Super Rugby Final: Chiefs v Brumbies (03/08/13)

[T-Rex]

Victoria Street was crazy post-match. Quick question, why was Anscombe not kicking?

 

[Larksea]

Cruden was great on defence again, for a small guy he sure does his fair share of defending.

he's been kinda weak in the front line defending but has proven time and time again that he's fantastic when it comes to scrambling and cover defense, two try savers in two weeks.

 

[Larksea]

As far as Renee goes after back to back titles he's basically in a situation now where all he needs to do is decide how much he wants to get paid and jump on a flight up north

the big money will surely be too much to resist. you would hope the NZRU have talks with him because surely Hansen will step down after the next World cup win or lose and Renee will without a doubt be the best man to take over.

Renee can't take all the credit though, The other coaches, smith in Particular have obviously made a massive impact.

I think the current chiefs are the textbook definition of "create a winning team environment and you will get a winning team"

 

[big ginger 8]

Well - Peter Borlase managed 2 Super Rugby apparences in five years, Michael Bent managed 11 - but was never considered near being a starter for the Canes. So I guess being decent was more the hype involved with accumulating New Zealand props from the Irish media, rather than NZ's perspective. Toby Smith has suffered from being in a franchise with lots of options in the front row - but many think he could play for the AB's. People would rate him higher than Nathan White, who by all accounts was a good buy from Ireland.

Neither were hyped by the media, most casual non Munster fans had no idea who Borlase was. Pychic Duck just has a strange obsession with the Irish propping situation.

White's been solid not near the level of Afoa or anything but would bench at other provinces but one of Connacht's better players may get a few caps in the in a years times if he doesn't decline and some guys don't progress as hoped.

 

[munstermuffin]

Neither were hyped by the media, most casual non Munster fans had no idea who Borlase was. Pychic Duck just has a strange obsession with the Irish propping situation.

White's been solid not near the level of Afoa or anything but would bench at other provinces but one of Connacht's better players may get a few caps in the in a years times if he doesn't decline and some guys don't progress as hoped.

In fairness I am knowledgable and in Munster we knew Borlaise would never be top notch just prayed he'd be able to fill a gap but he couldn't. Botha has done that and while Archer may or may not reach top he has improved so much from learning with Botha but point is Borlaise was a slight panic buy but was never hyped to be a superstar or saviour

 

[psychic duck]

Neither were hyped by the media, most casual non Munster fans had no idea who Borlase was. Pychic Duck just has a strange obsession with the Irish propping situation.

White's been solid not near the level of Afoa or anything but would bench at other provinces but one of Connacht's better players may get a few caps in the in a years times if he doesn't decline and some guys don't progress as hoped.

If Bent didn't have a certain amount of people talking him up as a decent scrummager to save them from their prop issues then he wouldn't have been fast tracked into the international team.

If not from being talked up as a solution, then what exactly was the selection based on? As it certainly wasn't anything to do with his form with Leinster (he hadn't even played a game) or Hurricanes (where he was a bench player and not rated).

In fairness I am knowledgable and in Munster we knew Borlaise would never be top notch just prayed he'd be able to fill a gap but he couldn't. Botha has done that and while Archer may or may not reach top he has improved so much from learning with Botha but point is Borlaise was a slight panic buy but was never hyped to be a superstar or saviour

You can't say there wasn't a teeny tiny bit of him being talked up as another prop solution. Just need to look at some of the views here by Irish/NZ at the time ...

I know not all Irish fell for the hope around the NZ imports, but some certainly did, including Kidney clearly.

Borlase trained with us last Monday week and the tuesday but has returned to NZ now for their cup and will link up again when his involvement is done there. But can confirm he similar to Buckley in strength and can be a star asset.

Didn't realise Munster had snagged Borlase. Sneaky sneaky there Ireland. He would have been All Black standard in 3 or so years anyway judging by his ANZC form. The Crusaders have All Black props on the bench so Borlase has been working overtime with the Canterbury academy. From what i have seen of him and Irish props (Hayes) he is a pretty awesome signing. He may even have an Irish granny if youre lucky

 

[big ginger 8]

If Bent didn't have a certain amount of people talking him up as a decent scrummager to save them from their prop issues then he wouldn't have been fast tracked into the international team.

If not from being talked up as a solution, then what exactly was the selection based on? As it certainly wasn't anything to do with his form with Leinster (he hadn't even played a game) or Hurricanes (where he was a bench player and not rated).

Bent was played because there was no one else. Our lack of tighthead depth is well known. Fitzpatrick was injured and I'm pretty sure Loughney was as well leaving only Archer. Another prop who lack of ability you've remarked on before. Bent was also match fit having gone through the ITM Cup with Taranaki where as far as I'm aware he was starting, meaning he was match fit. His only job was to sit on the bench and not **** up in the 10 minutes he's be on and in fairness he did that having two very good scrums against S.A.. It was after at lower levels where he went to crap. Though I'm still reserving some judgment as he's 27 and all tighthead are crap in their first season with Leinster it's just a thing.

