for the campaign to win that year's World Cup.
NZ team of the week
Kahui takes Chiefs into second place
Crucial try by the Chiefs in the dying minutes give the Waikato
side a crucial bonus point.
Stormers v Chiefs
Without injured strike weapons Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga
and gun halfback Brendon Leonard, the third-placed Chiefs did well
to get a bonus point in a 33-27 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria and
the Stormers aren't in that class.
