2015 Chiefs (rugby union) 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 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
1New Zealand Hurricanes161402458288+17058319166
2Australia Waratahs161105409313+9650415352
3South Africa Stormers161015373323+5032352145
4New Zealand Highlanders161105450333+11754406353
5New Zealand Chiefs161006372299+7340274448
6Australia Brumbies16907369261+10845216547
7New Zealand Crusaders16907481338+14356398246
8South Africa Lions16916342364−2233412242
9South Africa Bulls16709397388+937394638
10Australia Rebels16709319354−3535423536
11South Africa Sharks16709338401−6337433334
12South Africa Cheetahs165011357531−17444654226
13Australia Reds164012247434−18732533322
14New Zealand Blues163013282428−14629502620
15Australia 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 rugby goalposts icon 5', 29', 38', 45', 59', 71' (6/6) Report[2]
Scoreboard[3]		 Try: James Lowe rugby ball 12'
Bryce Heem rugby ball 15'
Con: Damian McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 13', 16' (2/2)
Pen: Damian McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 20', 33', 47' (3/5)
Cards: Matt Symons yellow card 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 rugby ball 15'
Con: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 16' (1/1)
Pen: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 7', 33', 68', 80' (4/4)		 Report[4]
Scoreboard[5]		 Try: Ita Vaea rugby ball 19'
Con: Christian Lealiifano (0/1)
Pen: Christian Lealiifano rugby goalposts icon 5', 44', 58' (3/3)
Nic White rugby goalposts icon 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 rugby ball 13'
Augustine Pulu rugby ball 22'
Charlie Ngatai rugby ball 33'
Tom Marshall rugby ball 63'
James Lowe rugby ball 67'
Con: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 23', 34', 68' (3/5)
Pen: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 31', 49', 55' (3/4)
Cards: James Lowe yellow card 8' to 20'
Damian McKenzie Yellow card 78'		 Report[6]
Scoreboard[7]		 Try: Andrew Ellis rugby ball 45'
Con: Colin Slade rugby goalposts icon 46' (1/1)
Pen: Colin Slade rugby goalposts icon 3', 8', 26' (3/5)
Cards: Matt Todd yellow card 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 rugby ball 48', 57'
Con: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 49', 57' (2/2)
Pen: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 5' (1/4)
Andrew Horrell (0/1)
Cards: James Lowe Yellow card 78'		 Report[8]
Scoreboard[9]		 Try: Patrick Osborne rugby ball 35'
Con: Lima Sopoaga (0/1)
Pen: Lima Sopoaga rugby goalposts icon 20', 28', 40' (3/3)
Marty Banks rugby goalposts icon 77', 80' (2/2)
Cards: Joe Wheeler yellow card 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 rugby ball 19'
Con: Kurt Coleman rugby goalposts icon 20' (1/1)
Pen: Kurt Coleman rugby goalposts icon 15', 23', 35' (3/4)
Demetri Catrakilis rugby goalposts icon 63' (1/1)		 Report[10]
Scoreboard[11]		 Try: Aaron Cruden rugby ball 27'
James Lowe rugby ball 48'
Sam Cane rugby ball 71'
Con: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 28', 49' (2/3)
Pen: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 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 rugby goalposts icon 3', 32', 40', 60' (4/6)
Cards: Bismarck du Plessis Red card 18'
François Steyn Red card 28'		 Report[12]
Scoreboard[13]		 Try: Sam Cane rugby ball 34'
Con: Aaron Cruden (0/1)
Pen: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 6', 29' (2/3)
Drop: Aaron Cruden (0/1)
Cards: Hika Elliot Red card 15'		 Attendance: 18,564
Referee: Angus Gardner
Round 7 28 March 2015 Chiefs 37–27 Cheetahs Waikato Stadium, Hamilton  
16:30 Try: Michael Leitch rugby ball 2'
Liam Messam rugby ball 18'
Sam Cane rugby ball 68'
Andrew Horrell rugby ball 76'
Con: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 3', 19', 69', 77' (4/4)
Pen: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 46', 53', 61' (3/3)
Cards: Michael Fitzgerald yellow card 24' to 35'
Ben Tameifuna yellow card 32' to 41'		 Report[14]
Scoreboard[15]		 Try: Boom Prinsloo rugby ball 28'
Heinrich Brüssow rugby ball 54', 80'
Con: Joe Pietersen rugby goalposts icon 29', 55' (2/2)
Willie du Plessis rugby goalposts icon 81' (1/1)
Pen: Joe Pietersen rugby goalposts icon 8', 11' (2/3)
Cards: Heinrich Brüssow yellow card 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 rugby ball 28'
Tom Marshall rugby ball 68'
Con: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 29', 69' (2/2)
Pen: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 18', 59', 75' (3/5)		 Report[16]
