BRISBANE: The Waikato Chiefs devoted their herculean defence to the memory of Jerry Collins as they shut out the Queensland Reds to clinch a Super Rugby play-off berth in Brisbane on Saturday.
The two-time winners outclassed the Reds 24-3, scoring three tries to nil and ensuring they will be playing in the top-six finals with one regular round to play.
It was an emotional victory for the Chiefs with skipper Liam Messam dedicating the win to former All Black Collins, 34, who was killed in a car crash with his partner Alana Madill on Friday in southern France.
The Chiefs were magnificent in defence, preventing the Reds from scoring a try in the final home game for Wallabies James Horwill and Will Genia before they take up playing offers overseas.
"We talked a lot about Jerry Collins as an All Black and what he brought to the field in his toughness and he was measured on his defence," Messam said.
"We tried to honour him in the way we tackled tonight."
The Chiefs bounced back from losing three of their previous four games to reassert themselves ahead of the play-offs and they finish off the regular season against the tearaway championship leaders Wellington Hurricanes next week.
It was a deflating final home match for Queensland veterans, former Wallaby captain Horwill and scrum-half Genia, who played their part but once again the Reds' shoddy handling let them down.
Star fly-half Quade Cooper, who was well contained by the Chiefs, kicked the opening points but it was to prove the only points the Reds could muster even with a greater share of possession and territory than the Kiwis.
Winger Bryce Heem scored for the Chiefs off a long pass from scrum-half Augustine Pulu and Messam stormed over without being touched minutes later off another Pulu pass to give Waikato a 14-3 lead at half-time.
The Chiefs went on with the job in the second half with a penalty goal from centre Andrew Horrell and a converted try by centre partner Charlie Ngatai 11 minutes from the end.
Waikato looked as if they would finish with a bonus-point fourth try to Ngatai after the full-time siren only for it to be called back by the referee for a slight knock-on well downfield in the leadup play.
It was another wretched result for the Reds, who have only four wins from 15 games this season and the future of coach Richard Graham very much up in the air.
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