[2017 Super Rugby] Round 14: Blues vs. Chiefs (26/05/2017)

[The Jones Boy]

Fekitoa has experience now, it seems to have lifted his game.

 

[Captain_Az]

Feketoa the far better player in my opinion has a few errors on occasion but always makes up for them. Moala goes missing in a lot of games in my opinion.

Feketoa is a real proven game winner and still young as well.

I think the Blues are going to get smashed in this one I forgot they are fresh off coming back from Africa.

 

[Penne Rara]

Chiefs far from being clinical today to say the least

 

[Ground We Won]

Same old Blues, lack of application and concentration lets them down. Losing the kick off ball twice. The first time they were lucky it didn't result in a try and the 2nd time not so lucky with 1 minute to go until HT, that's really poor and frustrating for their fans. But they're still doing well. The two Ioanes are really impressive, I enjoy watching them. It's safe to say Reiko is much better out on the wing.

Damo McKenzie is amazing though, definitely deserves a spot on the AB's bench in the Lions tour. Whenever he has the ball in hand special things happen.

Sam Canes having a night to forget, he's been a bit unlucky with a few calls going against him though. Needs to do a bit more 'Richie McCawing' and discover the refs boundaries.

 

[Penne Rara]

Agreed. Dmac has been playing well. His hands let him down at some moments but his vision and sidestep are superb. Blooding him against the Lions is a risky option. Sure, he can run circles around their forwards late in the match, but he's still a frail small man, and I fear he'll be smashed if the Lions still have a bit of juice in the engine. NH teams have displayed a lot of stamina lately, and England in particular has lots of options from the bench. Mckenzie part of the ABs or not? That's a tough call to make.

PS: what a thrilling ending!

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Very fair result IMO. Tough match, both teams were OK, not much separated them.
DMac reaffirmed the fact that he is the form player of the comp to date. What a great player. If Bender goes down, I'm actually very comfortable with the idea of DMac filling in. He just continues to impress and prove himself.

 

[Ground We Won]

R.Ioane and McKenzie were the two best on the park, both put in MotM performances.

The rain killed the game a little in the 2nd half, hard to hold on to the ball. A draw definitely a fair result.

The Chiefs in the last few seasons have been the master opportunists, scoring tries from turn over ball and punishing teams that are no clinical. You really can't afford to give them a sniff when you play them. To beat them you must nail all your set pieces and cut out the mistakes.

 

[galumay]

Brilliant game! Fitting result for scintillating game of rugby in difficult conditions. Shows how little there is between the best and worst Kiwi sides - and the gulf between them and the rest! Bloos have really improved this year and if it were not for the stupidity of the conference system they would be in the finals too. A very enteretaining Friday night.

Needs to do a bit more 'Richie McCawing' and discover the refs boundaries.

Just needs to pop down to Otago and borrow the cloak of invisibility!

 

[Ground We Won]

He's a tad obvious at times Sam, hasn't mastered the art of subtly, which doesn't seem to be valued at the Chiefs though.

 

[galumay]

To be fair, Rutchie was the absolute master at quickly discovering how the ref was ruling the breakdowns and then working to within a mm of that line. I showed a mental application and discipline that was in a class of its own. I dont think any of the other great 7's are in the same class, there is no shortage of great 7's in the game all round the world but GOAT stands above them all.

Ritchie McCaw, David Pocock and Schalk Burger are standing before God at the throne of Heaven. God looks at them and says, "Before granting you a place at my side, I must first ask you what you believe in." Addressing Pocock first he asks, "What do you believe?" Pocock looks God in the eye and states passionately, "I believe Rugby to be the food of life. Nothing else brings such unbridled joy to so many people. I have devoted my life to bring such joy to everyone." God offers Pocock the seat to his right. He then turns to Schalk Burger, "And you, Schalk, what do you believe?" Schalk stands tall and proud. "I believe courage, honour and passion are the fundamentals to life and I've spent my whole playing career providing a living embodiment of these traits." God, moved by the passion of the speech offers Schalk the seat to his left. Finally, he turns to Richie McCaw. "And you, Ritchie, what do you believe?" "I believe..." says Ritchie "... that you're sitting in my seat."

