Muliaina back, but Chiefs handed reality check

Craig Tiriana | 8th March 2010

SUPER 14

It's back to reality for the 2010 Chiefs. Their unbeaten run in this year's Super 14 came to an abrupt end last night with the unfancied Queensland Reds toppling them 23-18 at Waikato Stadium.

It was an unhappy way for Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina to return, his side giving up a 15-point lead to pick up just a solitary bonus point.

"You can't start better than that, but credit to the Reds, they attacked around the fringes and our tackling was shocking," Muliaina said.

A forward orientated effort led by outstanding Reds flanker Daniel Braid saw the visitors end their own four-game losing streak to the Chiefs. The home side ran out of steam while the Reds finished stronger.

"They had a lot of the ball in the second half and Braidy did a good job stealing our ball," Muliaina said. The Chiefs now have a lot to do before they host the Crusaders next Friday.

The confidence from consecutive wins on the road in South Africa and Australia was evident as the Chiefs ran rampant at the start of their first home game.

With All Blacks wings Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga scoring a try each inside the opening 10 minutes, the Reds appeared to be in for a tough night. It got tougher when prop Sona Taumalolo dived over for a third try but, with Stephen Donald struggling with his kicking, the Chiefs didn't add the required extras.

The injury-plagued Reds scratched there way back into the game with a try to league convert Will Chambers, and Quade Cooper kicked two penalties and a conversion to head into half-time 18-13 down. The Reds relished the close-quarter grind, with their captain and halfback Will Genia marshalling a strong effort around the fringes, which ground the tiring Chiefs down. Their defence kept them ahead once winger Luke Morohan chased a Braid punt for a long-range try which Cooper converted.

Coach Ian Foster went to the bench in the search of fresh Chiefs legs, but a wall of Red's defence repelled every drive.

It had taken the Chiefs less than three minutes to impose themselves in their first appearance at home. A dab from Brendon Leonard from a line-out, a pick and go from Cullum Retalick, handed Sivivatu the opening try. Masaga scored in the opposite corner, while Taumololo deserved his try putting in a strong 80-minute effort, as did Tanerau Latimer.