Six-try Chiefs shatter Western Force's Super Rugby Pacific finals dream in Perth

Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan got the all-important momentum he was seeking as the under-strength Super Rugby Pacific leaders shattered the Western Force’s playoff hopes.

The Chiefs rested plenty of stars on Saturday in 11 changes to the side that beat the Brumbies to secure first place, but they still put the Force to the sword, 43-19.

Their depth and class shone through as they ended the Force's unbeaten home run of six games.

They were well-drilled, had power across the park and bullied the Force, effectively sealing the win with four first-half tries.

They added two more after the break with the Force crossing three times.

The Chiefs ended the round-robin with 13 wins and one loss – to the Reds in New Plymouth – to finish on 59 points, 11 ahead of the second-placed Crusaders.

McMillan said it was "well documented" that competition points did not mean much.

"It was important that we go into next week with momentum," he said.

"The result was very pleasing."

Rugby Australia’s rugby.com.au website hailed the Chiefs’ depth and the influence of backline stars Shaun Stevenson and Lienert-Brown.

“Stevenson has been the most improved player in 2023 and is at short odds to make his All Blacks debut. He’s dangerous whenever he engages the line and it’s remarkable to think how close he was to heading to the NRL with the Dolphins,’’ the report read.

“Meanwhile, Lienert-Brown is all class and delivered a true captain’s knock to deliver a commanding win.”

The Force's fate was in their own hands after earlier results opened the door to a playoff berth but coach Simon Cron was not helped with having to make two late changes.

He brought in Brazilian prop Wilton Rebolo – who has been playing club rugby in Perth – for his Super debut, replacing Argentine international Santiago Medrano, while winger Toni Pulu came off the bench to replace Zack Kibirige.

The Force needed a fast start but their kicking game gave the Chiefs too many counter-attack options.

The Chiefs carried powerfully across the park and continually bent the Force line as the home side missed too many tackles.

The Force struggled to break the Chiefs defensive superiority and they dominated the opening salvos.

Cron said they "gave away" tries in the first half and after the break let the Chiefs dominate first contact and get quickly over the gain line.

"Just a little bit of either indecision or cohesion at key moments," Cron said.

"We need to be able to handle that.

"Couple of our key rucks guys got cleaned out too easily.

"Contact dominance was the major issue.

"We didn't do the job."

Cron said 14 players in the game-day squad were new this season.

"It bodes well for us in terms of learning from those experiences, understanding what it's like to be in big moments in big games," he said.

"They will be better for the games. We just need to grow, add some depth."

Chiefs lock Laghlan McWhannell opened the scoring inside eight minutes, converted by Rameka Poihipi, before full-back Stevenson sliced open the defence and Poihipi sent a pinpoint kick to the corner for Lienert-Brown to add the second.

Soon after Liam Coombes-Fabling picked off a Hamish Stewart pass to race home from 60m.

The Force finally had a lengthy spell on the Chiefs line and Carlo Tizzano squirmed over. Max Burey added the extras.

Their joy was short-lived when Samipeni Finau strolled through poor defence for the Chiefs' fourth try, converted, and they finished the first-half with a Poihipi penalty.

After the break scrum-half Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi quickly added more pain with the Chiefs fifth.

Reserve flanker Tim Anstee won the race to a chip to score to give the Force some hope but the Chiefs were relentless and Pita Gus Sowakula went over from the back of a scrum.

Burey then sealed a fine game with a brilliant piece of individual skill, kicking ahead and somehow keeping the ball infield before winning the chase.