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Chiefs 19 Brumbies 6
Chiefs - Retallick try; McKenzie 4 penalties & conversion
Brumbies - Lolesio 2 penalties
Fulltime
40th minute - Lolesio's kickoff goes out again and the Brumbies have done their dash.
37th minute - TRY to Retallick
Ioane takes a high kick near halfway and McKenzie bursts through centirefield. Stevenson almost finds the left corner and Chiefs have penalty advantage.
They don't need it, as the giant lock plunges over by the posts, as the Chiefs finally break their rivals down. McKenzie converts, CHI 19-6
36th minute - From the scrum, Chiefs go right and Narawa takes on his marker. Poihipi kicks ahead, but Wright has it covered.
35th minute - From a scrum, Brumbies kick downfield and regain the ball, but Wright tries to pop a pass to Reimer, who hasn't retreated behind the passer. Bad error for the Brumbies.
33rd minute - Lolesio kicks off and out on the full, so Chiefs will have a scrum on halfway. Chiefs clear their bench, bringing Poihipi on for Nankivell.
32nd minute - PENALTY to McKenzie
31st minute - A loose pass from McKenzie brings them back for the penalty and McKenzie will kick for goal.
30th minute - Chiefs have a scrum penalty advantage on halfway, but they advance to the 10.
29th minute - From the lineout, McKenzie kicks to Wright, who is held up in the tackle and Chiefs win the turnover.
28th minute - Jacobson runs off the back of the defensive scrum and Ratima finds touch outside the 22. His kick took a deflection, so Chiefs have the throw to the lineout. Taukei'aho and Va'ii are replaced.
26th minute - Lolesio kicks to the corner for an attacking lineout. Brumbies win the lineout, but their maul is held up, Sowakula has disrupted their push and Chiefs win a penalty - big big play!
25th minute - Brumbies have a lineout on the Chiefs 22 and win it. They have a penalty advantage.
24th minute - McKenzie kicks ahead for Stevenson, but Brumbies have it covered and Chiefs are offside at the breakdown.
23rd minute - McKenzie fields a Lolesio kick inside his half and eventually kicks towards the 22. More tactical kicking ensues...
22nd minute - From the scrum, the Brumbies shift left, but the clearing kick is charged by Nankivell and into touch just outside the 22.
21st minute - Brumbies tackle the Chiefs back outside the 22 and then win a scrum feed.
20th minute - Ratima replaces Weber, Retallick wins a lineout on the 22 and Chiefs smell an attacking opportunity.
19th minute - Ioane flies in take a high kick inside Brumbies half and Chiefs go on attack. They win a penalty on the 10 and kick to the corner.
18th minute - Sowakula replaces Finau in the Chiefs pack.
17th minute - PENALTY to Lolesio
16th minute - Lonergan replaces White at halfback for the Brumbies, who win the lineout outside the Chiefs 22. They enter the 22 and win a breakdown penalty by the posts.
15th minute - Finau secures the kickoff and Ioane drills downfield to Wright, who crosses halfway. Cane smashes Tua in a tackle and stays down in pain.
Brumbies have a penalty from the awkward tackle and Lolesio kicks to the corner.
14th minute - PENALTY to McKenzie
12th minute - Ioane replaces Nanai Seturo, with McKenzie shiting to fullback and Stevenson to the wing. Chiefs win a penalty at the breakdown and McKenzie lines up the posts...
11th minute - Norris replaces Ross in the Chiefs front row. Chiefs steal another lineout and shift left, where Stevenson doesn't release in a tackle.
10th minute - Brumbies throw misses their jumpers and Taukei'aho rumbles upfield to halfway.
Ninth minute - Berry pings Ross for a scrum penalty and Brumbies clear into Chiefs half.
Eighth minute - White fumbles the ball backwards and manages to clear anyway, but only just outside the 22. Samu leaves the field with a shoulder niggle, replaced by Reimer.
Taukei'aho's throw to the lineout isn't straight, so Chiefs squander an opportunity on attack.
Seventh minute - Nankivell finds Jacobson in midfield, ALB kicks to the corner and Chiefs chase quickly.
Sixth minute - Brumbies have a scrum feed inside Chiefs half, but Stevenson needs some attention to his shoulder.
Berry has reversed his call and Weber feeds the scrum. Nanai Seturo bursts over halfway...
Fifth minute - Finau wins the lineout inside Brumbies half and Stevenson bursts towards the 22,
Third minute - Retallick wins a lineout on the Chiefs 10. McKenzie kicks high into Brumbies half, Tua catches and Lolesio returns the kick.
Wright kicks into Retallick's head and White comes away with the ball. Narawa makes the tackle and wins the breakdown penalty.
Second minute - Brumbies have phases inside the 22, but Chiefs don't mind a tackle and Cane is over the breakdown to win a clearing penalty.
