2015 Chiefs (Super Rugby) season

November 2015 November 2015 Chiefs 2015 Waikato Stadium Baypark Stadium ECOLight Stadium Yarrow Stadium Head coach Dave Rennie Liam Messam Aaron Cruden Overall competition 5th N.Z. Conference 3rd Won 10, Lost 7 Aaron Cruden (93) Charlie Ngatai (6) 2014 2016 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. Standings The final standings of the 2015 Super Rugby season were: NZL 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 y 16 14 0 2 458 288 +170 58 31 9 1 66 2 Waratahs y 16 11 0 5 409 313 +96 50 41 5 3 52 3 Stormers y 16 10 1 5 373 323 +50 32 35 2 1 45 4 Highlanders y 16 11 0 5 450 333 +117 54 40 6 3 53 5 Chiefs y 16 10 0 6 372 299 +73 40 27 4 4 48 6 Brumbies y 16 9 0 7 369 261 +108 45 21 6 5 47 7 Crusaders y 16 9 0 7 481 338 +143 56 39 8 2 46 8 Lions y 16 9 1 6 342 364 −22 33 41 2 2 42 9 Bulls y 16 7 0 9 397 388 +9 37 39 4 6 38 10 Rebels y 16 7 0 9 319 354 −35 35 42 3 5 36 11 Sharks y 16 7 0 9 338 401 −63 37 43 3 3 34 12 Cheetahs y 16 5 0 11 357 531 −174 44 65 4 2 26 13 Reds y 16 4 0 12 247 434 −187 32 53 3 3 22 14 Blues y 16 3 0 13 282 428 −146 29 50 2 6 20 15 Force y 16 3 0 13 245 384 −139 28 43 3 4 19 Results The following fixtures were released on 18 September 2014:http://www.sanzarrugby.com/sanzar/assets/2015%20Fixture%20Booklet/2015%20Draw%20(Clean).pdf SupeRugby Fixtures 2015 SANZAR 18 September 2014 18 September 2014 17 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141017012727/http://www.sanzarrugby.com/sanzar/assets/2015%20Fixture%20Booklet/2015%20Draw%20(Clean).pdf dead Round 1 14 February 2015 19:35 Blues 18–23 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/chiefs-do-enough-to-beat-blues/ Chiefs do enough to beat Blues SANZAR 14 February 2015 14 February 2015Scoreboard135694 23274 23284 2174 Blues 18 23 Chiefs 14 February 2015 4 July 2016 Chiefs Ihaia West 5 29 38 45 59 71 (6/6) James Lowe 12 Bryce Heem 15 Damian McKenzie 13 16 (2/2) Damian McKenzie 20 33 47 (3/5) Matt Symons 44 54 QBE Stadium 11,100 Chris Pollock Round 2 20 February 2015 17:35 Chiefs 19–17 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/cruden-wins-it-at-the-death/ Cruden wins it at the death SANZAR 20 February 2015 20 February 2015Scoreboard135764 23284 23324 2174 Chiefs 19 17 Brumbies 20 February 2015 4 July 2016 Brumbies Charlie Ngatai 15 Aaron Cruden 16 (1/1) Aaron Cruden 7 33 68 80 (4/4) Ita Vaea 19 Christian Lealiifano (0/1) Christian Lealiifano 5 44 58 (3/3) Nic White 14 (1/2) Yarrow Stadium 6,985 Steve Walsh Round 3 28 February 2015 19:35 Chiefs 40–16 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/chiefs-thump-the-crusaders/ Chiefs thump the Crusaders SANZAR 1 March 2015 16 March 2015Scoreboard135834 23284 23294 2174 Chiefs 40 16 Crusaders 28 February 2015 4 July 2016 Crusaders Sonny Bill Williams 13 Augustine Pulu 22 Charlie Ngatai 33 Tom Marshall 63 James Lowe 67 Aaron Cruden 23 34 68 (3/5) Aaron Cruden 31 49 55 (3/4) James Lowe 8 20 Damian McKenzie 78 Andrew Ellis 45 Colin Slade 46 (1/1) Colin Slade 3 8 26 (3/5) Matt Todd 21 31 Waikato Stadium 18,166 Mike Fraser Round 4 6 March 2015 19:35 Chiefs 17–20 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/highlanders-steal-it-at-the-death/ Highlanders steal it at the death SANZAR 6 March 2015 16 March 2015Scoreboard135874 23284 23304 2174 Chiefs 17 20 Highlanders 6 March 2015 4 July 2016 Highlanders penalty try 48 57 Aaron Cruden 49 57 (2/2) Aaron Cruden 5 (1/4) Andrew Horrell (0/1) James Lowe 78 Patrick Osborne 35 Lima Sopoaga (0/1) Lima Sopoaga 20 28 40 (3/3) Marty Banks 77 80 (2/2) Joe Wheeler 46 57 Waikato Stadium Nick Briant Round 5 14 March 2015 15:00 Stormers 19–28 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/chiefs-send-stormers-to-their-first-defeat/ Chiefs send Stormers to their first defeat SANZAR 15 March 2015 16 March 2015Scoreboard135984 23224 23284 2174 DHL Stormers 19 28 Chiefs 14 March 2015 4 July 2016 Chiefs Kobus van Wyk 19 Kurt Coleman 20 (1/1) Kurt Coleman 15 23 35 (3/4) Demetri Catrakilis 63 (1/1) Aaron Cruden 27 James Lowe 48 Sam Cane 71 Aaron Cruden 28 49 (2/3) Aaron Cruden 5 40 60 (3/4) Newlands Stadium 42,247 Jaco Peyper Round 6 21 March 2015 19:10 Sharks 12–11 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/13-man-sharks-edge-the-chiefs/ 13-man Sharks edge the Chiefs SANZAR 22 March 2015 23 March 2015Scoreboard136044 23234 23284 2174 Cell C Sharks 12 11 Chiefs 21 March 2015 4 July 2016 Chiefs Patrick Lambie 3 32 40 60 (4/6) Bismarck du Plessis 0 18 François Steyn 0 28 Sam Cane 34 Aaron Cruden (0/1) Aaron Cruden 6 29 (2/3) Aaron Cruden (0/1) Hika Elliot 0 15 Kings Park Stadium 18,564 Angus Gardner Round 7 28 March 2015 16:30 Chiefs 37–27 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/chiefs-accelerate-to-victory/ Chiefs accelerate to victory SANZAR 28 March 2015 28 March 2015Scoreboard136084 23284 23244 2174 Chiefs 37 27 Toyota Cheetahs 28 March 2015 4 July 2016 Cheetahs Michael Leitch 2 Liam Messam 18 Sam Cane 68 Andrew Horrell 76 Aaron Cruden 3 19 69 77 (4/4) Aaron Cruden 46 53 61 (3/3) Michael Fitzgerald 24 35 Ben Tameifuna 32 41 Boom Prinsloo 28 Heinrich Brüssow 54 80 Joe Pietersen 29 55 (2/2) Willie du Plessis 81 (1/1) Joe Pietersen 8 11 (2/3) Heinrich Brüssow 66 76 Waikato Stadium 11,610 Craig Joubert Round 8 4 April 2015 19:35 Chiefs 23–16 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/chiefs-win-ninth-in-a-row-over-blues/ Chiefs win ninth in a row over Blues SANZAR 4 April 2015 4 April 2015Scoreboard136154 23284 23274 2174 Chiefs 23 16 Blues 4 April 2015 4 July 2016 Blues James Lowe 28 Tom Marshall 68 Aaron Cruden 29 69 (2/2) Aaron Cruden 18 59 75 (3/5) Jerome Kaino 47 Daniel Bowden 48 (1/1) Daniel Bowden 34 54 (2/2) Ihaia West 81 (1/1) Waikato Stadium 14,248 Mike Fraser Round 10 17 April 2015 19:35 Crusaders 9–26 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/chiefs-make-a-statement-against-crusaders/ Chiefs make a statement against Crusaders SANZAR 17 April 2015 19 April 2015Scoreboard136254 23294 23284 2174 Crusaders 9 26 Chiefs 17 April 2015 4 July 2016 Chiefs Dan Carter 7 37 43 (3/6) Michael Leitch 21 James Lowe 40 Liam Squire 71 Andrew Horrell 22 (1/3) Aaron Cruden 10 (1/1) Tim Nanai-Williams 19 (1/1) Andrew Horrell 59 (1/2) Sam Cane 6 17 AMI Stadium 14,500 Nick Briant Round 11 24 April 2015 19:35 Chiefs 35–27 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/chiefs-top-force-in-entertaining-clash/ Chiefs top