Scoreboard[17]		 Try: Jerome Kaino rugby ball 47'
Con: Daniel Bowden rugby goalposts icon 48' (1/1)
Pen: Daniel Bowden rugby goalposts icon 34', 54' (2/2)
Ihaia West rugby goalposts icon 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 rugby goalposts icon 7', 37', 43' (3/6) Report[18]
Scoreboard[19]		 Try: Michael Leitch rugby ball 21'
James Lowe rugby ball 40'
Liam Squire rugby ball 71'
Con: Andrew Horrell rugby goalposts icon 22' (1/3)
Pen: Aaron Cruden rugby goalposts icon 10' (1/1)
Tim Nanai-Williams rugby goalposts icon 19' (1/1)
Andrew Horrell rugby goalposts icon 59' (1/2)
Cards: Sam Cane yellow card 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 rugby ball 19'
Hika Elliot rugby ball 39'
penalty try rugby ball 46'
Tim Nanai-Williams rugby ball 66'
Con: Marty McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 20', 40', 47' (3/4)
Pen: Marty McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 7', 18', 24' (3/3)		 Report[20]
Scoreboard[21]		 Try: Angus Cottrell rugby ball 15'
Luke Morahan rugby ball 56'
Matt Hodgson rugby ball 62'
Heath Tessmann rugby ball 77'
Con: Luke Burton rugby goalposts icon 57', 63' (2/4)
Pen: Luke Burton rugby goalposts icon 10' (1/1)
Cards: Ian Prior Red card 28'		 Attendance: 13,948
Referee: Angus Gardner
Round 12 2 May 2015 Rebels 16–15 Chiefs AAMI Park, Melbourne  
19:40 Try: Scott Higginbotham rugby ball 18'
Nic Stirzaker rugby ball 39'
Con: Jack Debreczeni (0/2)
Pen: Jack Debreczeni rugby goalposts icon 6', 35' (2/2)
Bryce Hegarty (0/2)		 Report[22]
Scoreboard[23]		 Try: Charlie Ngatai rugby ball 58'
Michael Leitch rugby ball 69'
Con: Damian McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 59' (1/2)
Pen: Andrew Horrell rugby goalposts icon 23' (1/2)
Cards: James Lowe yellow card 34' to 45'
Liam Messam Yellow card 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 rugby ball 10', 68'
Ardie Savea rugby ball 46'
Con: James Marshall rugby goalposts icon 11', 69' (2/3)
Pen: James Marshall rugby goalposts icon 38' (1/1)		 Report[24]
Scoreboard[25]		 Try: Charlie Ngatai rugby ball 40'
Sam Cane rugby ball 75'
Con: Damian McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 40' (1/2)
Pen: Damian McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 13', 24' (2/3)
Cards: Liam Squire yellow card 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 rugby ball 23'
Bryce Heem rugby ball 28'
Augustine Pulu rugby ball 54', 56'
Tim Nanai-Williams rugby ball 80'
Con: Damian McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 24', 55', 57' (3/5)
Pen: Damian McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 6' (1/2)
Cards: Sam Cane yellow card 69' to 79'		 Report[26]
Scoreboard[27]		 Try: Jan Serfontein rugby ball 9'
Bjorn Basson rugby ball 13'
Lappies Labuschagné rugby ball 73'
Con: Handré Pollard rugby goalposts icon 14' (1/3)
Pen: Handré Pollard rugby goalposts icon 16' (1/2)		 Attendance: 13,714
Referee: Chris Pollock
Round 16 30 May 2015 Highlanders 36–9 Chiefs Rugby Park, Invercargill  
19:35 Try: Patrick Osborne rugby ball 29'
Waisake Naholo rugby ball 44'
Richard Buckman rugby ball 72'
Ben Smith rugby ball 78'
Con: Lima Sopoaga rugby goalposts icon 45', 73' (2/4)
Pen: Lima Sopoaga rugby goalposts icon 9', 12', 61', 67' (4/5)		 Report[28]
Scoreboard[29]		 Pen: Damian McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 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 rugby goalposts icon 6' (1/2) Report[30]
Scoreboard[31]		 Try: Bryce Heem rugby ball 25'
Liam Messam rugby ball 32'
Charlie Ngatai rugby ball 69'
Con: Andrew Horrell rugby goalposts icon 26', 33', 70' (3/3)
Pen: Andrew Horrell rugby goalposts icon 51' (1/2)
Cards: Michael Leitch yellow card 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 rugby ball 16'
Con: Marty McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 17' (1/1)
Pen: Marty McKenzie rugby goalposts icon 27', 31' (2/2)
Cards: Tom Marshall yellow card 35' to 44'		 Report[32]
Scoreboard[33]		 Try: penalty try rugby ball 35'
Conrad Smith rugby ball 38'
James Marshall rugby ball 54'
Con: James Marshall rugby goalposts icon 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 rugby ball 24', 43'
Con: Lima Sopoaga rugby goalposts icon 44' (1/2)
Pen: Lima Sopoaga rugby goalposts icon 6', 57', 66', 80' (4/4)
Drop: Waisake Naholo (0/1)		 Report[34]
Scoreboard[35]		 Try: Brodie Retallick rugby ball 60'
Con: Andrew Horrell (0/1)
Pen: Andrew Horrell rugby goalposts icon 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.
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