2014 Super Rugby: Brumbies vs Chiefs (Round 11)

[TRF Mr Fish]

At 36-23 the Chiefs would've been ahead if the TMO wasn't incompetent

 

[Darwin]

Every so often the Chiefs just get a complete case of the dropsies. Tonight is one of nights.

Chance for a bonus point now?

Not unless you give the Brumbies another bonus point for scoring 5 tries

At 36-23 the Chiefs would've been ahead if the TMO wasn't incompetent

True, but it wouldn't have been a fair reflection of the match. A quick look at the stats suggest the Brumbies made 4 times many linebreaks (8-2), had a higher tackle %, and conceded only about half as many turnovers (10-17). The poor (/shocking) TMO calls were frustrating, but the Chiefs didn't deserve to win that game (or even get close IMO).

 

[Icemn]

why do they start playing in the 77th minute every game? talk about saving the best for last...

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Not unless you give the Brumbies another bonus point for scoring 5 tries

Hey, it wasn't until the 81st minute that the Brumbies scored a legitimate try...

 

[Gena_ZA]

Brumbies outplayed them on all levels today - make the race for top 2 places closer

 

[Jaguares]

Definitely this isn't the year of the Kiwis teams

 

[nzlizard]

True, but it wouldn't have been a fair reflection of the match. A quick look at the stats suggest the Brumbies made 4 times many linebreaks (8-2), had a higher tackle %, and conceded only about half as many turnovers (10-17). The poor (/shocking) TMO calls were frustrating, but the Chiefs didn't deserve to win that game (or even get close IMO).

While we may not have won the stats in the game that doesn't matter, even the aussie commentators said all the 50/50 calls went the Brumbies way and again tries awarded against the Chiefs that would have changed the outcome of the game.

I count 2, maybe 3 games that the Chiefs should have won but poor referring/TMO and I mean really poor referring/TMO has cost them.

The game against the Cheetahs the SA commentators said that they were amazed some of the Cheetahs tries were awarded and we need better review systems.

 

[Darwin]

While we may not have won the stats in the game that doesn't matter, even the aussie commentators said all the 50/50 calls went the Brumbies way and again tries awarded against the Chiefs that would have changed the outcome of the game.

I count 2, maybe 3 games that the Chiefs should have won but poor referring/TMO and I mean really poor referring/TMO has cost them.

The game against the Cheetahs the SA commentators said that they were amazed some of the Cheetahs tries were awarded and we need better review systems.

While there were some 50/50 calls against the Chiefs the fact of the matter is they didn't deserve to win this game. The were comprehensively outplayed. They didn't even look like scoring a try until late in the match when the Brumbies were up by almost 30! So while I can certainly agree having an incompetent fool of a TMO is incredibly frustrating it wasn't the reason the Chiefs lost.

A few other thoughts on the game:

- I can't recall a single breakdown where the Chiefs forwards didn't dive off their feet over the ball. Sometime soon a ref is going to hammer them for this.
- I thought Manu was the pick of the Chiefs forwards. He did some excellent work on defense, and was probably the best ball runner apart from Messam.
- Schwalger improved the lineout but was anonymous around the field.
- Filipo was anonymous (baring one lineout steal). I thought Symons made a good impact when he came on though.
- Cane worked hard but wasn't overly effective. Messam stood out with his ball running, but despite his solid form it looks like his time in the black 6 jersey is coming to an end (though no fault of his own).
- Pulu was average. Weber added some spark from the bench.
- Anscombe was pretty average too. When he hits the line at pace he can be quite a threat, but far too often he just stands deep an shovels it on. The Chiefs looked more dangerous when Nanai-Williams took the ball at first recevier.
- Horrell was rubbish. He clearly isn't a 13, and his handling really let him down. I've been advocating for him at 10, but based on this match he should be sitting in the stands watching.
- Nanai-Williams and Marshall tried hard but couldn't break the line.
- There weren't many standouts in the Brumbies pack but they all did their job. Butler, Moore, Fardy, and Carter all impressed with their work-rates.
- The commentators love Nick White, but apart from a strong kicking game he is an average 9.
- Toomua was good, and Leali'ifano played well at 12 too (goal-kicking aside)
- Kuridrani had his best match in some time at 13, and I thought Tomane was excellent on the wing. For me he should be starting on the right wing for the Wallabies. Mogg was remarkably quiet at fullback. He is a confidence player, and once he dropped that first kick you could almost sense he wasn't going to have a great night.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Yep, refereeing was terrible and I felt could've had a big impact on the outcome of the match, but at the end of the day the Chiefs still played terribly.