Force in exciting clash SANZAR 24 April 2015 26 April 2015Scoreboard136324 23284 23354 2174 Chiefs 35 27 Force 24 April 2015 4 July 2016 Force Charlie Ngatai 19 Hika Elliot 39 penalty try 46 Tim Nanai-Williams 66 Marty McKenzie 20 40 47 (3/4) Marty McKenzie 7 18 24 (3/3) Angus Cottrell 15 Luke Morahan 56 Matt Hodgson 62 Heath Tessmann 77 Luke Burton 57 63 (2/4) Luke Burton 10 (1/1) Ian Prior 0 28 Waikato Stadium 13,948 Angus Gardner Round 12 2 May 2015 19:40 Rebels 16–15 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/rebels-stun-chiefs-in-melbourne/ Rebels stun Chiefs in Melbourne SANZAR 2 May 2015 9 May 2015Scoreboard136434 23344 23284 2174 Rebels 16 15 Chiefs 2 May 2015 4 July 2016 Chiefs Scott Higginbotham 18 Nic Stirzaker 39 Jack Debreczeni (0/2) Jack Debreczeni 6 35 (2/2) Bryce Hegarty (0/2) Charlie Ngatai 58 Michael Leitch 69 Damian McKenzie 59 (1/2) Andrew Horrell 23 (1/2) James Lowe 34 45 Liam Messam 75 AAMI Park 13,023 Andrew Lees Round 14 16 May 2015 19:35 Hurricanes 22–18 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/nonu-double-sinks-chiefs/ Nonu double sinks Chiefs SANZAR 16 May 2015 22 May 2015Scoreboard136544 23314 23284 2174 Hurricanes 22 18 Chiefs 16 May 2015 4 July 2016 Chiefs Ma'a Nonu 10 68 Ardie Savea 46 James Marshall 11 69 (2/3) James Marshall 38 (1/1) Charlie Ngatai 40 Sam Cane 75 Damian McKenzie 40 (1/2) Damian McKenzie 13 24 (2/3) Liam Squire 49 59 Westpac Stadium 17,770 Glen Jackson Round 15 22 May 2015 19:35 Chiefs 34–20 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/chiefs-run-away-from-bulls-in-rotorua/ Chiefs run away from Bulls in Rotorua SANZAR 22 May 2015 22 May 2015Scoreboard136584 23284 23254 2174 Chiefs 34 20 Vodacom Bulls 22 May 2015 4 July 2016 Bulls Liam Messam 23 Bryce Heem 28 Augustine Pulu 54 56 Tim Nanai-Williams 80 Damian McKenzie 24 55 57 (3/5) Damian McKenzie 6 (1/2) Sam Cane 69 79 Jan Serfontein 9 Bjorn Basson 13 Lappies Labuschagné 73 Handré Pollard 14 (1/3) Handré Pollard 16 (1/2) Rotorua International Stadium 13,714 Chris Pollock Round 16 30 May 2015 19:35 Highlanders 36–9 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/highlanders-re-ignite-season-with-bp-win/ Highlanders re-ignite season with BP win SANZAR 30 May 2015 9 June 2015Scoreboard136694 23304 23284 2174 Highlanders 36 9 Chiefs 30 May 2015 4 July 2016 Chiefs Patrick Osborne 29 Waisake Naholo 44 Richard Buckman 72 Ben Smith 78 Lima Sopoaga 45 73 (2/4) Lima Sopoaga 9 12 61 67 (4/5) Damian McKenzie 18 51 58 (3/4) Rugby Park Stadium 11,000 Nick Briant Round 17 6 June 2015 19:40 Reds 3–24 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/chiefs-spoil-genia-horwills-farewell/ Chiefs spoil Genia, Horwill's farewell SANZAR 6 June 2015 9 June 2015Scoreboard136774 23364 23284 2174 Reds 3 24 Chiefs 6 June 2015 4 July 2016 Chiefs Quade Cooper 6 (1/2) Bryce Heem 25 Liam Messam 32 Charlie Ngatai 69 Andrew Horrell 26 33 70 (3/3) Andrew Horrell 51 (1/2) Michael Leitch 39 49 Suncorp Stadium 25,841 Mike Fraser Round 18 13 June 2015 19:35 Chiefs 13–21 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/hurricanes-triumph-in-new-plymouth/ Hurricanes triumph in New Plymouth SANZAR 13 June 2015 13 June 2015Scoreboard136834 23284 