McKenzie kicks Chiefs into third straight Super Rugby Pacific final

Damian McKenzie kicked 22 points as the Waikato Chiefs played near perfect playoff rugby to reach a third straight Super Rugby Pacific final with a convincing 37-17 win over the ACT Brumbies in Hamilton on Saturday.

Emoni Narawa scored tries either side of halftime and Josh Jacomb also crossed but it was McKenzies all-round game and almost perfect night from the kicking tee to punish Brumbies ill-discipline that proved the difference.

The Chiefs, runners-up for the last two years, will travel to Christchurch next week to play for the title against the Canterbury Crusaders, who edged the reigning champion Auckland Blues 21-14 in Fridays first semi.

Outstanding performance from the lads, said All Blacks flyhalf McKenzie, who kicked six penalties and two conversions.

The Brumbies come out of the box fast, like we knew they would, and I just love the way we were really composed to stick to our game.

We put the ball in front of our forwards, and obviously our set piece was great tonight. So when we got into the 22 we managed to come away with points most of the time.

The Brumbies had the better of possession and territory and also scored three tries but lost Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio to concussion in the 10th minute and spurned a few opportunities to kick for points when the game was still in the balance.

We had to play close to a perfect game to come out here and get the result, said skipper Allan Alaalatoa.

And we probably saw there in the second half that accuracy let us down. And off the back of that probably our discipline as well.

The visitors, hoping to become the first Australian team to win a Super Rugby playoff in New Zealand, scored the opening try through hooker Billy