This was the type of game that had it all as the Chiefs showed their class to close it out 51-27.
Down 22-3, it felt like a blowout was coming as the hosts cruised through the Waratahs' defence.
Whilst the scoreline indicates it, it was far from one-sided as Darren Coleman’s men showed the fight that is now ingrained in their DNA to make it a contest.
So what did we learn from the opening game of Super Round?
1.Rocky
For the first and last 20 minutes, the best way to describe the Waratahs was rocky as they were blown away by the Chiefs. The rest of the game? More fitting of Balboa as they showed incredible fight to stay into the contest.
Down 22-3 and a pair of expected Wallabies, the visitors somehow found a way to fight back into the match and gave themselves a chance to win this game.
This can be largely attributed to the forwards and Jake Gordon (who will touch on later), sparking belief in the AAMI Park crowd as Charlie Gamble and Jed Holloway starred.
The wear and tear of the fightback ultimately took their toll as they look exhausted in the final 15 minutes as the Chiefs closed out this game.
But with their backs to the wall, it was the type of performance you could still find some level of positivity for Waratahs fans despite the blowout.
2. Flash Gordon
Jake Gordon did it all for the Waratahs and was the main reason they were in with a shot of victory with 30 minutes to go.
From intercept king to even line out thrower at times, Gordon tried to will his team over the line and when that didn’t work, he found another gear.
There’s a five minute stretch after the break when the skipper single-handedly changed the game, snatching a now trademark intercept before banana kicking under pressure to earn the 50-22.
Gordon's Trans-Tasman form was integral to the 28-year-old being named the starter for the first Test against France and if he delivers more performances like this, he will find a way into the 23 for England.
3. Worse enemy
Already heading into the game as the underdogs, the Waratahs gave themselves little chance early on.
Looking to hold out the opening attack from the Chiefs, a clear lifting tackle from Angus Bell saw All Blacks captain Sam Cane land on his head, leaving the referee little option but to red card the Wallaby.
Whilst they initially held strong, the yellow carding of veteran centre Jamie Roberts exposed the Waratahs to the red-hot Chiefs, more than happy to pick them apart.
This left the backline badly exposed as the hosts waltz in two tries in identical fashion.
The score when Roberts and Gamble, returning in Bell’s place, came back on the field? 22-3. Game, set, match.
4. Rinse and repeat
Whilst Mark Nawaqanitawase has been a major revelation in attack, there’s still plenty of work to do in defence for the young wing as the Chiefs targeted his side in the first half.
Nawaqanitawase sparked their attack last week against the Force with a great intercept, but ultimately, it was the type of play that if it hadn’t come, they probably score.
The Chiefs recognised this and caught him out of position several times, opening up the simple draw and pass as Jonah Lowe and Quinn Tupaea feasted.
This was amplified with Roberts and Bell on the sidelines but to allow three tries in pretty similar fashion will not please Darren Coleman and the coaching staff.
5. Front row issues
What could make the red-carding of your most important scrummager even worse? Losing your breakout hooker of course as Dave Porecki followed Angus Bell off for a HIA he would not pass.
This left Tom Horton and Tetera Faulkner the unenvious jobs of having to face a near-full All Blacks front row for 80 minutes, with Harry Johnson-Holmes showing his full value as he moved back to his preferred loosehead.
Horton was then forced the field after the second half with his own HIA, leaving the scrums to go uncontested for the rest of the game and Jake Gordon and Johnson-Holmes throwing underarm into the line.
Bell will likely miss three games but Porecki and Horton will push to be right for the Crusaders game, with the Waratahs hopeful the hooker will be right to play with the eight-day turnaround.
