By Stephen Foote
The Chiefs have stunned the Brumbies in their highly anticipated top of the table showdown, galloping to a 48-23 bonus point win in Canberra.
The Chiefs signalled their intentions from the outset, stand-out midfielder Charlie Ngatai splitting the line and combining with speedster winger Toni Pulu to send the Dilworth School product into the corner for the opening try.
The visitors were in again 10 minutes later with some more trademark magic, James Lowe and Aaron Cruden engineering a one-two movement down the left flank to move to a 12-6 lead after 30 minutes.
Scott Sio pinched one from close range for the Brumbies before Tom Sanders finished off a sweeping 80 metre movement from the Chiefs backline right on the stroke of halftime to send his side into the interval with a 20-13 advantage.
McKenzie knocked over two penalties in the early stages of the second stanza with the Brumbies responding through Scott Fardy, the flanker reaching out to score from a goal-line ruck.
The Chiefs then closed the gate and bolted it firmly shut.
James Lowe notched his brace after latching on to a Cruden chip-kick, then Brad Weber finished yet another length of the field gem from the ensuing restart to put the game out of reach.
Damian McKenzie capped another superb personal performance with a try of his own at the hooter to run salt into Brumbies wounds.
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