First minute - Chiefs secure the kickoff and McKenzie clears outside his 22. Brumbies win the lineout and Tua crashes into the 22.
Halftime
40th minute - Retallick takes the tap and bids for the tryline. Taukei'aho is next up, but he is held up.
The siren sounds, but the Brumbies try for a short restart and Narawa steals it for the Chiefs, who are now hot on attack again. Finau loses the ball, but Berry has another penalty and warns White.
Chiefs opt for an attacking scrum... but Jacobson runs off the back and knocks on short of the tryline to end the half. Brumbies will feel pretty relieved about that.
39th minute - Va'ii wins the attacking lineout and Chiefs maul is taken to ground. Berry is playing advantage and comes back to that call, when the Chiefs are held up again.
38th minute - Big scrum from the Chiefs pushes the Brumbies off their feed and wins penalty advantage. Chiefs forwards keep pushing to the tryline, but they're held up, so back for the penalty.
36th minute - Chiefs building phases and Stevenson makes ground down the left, but his inside pass to Narawa is deflected by the last defender, with the tryline beckoning.
35th minute - Valetini secures the kickoff and White puts a high kick outside the 22. Stevenson is supreme in the air and the Chiefs shift right.
34th minute - Slipper is now leaving the field with a head knock and Finau has been penalised for a high tackle.
PENALTY to Lolesio
33rd minute - Brumbies try to build an attack in midfield, Chiefs half, but Slipper loses the ball. White and Retallick confront each other, which will only ever have one winner, if it comes to blows.
32nd minute - Va'ii claims the kickoff, but Brumbies win a penalty at the breakdown just inside Chiefs half.
31st minute - Jack Debreczeni is down and looks like he's gone. He copped Narawa awkwardly in the tackle and Lolesio will replace him.
PENALTY to McKenzie
30th minute - Chiefs win a lineout on the Brumbies 10 and Narawa runs hard in midfield. McKenzie switches direction and Taukie'aho rumbles towards the 22.
Chiefs have a penalty in midfield...
29th minute - Scrums are very competitive and this one has to reset a third time. Chiefs eventually get the ball out and break towards halfway - they have a scrum penalty.
27th minute - Cane disrupts Brumbies possession at the breakdown and Chiefs win a scrum feed on their own 10.
26th minute - Jacobson rocks Samu in a tackle that leaves him dazed. White kicks to the tryline, but it rolls dead.
25th minute - Chiefs are penalised in the lineout and Jack Debreczeni finds touch near the Chiefs 22.
24th minute - Jacobson breaks from the back of the scrum and ALB kicks downfield. It's initially given as a 50-22, but that's overruled.
23rd minute - Brumbies shift right, where Nanai Seturo lowers Samu, who knocks on.
22nd minute - Brumbies kick to the corner and win the lineout, but they can't set the maul and have to release to the backs. Important tackle from McKenzie on Valetini.
21st minute - Slipper enters the 22 and Brumbies have penalty advantage for offside...
20th minute - Brumbies win their lineout and build phases towards the 22.
19th minute - From the scrum, Tua crashes midfield, but the Brumbies loose the ball and McKenzie boots downfield into touch towards halfway.
18th minute - Muirhead enters Chiefs half, but his offload is dropped by Narawa, so Brumbies have a scrum fined on the Chiefs 10.
17th minute - Brumbies have the ball in hand and resist a Chiefs counter-ruck.
16th minute - McKenzie breaks over halfway after yet another kicking exchange.
15th minute - Chiefs lose the ball on the Brumbies 22 and it's kicked long. McKenzie retreates, avoids Sapsford and relieves the pressure.
14th minute - McKenzie kicks to the corner, so Brumbies defensive lineout will be under pressure. They win it and White clears outside the 22.
13th minute - Nanai-Seturo ends a kicking duel by finding touch inside Brumbies half. Jacobson grabs a loose throw from the Brumbies.
12th minute - Stevenson kicks long down centrefield and Wright runs it back towards halfway. Retallick almost steals the ball at the breakdown.
11th minute - Jack Debreczeni misses the penalty right
Ninth minute - Nankivell secures the kickoff and McKenzie finds touch on the Chiefs 10. Brumbies win the lineout and Samu charges towards the 22, as Brumbies pick up a penalty advantage in centrefield.
Eighth minute - PENALTY to McKenzie
Seventh minute - Chiefs get a breakdown penalty in midfield and McKenzie tees it up...
Sixth minute - McKenzie eventually kicks and Chiefs have the better of the ensuing kicking duel.
Fifth minute - Chiefs building phases in midfield, but no way through the Brumbies defence.
Fourth minute - Retallicks steals a Brumbies lineout inside their half and Chiefs go on attack.
Third minute - Brumbies build phases on the 22, but Stevenson cuts off a grubber and hoofs downfield, finding touch towards the Brumbies 22.
