The Chiefs sent a statement to the rest of the competition with a comprehensive win over the Western Force.
The hosts were in full control after the first quarter, as they dominated the contest at Bay Oval.
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So what did we learn?
Bay Oval was a magnificent host and shows Super Rugby Pacific should venture out to unique venues.
The cricket venue was packed with spectators as both teams put on a show for the fans.
The crowd was invested from the opening whistle despite the Chiefs’ late dominance,
It justified the move away from Hamilton and possesses a major argument why the competition should look to expand beyond the major stadiums used in regular games.
Harry Potter lived up to his name with a try that caught everyone by surprise.
The Chiefs hit back at the Force with a try through Emoni Narawa, but the Force’s winger had something up his sleeve with a stunning try off the kick-off.
Credit goes to Ben Donaldson, who recognised the Chiefs were asleep at the wheel as the winger latched onto the loose ball with ease to dive over for a response.
But Chiefs coach Clayton McMillian would have been furious after they turned off at the worst possible moment as the Force responded instantly to a five-pointer.
Kaylum Boshier’s try capped off a wild first half and showed the full capacity of the TMO.
It summed up the first 40 minutes as the Chiefs' back-rower dived over with little fanfare as the game continued.
The work from the back-rower was eventually awarded when the TMO stopped the play minutes later to award the try.
As the commentary said, it was the right call, but something that distracts from the play, given how long it took to award.
The Chiefs reinforced their dominance in the second half as they crushed any thoughts of a Force comeback.
They were perfect in the first ten minutes as they extended their half-time lead to ensure the visitors had little answer to their firepower.
It sums up the strength of the Chiefs - ready to capitalise on any lapses in concentration from an opposing side.
It’s a stern warning for the competing pack: be aware of the Chiefs at all stages of the game.
Wallace Sititi’s return from a knee injury delivered a shudder through the rest of the competition.
The back-rower broke through the line almost instantly after his injection into the game.
Sititi has fallen off the radar after his injury, but he reminded everyone of his talent almost instantly.
