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2014 Super Rugby: Chiefs v Highlanders (Round 3)
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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 626879" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>Agree with most of that. I wouldn't call the Chiefs 'lucky' to escape though. They scored three good tries (I didn't see anything questionable about the 3rd try), and threatened to score several more, while the Highlanders scored a single try, but did kick all their goals. Overall I think the score was a fair reflection of the game - I would have preferred if we had won, but I think the Chiefs were more clinical when it counted. </p><p></p><p>For the Chiefs:</p><p>I thought the front row was pretty quiet - I feel they need to get Ben Afeaki back as soon as possible as he adds some much around the field. I thought Symons looked excellent on his starting debut. He is a very similar player to both Fitzgerald and Retallick, he does the basics right, makes plenty of tackles and hit lots of breakdowns. He will certainly put pressure on Fitzgerald to partner Retallick through (when Retallick returns), as he seems to offer more with ball in hand than Fitzgerald. I agree with Mr Fish that Latimer looked bigger than usual, and his ball running was a feature, while Messam had an excellent game at number 8. Crosswell was solid at 6, but I agree that 6. Messam, 7. Latimer, 8. Squire would be the Chiefs best option for their next match.</p><p></p><p>Kerr-Barlow had an excellent game. He ran a lot more than usual (perhaps slightly too often), but did cause the Highlanders some issues at the base of the breakdown. Cruden was quieter than usual but kicked the goal that counted. Ngatai was good - his defense is rock solid, he runs hard and straight, and he has a massive punt too which can be a real asset. Fruean was very quiet - I didn't even realize he was on the field. Tikoirotimu ran round like a mad man again - you can see why the Chiefs coaches love him as he does everything at full speed. Nanai-Williams was probably the Chiefs most dangerous back, I was worried whenever he got the ball in his hand. Muliaina was pretty quiet again, but very solid at the back.</p><p></p><p>For the Highlanders:</p><p>I was very happy again with Kane Hames at LH. He was solid enough at scrum time, but his work around the field (particularly on defense) was a real feature. King as usual also had a big work-rate on defense. Coltman had an excellent game at hooker. His lineout throwing was better than last week, but he still overthrew a couple. Hoeata had another good game, but I thought Wheeler was probably our best player. I was a bit uncertain about him starting, but he has by far his best match in a Highlanders jersey. He was running hard at gaps, and he has fantastic ball handling skills for a lock, and his work at the breakdown was impressive too. Evans was a bit quieter than last week, but did get a crucial steal when we were hard on defense at the end of the 1st half. Manu was a bit quiet, and I'm not quite sure what to make of Hardie's performance. He seemed to have received a lot of plaudits for his performance, but he did spend a lot of time standing out on the wing, and didn't really make a lot of tackles. I'm still undecided on whether I want him or Christie starting.</p><p></p><p>Aaron Smith certainly didn't play as well as last week, but his passing was a crisp as ever. I was very happy with Sopoaga. He was running a lot more this week (and breaking tackles), and importantly he kicked 5/5. I still worry that we have to hide him at fullback on defense. Treeby was solid, but I wasn't overly happy with Stanley. He runs straight and hard and is reliable on defense, but his ball handling is not that good. His passing is pretty lethargic (that is if he ever passes the ball), and he made a couple of poor kicks too. I think we need a much more creative option in the 13 jersey (if paired with Treeby at 12) - personally I think we need Fekitoa back in 13, but if not we should play Emery there. Fekitoa did look dangerous on the wing - he looks like he will be an fantastic acquisition for us. Buckman was solid on the other wing, while Ben Smith looked dangerous at fullback, but again I felt he tried to do much himself again and made a couple of uncharacteristic errors.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 626879, member: 24910"] Agree with most of that. I wouldn't call the Chiefs 'lucky' to escape though. They scored three good tries (I didn't see anything questionable about the 3rd try), and threatened to score several more, while the Highlanders scored a single try, but did kick all their goals. Overall I think the score was a fair reflection of the game - I would have preferred if we had won, but I think the Chiefs were more clinical when it counted. For the Chiefs: I thought the front row was pretty quiet - I feel they need to get Ben Afeaki back as soon as possible as he adds some much around the field. I thought Symons looked excellent on his starting debut. He is a very similar player to both Fitzgerald and Retallick, he does the basics right, makes plenty of tackles and hit lots of breakdowns. He will certainly put pressure on Fitzgerald to partner Retallick through (when Retallick returns), as he seems to offer more with ball in hand than Fitzgerald. I agree with Mr Fish that Latimer looked bigger than usual, and his ball running was a feature, while Messam had an excellent game at number 8. Crosswell was solid at 6, but I agree that 6. Messam, 7. Latimer, 8. Squire would be the Chiefs best option for their next match. Kerr-Barlow had an excellent game. He ran a lot more than usual (perhaps slightly too often), but did cause the Highlanders some issues at the base of the breakdown. Cruden was quieter than usual but kicked the goal that counted. Ngatai was good - his defense is rock solid, he runs hard and straight, and he has a massive punt too which can be a real asset. Fruean was very quiet - I didn't even realize he was on the field. Tikoirotimu ran round like a mad man again - you can see why the Chiefs coaches love him as he does everything at full speed. Nanai-Williams was probably the Chiefs most dangerous back, I was worried whenever he got the ball in his hand. Muliaina was pretty quiet again, but very solid at the back. For the Highlanders: I was very happy again with Kane Hames at LH. He was solid enough at scrum time, but his work around the field (particularly on defense) was a real feature. King as usual also had a big work-rate on defense. Coltman had an excellent game at hooker. His lineout throwing was better than last week, but he still overthrew a couple. Hoeata had another good game, but I thought Wheeler was probably our best player. I was a bit uncertain about him starting, but he has by far his best match in a Highlanders jersey. He was running hard at gaps, and he has fantastic ball handling skills for a lock, and his work at the breakdown was impressive too. Evans was a bit quieter than last week, but did get a crucial steal when we were hard on defense at the end of the 1st half. Manu was a bit quiet, and I'm not quite sure what to make of Hardie's performance. He seemed to have received a lot of plaudits for his performance, but he did spend a lot of time standing out on the wing, and didn't really make a lot of tackles. I'm still undecided on whether I want him or Christie starting. Aaron Smith certainly didn't play as well as last week, but his passing was a crisp as ever. I was very happy with Sopoaga. He was running a lot more this week (and breaking tackles), and importantly he kicked 5/5. I still worry that we have to hide him at fullback on defense. Treeby was solid, but I wasn't overly happy with Stanley. He runs straight and hard and is reliable on defense, but his ball handling is not that good. His passing is pretty lethargic (that is if he ever passes the ball), and he made a couple of poor kicks too. I think we need a much more creative option in the 13 jersey (if paired with Treeby at 12) - personally I think we need Fekitoa back in 13, but if not we should play Emery there. Fekitoa did look dangerous on the wing - he looks like he will be an fantastic acquisition for us. Buckman was solid on the other wing, while Ben Smith looked dangerous at fullback, but again I felt he tried to do much himself again and made a couple of uncharacteristic errors. [/QUOTE]
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2014 Super Rugby: Chiefs v Highlanders (Round 3)
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