23314 2174 Chiefs 13 21 Hurricanes 13 June 2015 4 July 2016 Hurricanes Bryce Heem 16 Marty McKenzie 17 (1/1) Marty McKenzie 27 31 (2/2) Tom Marshall 35 44 penalty try 35 Conrad Smith 38 James Marshall 54 James Marshall 36 39 55 (3/3) Yarrow Stadium Chris Pollock Qualifier 20 June 2015 19:35 Highlanders 24–14 Reporthttp://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/highlanders-move-on-to-semi-finals/ Highlanders move on to semi-finals SANZAR 20 June 2015 27 June 2015 Scoreboard136884 23304 23284 2174 Highlanders 24 14 Chiefs 20 June 2015 4 July 2016 Chiefs Waisake Naholo 24 43 Lima Sopoaga 44 (1/2) Lima Sopoaga 6 57 66 80 (4/4) Waisake Naholo (0/1) Brodie Retallick 60 Andrew Horrell (0/1) Andrew Horrell 8 28 40 (3/5) Forsyth Barr Stadium 22,500 Chris Pollock Squad The Chiefs squad for the 2015 Super Rugby season were: 2015 Chiefs squadProps NZL Jarrod Firth NZL Mitchell Graham NZL Jamie Mackintosh TON Pauliasi Manu NZL Ben Tameifuna TON Siate Tokolahi Hookers NZL Hika Elliot NZL Quentin MacDonald NZL Rhys Marshall Locks NZL Michael Allardice NZL Brian Alainu'uese NZL Michael Fitzgerald NZL Brodie Retallick (c) ENG Matt SymonsLoose forwards NZL Johan Bardoul NZL Sam Cane NZL Mitchell Crosswell NZL Ross Filipo NZL Tevita Koloamatangi NZL Michael Leitch NZL Liam Messam (c) NZL Sean Polwart NZL Liam Squire NZL Maama Vaipulu Scrum-halves NZL Kayne Hammington NZL Augustine Pulu NZL Brad Weber Fly-halves NZL Aaron Cruden (c) NZL Marty McKenzieMidfield NZL Andrew Horrell NZL Anton Lienert-Brown NZL Charlie Ngatai FIJ Seta Tamanivalu NZL Sonny Bill Williams Wingers NZL Hosea Gear NZL Bryce Heem NZL James Lowe NZL Tim Nanai-Williams Fullbacks NZL Tom Marshall NZL Damian McKenzie (c) denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped. Nathan Harrishttp://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/hika-elliot-to-re-join-chiefs.html Hika Elliot to rejoin Chiefs Chiefs 26 November 2014 25 November 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20150113064812/http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/hika-elliot-to-re-join-chiefs.html 13 January 2015 and Tawera Kerr-Barlowhttp://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/rugby/10671981 Size returns to create strong Chiefs backline Fairfax NZ Waikato Times 29 October 2014 28 October 2014 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 Appearances Tries Cons Conversions Pens Penalty goals DGs Drop Goals Pts Points YC Yellow Cards RC Red Cards 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 rugby union, born 1987 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 rugby union 11 5 - - - 25 3 - Quentin MacDonald 13 - - - - - - - Jamie Mackintosh 5 - - - - - - - Pauliasi Manu 16 - - - - - - - Rhys Marshall 4 - - - - - - - Tom Marshall rugby union 14 2 - - - 10 1 - Damian McKenzie 16 - 7 9 - 41 1 - Marty McKenzie rugby union 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 30em External links Official Chiefs website Official Super Rugby website https://web.archive.org/web/20161009213550/http://www.sanzaarrugby.com/superrugby 9 October 2016 Official Facebook page 2015 Category:2015 in New Zealand rugby union Category:2015 Super Rugby season by team