I don't know how many times players just dropped the ball cold - sometimes in the tackle but more often than not there was no pressure at the time.

I don't know what it is about the Australian teams but the Chiefs always struggle against them. In the last three years the Chiefs have picked up 22 points in 6 matches in South Africa (3.66 points per game!), whereas I think they might have won one or two of their matches in Oz.

Hopefully Ngatai is back for the next game. If it were me, I'd be playing a lineup of:
Manu, Marshall, Tameifuna, Fitzgerald, Retallick, Symons, Messam, Latimer, Squire, Kerr-Barlow, Anscombe/Nanai-Williams, Tikoirotuma, Horrell, Ngatai, Nanai-Williams/Marshall/Lowe, Marshall/Anscombe.

I don't think Horrell is great as a first receiver, I think he's better as a secondary playmaker (a second five-eighth, if you will ).

 

[nzlizard]

While there were some 50/50 calls against the Chiefs the fact of the matter is they didn't deserve to win this game. The were comprehensively outplayed. They didn't even look like scoring a try until late in the match when the Brumbies were up by almost 30! So while I can certainly agree having an incompetent fool of a TMO is incredibly frustrating it wasn't the reason the Chiefs lost.

The aussie commentators reckoned every 50/50 call went against the Chiefs, while they may have been outplayed the Chiefs are still known to be able to win games in this manner, I stick by my comments where bad referring and TMO calls have cost the Chiefs 2-3 wins this season.

Remembering the Brumbies were up by 30 on the back of bad calls allowing tries.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I think it will be very very difficult to win another ***le this year. The team is playing very wobbly and the results are mixed.

 

[Darwin]

The aussie commentators reckoned every 50/50 call went against the Chiefs, while they may have been outplayed the Chiefs are still known to be able to win games in this manner, I stick by my comments where bad referring and TMO calls have cost the Chiefs 2-3 wins this season.

Remembering the Brumbies were up by 30 on the back of bad calls allowing tries.

Yep, the Chiefs have won some games this season when they have been outplayed. That doesn't mean they deserved to win this match (or the previous matches)! If you keep getting outplayed you are going to lose the odd match. The Chiefs were hopeless this match. The couldn't break through the Brumbies defense, the couldn't hold onto the ball, and the Brumbies sliced through them at will at times.....

 

[austingtir]

I think it will be very very difficult to win another ***le this year. The team is playing very wobbly and the results are mixed.

Agreed, for me the Brumbies are going to skip into the finals... if the Chiefs make the finals it will likely be a semi against them. I give them no chance whatsoever of beating this Brumbies side this year at home after this performance.

I honestly think NZ would be better off with the Landers and Saders making the finals if possible and I dont rate either of them beating the Brumbies at home either.

 

[Chikwa]

Brumbies deserved to win . Ref however didn't have his best game. I felt he gave the brumbies a lot of leeway at the breakdown .The chiefs are definitely missing Aron cruden.

 

[nzlizard]

Yep, the Chiefs have won some games this season when they have been outplayed. That doesn't mean they deserved to win this match (or the previous matches)! If you keep getting outplayed you are going to lose the odd match. The Chiefs were hopeless this match. The couldn't break through the Brumbies defense, the couldn't hold onto the ball, and the Brumbies sliced through them at will at times.....

I agree completely and have no problem with it when without help from the officials, but if the Chiefs play **** and still win then it obviously says something.

While they were crap against the Brumbies the score may have only been 29-23 to the Brumbies or even 23-22 to the Chiefs based on a couple of the tries that were awarded to the Brumbies. If the Chiefs can play that bad but still be close and if the ref / TMO was competent then they deserve it.

While I am never going to dispute the Chiefs are playing badly and putting in some bad to shocking performances based on their standards what I am saying is that if we had better referees we may have won a couple of those games that we didn't, regardless of how bad we play or deserve we win it.

Just because we play like **** doesn't mean that an incompetent referee should dictate if we win or lose.