Second minute - Wright finds touch inside Chiefs half, but the Brumbies steal Taukei'aho's lineout throw. They roll towards the 22.
First minute - Nic Berry is the referee and McKenzie will kick off for the Chiefs. Muirhead secures the kick and White kicks high, Stevenson claims the ball in the air.
6:57pm - Tough conditions at Hamilton, with rain falling. All Blacks coach Ian Foster is there with his list of who's naughty, who's nice, before naming his squad tomorrow.
*****
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific semi-final between the Chiefs and Brumbies at Hamilton's FMG Stadium.
With the champion Crusaders already booked into yet another final, all that remain to found are their opponents and the venue. If the tabletopping Chiefs prevail tonight, they will host next week's title match-up in Hamilton - if the Brumbies win, they must travel to Christchurch.
The Chiefs have made virtually every post a winner this season, with the exception of a shock defeatin to the Reds, while depleted by All Blacks rest protocols. They are back to full strength for tonight's encounter and will want a clinical performance against the top Aussie franchise.
The last piece of their puzzle has been the return of Alex Nankivell to the midfield, while lock Tupou Vaa'i also missed last week's quarter-final with injury. No.8 Luke Jacobson will dropped to the bench with illness, but is poised to take his starting spot tonight.
ACT have again opted for former Chiefs first-five Jack Debreczeni in the No.10 jersey, not Wallabies pivot Noah Lolesio, after he ran the kicking to perfection against the Hurricanes last week. They may take the same approach again, after the Reds twice showed how successful that could be against the Waikato side.
Several Chiefs players may have one eye on tomorrow's All Blacks squad announcement, with the likes of flanker Samipeni Finau, winger Emoni Narawa and fullback Shaun Stevenson trying to book seats to the World Cup.
Join us for kickoff at 7pm.
TAB Odds: Chiefs $1.20, Brumbies $4.40, Draw $26
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Sam Cane (cc), 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber (cc), 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-John Ryan, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Pita Gus Sowakula, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Rameka Poihipi
Brumbies: 1-James Slipper, 2-Lachlan Lonergan, 3-Sefo Kautai, 4-Nick Frost, 5-Cadeyrn Neville, 6-Tom Hooper, 7-Pete Samu, 8-Rob Valetini, 9-Nic White, 10-Jack Debreczeni, 11-Ollie Sapsford, 12-Tamati Tua, 13-Len Ikitau, 14-Andy Muirhead, 15-Tom Wright
Reserves: 16-Connal McInerney, 17-Blake Schoupp, 18-Rhys Van Nek, 19-Darcy Swain, 20-Luke Reimer, 21-Ryan Lonergan, 22-Noah Lolesio, 23-Corey Toole
Chiefs more important than All Blacks selection for departing Weber
Alex Powell
Not even potential All Blacks selection can distract Brad Weber from the job at hand, with the Chiefs preparing for a Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Brumbies.
As the competition's top side throughout the round-robin, the Chiefs have secured home advantage for the Super Rugby playoffs. After beating the Reds last week, they will host their first home semi-final since 2013 - the year of their last triumph.
This weekend's semi-finals are also overshadowed by looming All Blacks selection, with coach Ian Foster to name his first squad of the year on Sunday night.
Halfback is one of the most congested positions up for grabs, with plenty of options available. Aaron Smith is the obvious choice for Foster's top No.9, but with two other spots to fill, competition is rife.
As the co-captain of the competition-leading side, Weber has done himself no harm in putting his hand up to be picked this time around, but after dealing with the positives and negatives of the selection rollercoaster in past seasons, he is keeping a level head over what's to come.
"When I start worrying about selection and what [coaches] are thinking, it clouds my mental state," he said. "I push that fully to the side, I've done so for a few years and it's treated me really well.
"Same again. I just want to get us into a final, win this game this weekend.
"If the selectors like what they see, that's great. If they don't, so be it.
"My full energy is in with the Chiefs."
The Brumbies clash gives Weber a slight advantage over his selection rivals. Blues rival Finlay Christie plays on Friday night against the Crusaders, potentially swinging recency bias in Weber's favour.
Meanwhile, potential bolter Cam Roigard of the Hurricanes won't feature at all this weekend, after defeat last week, while Folau Fakatava of the Highlanders missed the playoffs altogether.
Weber isn't considering the semi-final as a last chance to show his wares.
"I don't think this game needs me to prove I can play at international level - I know I can.
"I've done it before. That's great for my mental space.
"I don't have to come out here and do something outrageous, I'll just do my job."
This season is Weber's final chance for a first Super Rugby title with the Chiefs, before he departs for French outfit Stade Francais at the end of the year.
Sixth minute - McKenzie eventually kicks and Chiefs have the better of the kicking duel.
