Chiefs 36 Rebels 26
Chiefs - Trask 2, Tiatia 2 & Lienert-Brown 2 tries; Gatland 3 conversions
Rebels - Naisarani 2, Kellaway & Ili tries; To'omua 3 conversions
Second half
40th minute +5 - Rebels kick long to the Chiefs 10 - will this game ever end?
Finally Gordon knocks the ball on and the game is over.
40th minute + 3 - Chiefs win the short throw and spil the ball left. ALB sneaks a clever pass to Trask, but the Chiefs are penalised.
40th minute +1 - Chiefs are penalised for a high tackle, so play will continue after the siren.
Rebels win a lineout in Chiefs territory and To'omua surges towards the 22, but spills the ball. Trask kicks long to touch for an attacking lineout.
40th minute - Chiefs building an attack over halfway, but Tupaea loses possession and the Rebels counterattack.
39th minute - Chiefs earn a scrum in midfield on halfway - perhaps their last chance for the bonus point.
38th minute - Chiefs still need another try for the bonus point, but Rebels steal the lineout and Kellaway makes the break.
They loose possession and Trask hoofs it back up field to the Rebels 10.
37th minute - Rebels win a lineout in Chiefs half, but Chiefs win a penalty at the breakdown and clear to the Rebels 10.
36th minute - Chiefs turn over the ball at a breakdown in their own 22 and Weber kicks almost the Rebels goal-line.
35th minute - Rebels win a scum penalty on their 22 and clear for touch.
They win the lineout and attack left through Koroibete.
33rd minute - ALB finds Tupaea with a cut-out pass, but play comes back for high-tackle penalty in midfield.
Chiefs pack the scrum.
32nd minute - Stevenson makes metres up the middle and Tupaea out wide, as Chiefs build towards the 22.
31st minute - From the lineout win, Rebels spread the ball left and Worth crosses in the corner. The try is reviewed for obstruction and eventually disallowed.
30th minute - Chiefs win a defensive scrum and run from their own 22, eventually clearing into touch.
27th minute - Chiefs are trying to bust out of their half, but a pass goes loose and they go back for clearing penalty.
Slater throws long to aan attacking lineout, but the Chiefs can't regather.
25th minute - Try to Tiatia
Sowakula makes good metres inside the 22 and Trask tiptoes down the touchline, before finding Tiatia inside him.
Replays show Trask's pass was released just before he went into touch, so try stands. Gatland's conversion misses, Chiefs 36-26
24th minute - From another penalty, Gatland clears long to the Rebels 10. Tupaea smashes into a tackle in midfield and looks unsteady, but play continues.
22nd minute - Leota wins the ball and Rebels maul towards the posts. Wells peels off and Chiefs win a clearing penalty from their own line.
21st minute - Rebels field the long dropout and build another attack, winning a penalty for a high tackle.
Chiefs are warned for persistent infringing and Rebels kick to the corner.
20th minute - Rebels are hot on attack with penalty advantage. Gordon spills a pass with the line in sight, so they come back for a penalty.
From the tap, Eloff and Leota go close, but Gibbon is held up for a goal-line dropout.
19th minute - O'Neill is down in midfield for the Chiefs and is replaced by Norris.
Rebels win a short lineout and Eloff is in midfield to make a break.
18th minute - From the kickoff, the Rebels surge back into Chiefs territory.
15th minute - To'omua comes back on for the Rebels, replacing Ili.
Try to Kellaway
Naisarani surges towards the tryline and when he's dragged down short, Powell finds Kellaway for a short run to score.
To'omua, who has just returned to the field, slots the conversion, Chiefs 31-26
13th minute - Try to Trask
Chiefs win a lineout and Tupaea breaks the defensive line, before finding Stevenson. ALB finds his fullback with the final pass.
Gatland hooks his conversion attempt, Chiefs 31-19
12th minute - Weber comes on at halfback for the Chiefs.
11th minute - Chiefs dominate a scrum on halfway and win penalty advantage. Luckily, because Gatland floats a long pass left and it's picked off by Lomani, who's spriting away for a try, but called back.
Ninth minute - From another defensive scrum, Chiefs clear and Koroibete charges over Gatland, who holds on grimly in the tackle.
Eighth minute - From the scrum, Chiefs try to run from their 22, but Rebels defence rushes up to disrupt.
Seventh minute - Gordon finds a half gap and tries to slip a pass to Eloff, but it's behind him and he can't gather. Chiefs have a scrum and a chance to clear.
Sixth minute - Koroibete has the ball on halfway and the Rebels make headway into Chiefs territory.
Fourth minute - Rebels hooker Uelese is injured on his goal-line, so a long hold-up in play.
To'omua is replaced by Lomani, big change for the Rebels.
Try to Tiatia
Chiefs take a scrum in front of the posts and when the ball comes left, Gatland finds his replacement winger with a long pass.