He wasn't hyped as a good scrummager and brought in for Ireland. He was brought in as a back up for Ross as at the time Hagan was very poor and all our other tightheads were under 21 at the time. The only person who was really hyping him was Greg Feek, Leinster and Ireland scrum coach who used to play for...Taranaki.

 

[Jaguares]

Congratulations Chiefs! Deserved victory.

Despite the win, bad game of Kerr-Barlow and Aaron Cruden. Very vague both, Kerr-Barlow gave the first Brumbies' try

 

[Jaguares]

Repeated message, sorry

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Congratulations Chiefs deserved back to back champs

 

[Larksea]

yeah well the brumbies hammered TKB

I think they got away with a bit in that area in terms of off side but also has to be said that most of the pressure on him was legal and just very smart play. rather than committing to the breakdown they would have someone go hard at the ball and then have players push the line and go hard at the halfback.

One of those situations where maybe a unique game plan was use for a unique game only once has a super final been won by the away team. I think they would have had to feel like they needed something up their sleeve and also a bit of help from the ref to make it a game and they got it and made it a very close contest.

The chiefs gameplan which really only just fell into place the week before against the crusaders was just too good though. Though I still think Afeaki starting and Big Ben coming on for the last 30min has worked better for them in the past. All of the changes were almost exactly the same as the week before and it went like clockwork.

The impact of Afeaki, Cane, Pulu, Aki and Robinson off the bench was the difference. And even Marshall and Fitzgerald in particular made some important play Tackles and Carries in the final minutes when they were very busy and accurate.

Only thing that really does not make sense to be was having Anscombe on the park and not using him for kicking. 8 points there that would have been easy meat for anscombe. I dont have the kicking stats on hand but I'm fairly sure Anscombes Kicking stats totally overshadow Crudens. And he's got something like ~180 points at over 80% to Crudens ~110 points at probably under 70%

 

[admartian]

yeah well the brumbies hammered TKB

I think they got away with a bit in that area in terms of off side but also has to be said that most of the pressure on him was legal and just very smart play. rather than committing to the breakdown they would have someone go hard at the ball and then have players push the line and go hard at the halfback.

One of those situations where maybe a unique game plan was use for a unique game only once has a super final been won by the away team. I think they would have had to feel like they needed something up their sleeve and also a bit of help from the ref to make it a game and they got it and made it a very close contest.

The chiefs gameplan which really only just fell into place the week before against the crusaders was just too good though. Though I still think Afeaki starting and Big Ben coming on for the last 30min has worked better for them in the past. All of the changes were almost exactly the same as the week before and it went like clockwork.

The impact of Afeaki, Cane, Pulu, Aki and Robinson off the bench was the difference. And even Marshall and Fitzgerald in particular made some important play Tackles and Carries in the final minutes when they were very busy and accurate.

Only thing that really does not make sense to be was having Anscombe on the park and not using him for kicking. 8 points there that would have been easy meat for anscombe. I dont have the kicking stats on hand but I'm fairly sure Anscombes Kicking stats totally overshadow Crudens. And he's got something like ~180 points at over 80% to Crudens ~110 points at probably under 70%

Pretty much this.

Would've made it a bit less heart-wrenching for fans, and not to mention how it would've turned out had the Chiefs been more comfortable and rolling when they gain steam.

 

[tenpm]

I thought they should have used Anscombe too, but perhaps whomever was behind the decision thought that he wasn't up for it. And it's possible that he really wasn't, given that he hadn't kicked since his injury.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Congrats to the Chiefs and the Chiefs fans, well deserved victory after a great campaign.
Things looking rosy for 2014 too.

 

[Larksea]

pretty sure I've seen anscombe practice kicking before games, crudens kicking looked like dog dodo, lucky most were easy ones.

 

[Jaguares]

Which players leave Chiefs?

 

[tenpm]

Clarke, Masaga and Kahui - at least, that's all I can come up with off the top of my head.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Toby Smith, Brendon Leonard and Romana Graham are all leaving too (Graham has only just confirmed, and was a bit part/terrible player anyway).

We really need to find a couple of locks for next season, one old and one young. Tom Donnelly might be interested, and maybe an U20 lock from the past season or two.

I'm hoping we pick up Adam Cathcart too, who was very good for the Steelers last season before he was hit by injury.

 

[smartcooky]

Toby Smith, Brendon Leonard and Romana Graham are all leaving too (Graham has only just confirmed, and was a bit part/terrible player anyway).

We really need to find a couple of locks for next season, one old and one young. Tom Donnelly might be interested, and maybe an U20 lock from the past season or two.

I'm hoping we pick up Adam Cathcart too, who was very good for the Steelers last season before he was hit by injury.

You should try to get this guy

Riki Hoeata (Brother of Jarrad)

Currently playing for Tasman.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

You should try to get this guy

Riki Hoeata (Brother of Jarrad)

Currently playing for Tasman.

Not if he's anything like his brother