The Chiefs claimed their first win of the Super Rugby season with a record-breaking performance against the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday (NZ time).
First-five Damian McKenzie scored 21 points as the Chiefs secured a 56-20 win over the Bulls - their biggest win against the South African franchise and their first win at Loftus Versfeld Stadium since 2001.
Heading into the match, the Bulls had the best defensive record in the competition, having conceded 56 points and seven tries in four games, but the Chiefs ran rings around their opposition.
The Chiefs outscored the Bulls seven tries to two with captain Brodie Retallick, Solomon Alaimalo and Alex Nankivell each going over twice and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi also scoring.
The visitors were dealt a blow before the match when All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown was ruled out before kickoff. They then lost starting first-five Jack Debreczeni after eight minutes to a head injury.
The injuries didn't worry the Chiefs. After the two sides exchanged penalty goals early on, winger Alaimalo scored the game's first try after 25 minutes.
Nankivell and Retallick went onto score first-half tries as the Chiefs held a commanding 24-6 lead at the break.
The halftime break did little to stop their momentum, and two minutes into the second half the lead was increased to 31-6 as Retallick grabbed his second. McKenzie then put in a well-weighted grubber, and Nankivell collected to complete his brace.
The Bulls got consolation tries in the last 15 minutes through centres Jesse Kriel and Burger Odendaal, but they mattered little as the Chiefs scored two further tries through Alaimalo and Tahuriorangi along with two McKenzie penalties goals to cap off a dominant display.
The result still leaves the Chiefs in last place in the New Zealand conference, but they did overtake the Reds and Sunwolves on the overall standings.
The Hamilton-based team now travels to Argentina to face the Jaguares next Sunday.
Newshub.