Gatland guides his sideline conversion inside the right upright, Chiefs 26-19
Third minute - Stevenson and Tupaea combine out right for the Chiefs, and when the ball comes left, Vai'i heads towards the posts.
Chiefs win a penalty in front of the posts.
Second minute - Gatland fields a high ball and Trask kicks long from his own 22 to the Rebels goal area. Tapped down for a dropout.
First minute - Rebels kick off for the second half. Chiefs have brought Tiatia on for Sullivan.
Sowakula busts upfield and Gatland puts up a high kick into Rebels territory.
Rebels have come charging back into this contest and carry momentum into the second half, with three unanswered tries.
First half
39th minute - Try to Naisarani
Rebels send the ball left, but a long pass is intercepted. Ref brings them back again for offside and from the tap, Naisarani barges over for his second.
To'omua converts, 19-19
38th minute - Rebels win a lineout inside the 22 and swarm towards the tryline. The ball moves right and the final pass lobs over the sideline, but ref comes back for the penalty.
35th minute - Try to Ili
Rebels pour over halfway and Gordon chips and gathers, before finding Ili inside him to score. Chiefs 19-12
34th minute - Chiefs steal a lineout throw, but their attack stalls, when Sullivan can't gather Trask's quick pass on the left touchline.
32nd minute - Chiefs win a lineout and Tupaea slices through a hole in the defence, taking the attacking inside the 22.
Eventually Rebels win a penalty beside their posts to clear.
31st minute - Rebels attack off a scrum in their own half, but Ili's kick goes out on the full.
28th minute - Try to Naisarani
Impressive push from the Rebels, who have been dominated at scrum time, but shove the Chiefs off the ball for the No.8 to score. To'omua curls his conversion inside the right upright, Chiefs 19-7
27th minute - Rebels win a penalty near the line and Koroibete lunges, but the ball is knocked on at the base of the ruck and Chiefs have a scrum feed on their own line.
26th minute - Rebels kick off high and Tupaea spills the ball, gifting Melbourne a scrum feed inside the 22.
24th minute - Try to Lienert-Brown
Chiefs dominate the scrum and win a penalty. They kick to touch and win a lineout on the 10.
Sowakula bursts upfield and when the ball moves right, Stevenson finds ALB inside and he has too much pace for the defence. Gatland converts, Chiefs 19-0
23rd minute - Lord has failed an HIA and won't return to the game.
Rebels are on attack, but a long pass from Powell is knocked on by Anderson and the Chiefs have another scrum feed.
21st minute - Try to Lienert-Brown
Chiefs win the linout and move the ball along the backline, with Tupaea finding ALB running a sweet angle off his shoulder to cut back and score.
Garland converts from near the posts, Chiefs 12-0
20th minute - Chiefs win a penalty just inside Rebels half and kick to the corner.
19th minute - Rebels throw long on their own goal-line, but are lucky to recover the ball and clear.
18th minute - Chiefs defensive line is quick and Rebels can't make headway. Sowakula steals the ball and sends the ball to Sullivan, who crosses in the corner.
Replays show he's dragged into touch before he forces the ball - no try.
17th minute - Rebels kick off and Chiefs run out of their own 22. Tupaea is shunted into touch just outside.
15th minute - Try to Trask
Chiefs win the lineout, but the Rebels hold up the forward drive. Gatland kicks across field, where Stevenson fields and finds Trask cutting inside him to the line.
Gatland hooks his conversion left, Chiefs 5-0
14th minute - Wells puts a big hit on Gatland, but the ref is playing advantage and Chiefs kick to the corner. Time they capitalised on this possession.
13th minute - Chiefs venture into the 22, but Roe's pass is wayward and the attack stalls.
12th minute - Chiefs win the lineout and the forwards rumble en masse to the tryline, but Brown is held up on his back.
11th minute - Powell runs from the Rebels scrum, but his chip kick finds touch on the full.
Chiefs win a penalty for offside on the Rebels 10. Gatland kicks to the corner.
10th minute - To'omua clears to the Rebels 10, but when the ball is cleared from the lineout, Sullivan fields a kick and then knocks on. Scrappy stuff.
Ninth minute - Gatland finds Stevenson running an angle on his inside shoulder, and the winger slices through to the tryline.
Reviews show Brown impeded the defence and the try is disallowed.
Eighth minute - Untidy lineout, with the Rebels rushing through on Roe's pass, but knocking on.
Another big Chiefs scrum sets the platform for the backs inside the 22...
Seventh minute - Big Chiefs push at that scrum and they win a penalty. Gatland kicks to the 22.
Sixth minute - Rebels lose the ball forward from their own attacking lineout, Chiefs scrum on their 10.
Fifth minute - Rebels steal the long lineout throw and clear upfield.