 

[nzlizard]

2nd week in a row where penalties given away by the Chiefs for stupid things just kill there chance of winning.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Stunning result for Auckland.
Certainly stunned me.
The rain helped them in the second half as it mde handling hard work for the Chiefs who were roaring on the comeback.
Still the Blues cannot beat another kiwi franchise.
This as close as they have been in a while.
Great game by Sonny Bill Williams, he showed his class and strength on the injury comeback trail.
For the Chiefs this was the one that got away.
For the Blues it is frustrating but they know they are improving.
It's all about next season now.
I'm glad they didn't fold up and disgrace themselves.

 

[Ground We Won]

Crudens kicking is a bit depressing. Great player, but he's cost the Chiefs twice in a row now and I'd rather not see him play in the Lions tour since he's leaving at the end of the season. Hopefully Hansen & co take a leap of faith and play some of the younger guys coming through. I'd rather McKenzie on the bench than Cruden.

I'd be slightly agitated if Cruden is on the bench in all 3 tests. The first one I understand, but I think we should really be looking else where this season.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Cruden is tried and tested at the top level.
The Lions are strong, they have a Kiwi coach and they only show up once every 12 years, it's a long time between drinks for bragging rights.
You can't blame the guv'nor if he opts to stick with what he knows in terms of experienced players.

 

[Larksea]

well I told you all it would be close, I couldn't understand people talking about how the Chiefs were going to stomp the blues.

As far as the chiefs goes this result and last weeks result really boil down to Cruden Taking the kicking duties off Mckenzie at the wrong time. McKenzie had come into some nice kicking form recently and now we've lost two games that could/should have been won. Emphasized by the fact that we've scored more trys in each game. Crudens goal kicking was poor and to be blunt it just looks like him putting himself ahead of the team. There was no reason to take the kicking duties off McKenzie who has been kicking sweetly, it really just looks like Cruden attempting to look good going into the lions series but its backfired and hurt the chiefs.

was a very interesting game otherwise. Refereeing seemed pretty good, conditions were tricky.

The scrum was interesting early on, the battle between Faumuina and Hames was pretty epic and you have to say well and truly won by Hames. Not many get the better of Faumuina but after initially getting beaten once by Faumuina Hames came back and pushed all over faumuina and won like 4 in a row which resulted in Charlie getting the hook.

After being the best in the competition for some time the chiefs lineout is now struggling a bit. maybe because its been so strong teams are analyzing them more. maybe Harris just getting up to speed after a long layoff.

Liam Messam had his best game of the season and easily the best of the loosies. For much of the game when a blues Forward runner got the ball they got Liam Messam at the same time and he hit them hard, made a number of dominant tackles.

Mckenzie was excellent again as always, that knock on was actually Sam Cane trying to grab a ball that was meant for him. Some superb kicking up and across field.

Was a shame to see TNW injured again, he has been looking like hes in good form.

Being such a forward oriented game we didn't really see the best from many backs on either side other than McKenzie. SBW was good, Moala was pretty good in the first half and didn't get much ball in the 2nd. Faauli was OK maybe tried too hard at times and he should have gone closer to the posts for the try he got, could have even considered an in pass to guarantee a 7 pointer, maybe harsh that was one amazing try.

Chiefs bench maybe lacked the impact we have been used too, maybe the impact of the blues bench cancelled it out.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Very impressed with Hames. He is definitely putting his hand up to the AB selectors panel.
You were bang on with the pre-game call, however, I feel that the weather late in the second half when the Chiefs were making a comeback, hampered their opportunities and saved the Blues from getting diddly squat.
I'm not proud, I'll take it. ;-)
Messam stood up and showed his class and his experience.
The Blues pinched a fair bit of lineout ball and you wouldnt expect that when the Chiefs have had such a strong lineout.
Whats going on with Cruden?
He doesn't seem himself.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Whats going on with Cruden?
He doesn't seem himself.

Why do you say that? He was excellent in Suva... just his goal-kicking that's letting him down atm, but that's never been his strong suit...

 

[The Jones Boy]

His goal kicking was pretty good against Ireland a few years ago when we nicked a victory from his conversion on the sideline that was lucky even to be a draw.

 

[Radsy]

Cruden has always been very erratic off the tee. However, he used to be money in the clutch. Ever since he did his ACL, he hasn't had any range.