Fourth minute - Rebels win an attacking lineout, but Chiefs turn the ball over. Tupaea and Sullivan combine down the left, and Roe sprints away, but is dragged down in the 22.
Rebels clear, but Sowakula makes big metres upfield and Chiefs win a penalty. They kick to the corner.
Third minute - Josh Lord is being led off the field with a gash over his eye, replaced by Mitch Brown for the Chiefs.
Second minute - Rebels building in their own half, but Ili is driven back in a two-man tackle. Tupaea is penalised at the breakdown.
First minute - Chiefs kick off and Powell kicks high towards halfway. Chiefs counterattack, Gatland kicks high.
4:58pm - Bryn Gatland has the task of replacing Damian McKenzie as Chiefs first-five today, with Kaleb Trask at fullback.
*****
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash between the Chiefs and Melbourne Rebels from Sydney.
While they still have a mathematical chance of making the inaugural NZ-Australia final with a couple of bonus-point wins over the last two weeks, the Chiefs' loss to Queensland last week probably means they won't achieve that goal now.
They would need three of the four NZ teams ahead of them to lose their regular-season finales.
But to keep those slim hopes alive, they must account for the Rebels in a 'home' encounter that was scheduled for Hamilton, but had to be transferred to Leichardt Oval, when Victoria imposed a state COVID-19 lockdown.
The Chiefs lost star Damian McKenzie to a red card during that defeat in Townsville and must now complete their season without their leading playmaker.
Last time these teams met, the Chiefs ran out 59-8 winners in June 2019 and they have an unbeaten record against the Rebels at home, although that might not help them much today.
TAB odds: Chiefs $1.11, Rebels $5.90
Chiefs: 1-Reuben O’Neill, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Angus Ta’avao, 4-Josh Lord, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 6-Pita Gus Sowakula, 7-Lachlan Boshier, 8-Luke Jacobson (c), 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Bailyn Sullivan, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Sione Mafileo, 19-Mitchell Brown, 20-Zane Kapeli, 21-Brad Weber, 22-Alex Nankivell, 23-Chase Tiatia
Rebels: 1-Cameron Orr, 2-Jordan Uelese, 3-Cabous Eloff, 4-Rob Leota, 5-Trevor Hosea, 6-Michael Wells, 7-Richard Hardwick, 8-Isi Naisarani, 9-Joe Powell, 10-Carter Gordon, 11-Marika Koroibete, 12-Matt To’omua, 13-Stacey Ili, 14-Lachie Anderson, 15-George Worth
Reserves: 16-James Hanson, 17-Matt Gibbon, 18-Rhys Van Nek, 19-Ross Haylett-Petty, 20-Michael Icely, 21-James Tuttle, 22-Andrew Kellaway, 23-Frank Lomani
Despite disruptions, Chiefs focused on bounce back
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan admits he and his squad have been frustrated this week, but they are embracing the challenges presented by professional sport in a COVID-19 era.
The Super Rugby Aotearoa finalists were due to host Melbourne Rebels in Hamilton on Saturday, but a statewide lockdown across the Tasman has forced a schedule change.
The game will now be played at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, a long way removed from fortress FMG Stadium in Hamilton.
The change means a near three-week stint in Australia for the Chiefs, who fell victim to Queensland Reds in a high-scoring thriller at Townsville last weekend.
They will remain in Sydney next week, with their final Super Rugby Trans-Tasman fixture scheduled for next Saturday night against the Waratahs.
For McMillan, who acknowledges chances of contesting the final have evaporated, it's been a tough week, but with a solid plan in place for the next fortnight, he wants his side to finish the campaign on a high.
"It's unfortunate that we weren't able to get home and play in front of our fans,” he says. “We have really loved playing in Hamilton this year and we are really keen to make that a fortress.
"It's been tough for a large portion of the week, not knowing if we were staying in Townsville or coming home, or flying to Sydney, so that was a real frustration.
"But I guess that's COVID-19 at its best, and we must adapt and move on."
"We now know what the next couple of weeks looks like and the boys have really gotten into their work.
"Less than ideal, but you have to roll with the punches and make the most of the situation, and not use that as an excuse for an average performance."
The 40-34 loss last weekend was riddled with ill-discipline, mistakes and lazy defence.
The Chiefs spent 20 minutes of the game with just 14 men - and six minutes with 13 - after star playmaker Damian McKenzie was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Reds halfback Tate McDermott.
Trailing 40-8 midway through the second half, the Chiefs rallied, scoring 26 unanswered points, but couldn't finish off what would have been the most remarkable of comebacks.
But for McMillan, the scoreline didn't reflect how bad his side played and he is demanding better this weekend.
"I expect a bounce-back performance this week. We didn't do ourselves any favours last week and paid the price.
"It turned pear-shaped quickly, and it was admirable how we were able to fight back at the end and play some good rugby, but it didn't feel good after the game.
"We have to be better."
