[2017 Super Rugby] Round 3: Chiefs vs. Hurricanes (10/03/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato
Time: 08:35 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

A huge match between what appears to be the two best teams this season. Some concerns that the Hurricanes might be going into this undercooked but I think they'll be fine and pull out the win.

 

[Larksea]

I think one of the biggest factors in this match is going to be that the chiefs are coming off two tough and very physical NZ derby games and the hurricanes are coming off two soft games against weak off shore teams to start the season.

I have no idea who that will benefit. Chiefs will have some sore bodies after that blues game, the contact and competition in the forwards was brutal. Canes will be fresh after a couple of training runs but will the step up in intensity catch them out?

dead set game of the round, 3rd week in a row the chiefs have been in the game of the round (last week even GotR with Cru v Hig).

 

[Larksea]

Chiefs: Damian McKenzie, Toni, Pulu, Tim Nanai-Williams, Anton Lienert-Brown, James Lowe, Aaron Cruden (co-c), Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Michael Leitch, Sam Cane (co-c), Mitchell Brown, Brodie Retallick, Dominic Bird, Nepo Laulala, Hika Elliot, Kane Hames. Reserves: Sebastian Siataga, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Atu Moli, Taleni Seu, Lachlan Boshier, Jonathan Taumateine, Stephen Donald, Shaun Stevenson.


Hurricanes: Nehe-Milner Skudder, Vince Aso, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara; Reed Prinsep, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Michael Fatialofa, Mark Abbott, Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, Dane Coles (c). Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves, Ben May, James Blackwell, Callum Gibbins, Chris Smylie, Otere Black, Jordie Barrett.

Cane and beaver back, Messam rested.
I think the chiefs coaches are reading my posts ALB has been moved to 12 as I suggested.
TNW is at 13 hopefully that works out he is actually playing pretty well, question marks over his ability to defend in midfield. Its always been a concern, not that he cant tackle Its just he is a smaller player and it requires physical size to deal with big guys pumping down the middle of the park. he has proved to be an attacking asset in this area so that should work out, I think the chiefs attack in general will function better with ALB at 12.
Expect beaver to come on and play 12 later in the game.
Chiefs pack is in good shape and settled.

 

[Makos]

The Chiefs commit criminal acts at the breakdown and never get penalized. Pretty tired of watching their same cynical routine every season under Dave Renne. CAn a NH club come poach him and see how long his sides tactics would last in a NH league...

Our officials are probably the worst out of the tier 1 nations as well. Who even is our best official?

 

[ajwffc]

The Chiefs commit criminal acts at the breakdown and never get penalized. Pretty tired of watching their same cynical routine every season under Dave Renne. CAn a NH club come poach him and see how long his sides tactics would last in a NH league...

Our officials are probably the worst out of the tier 1 nations as well. Who even is our best official?

he is going to Glasgow at the end of the season

 

[Makos]

he is going to Glasgow at the end of the season

Well that's the best news I've heard in awhile.

 

[nzlizard]

Amazing game by the Chiefs, how god tier is Retallick?

 

[bazwaz]

...Impressive stuff from the Mighty Chiefs ..looking like a NZ clean sweep is on the cards- they've dealt to the Landers, they've dealt to the Blues , they've kicked the Canes butts....only the Crusties to go...

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Shame about the weather. Hurricanes never got going until the 65th minute. Chiefs worthy winners and in an early pole position for home field in the playoffs. Hopefully the injuries to Williams and NMS don't come to much.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Two yellow cards saw the Chiefs gifted a massive advantage and they put it to good use.
The Chiefs seem to be getting away with infringing at the ruck but when it happens to them they pick up freebie points. It's a recipe for success.

 

[smartcooky]

I thought referee Brendan Pickerill was less than stellar in this match.

Time and again, the Chiefs were allowed to get away with things that he was hammering the Hurricanes for. He called offside numerous times on the Hurricanes back line, yet allowed the Chiefs back line to stand a metre offside at times without penalty. Both sides were holding opponents down at the breakdown, preventing them from rolling away, but only the Hurricanes were penalised for not rolling away

However, there were two absolute howlers he committed that were simply indicative of his poor and one-sided performance.

1. Having yellow carded Fatialofa for a shoulder charge (which was fair enough), he then allowed a very late no-arms charge by Chiefs No, 4 on TJ Perenara. It was blatant, it was obvious it happened right in front of him and he ignored it. This is the sort of inconsistency that referees must be taken to task for.

2. Later in the match, there was a kick through by a Chiefs player, a Hurricanes player ran back and fell on the ball. Anton Leinert Brown fell on top of him (a clear penalty under Law 14). Worse yet, ALB grabs the Hurricanes player, who is then penalised for not releasing. This was a clear and obvious penalty to the Hurricanes, that went to the Chiefs instead. Pickerill was just plain just wrong!

Its no wonder Dane Coles was so bloody frustrated. He kept asking Pickerill to "deal with the first things first", but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

 

[nzlizard]

1. Having yellow carded Fatialofa for a shoulder charge (which was fair enough), he then allowed a very late no-arms charge by Chiefs No, 4 on TJ Perenara. It was blatant, it was obvious it happened right in front of him and he ignored it. This is the sort of inconsistency that referees must be taken to task for.

Its no wonder Dane Coles was so bloody frustrated. He kept asking Pickerill to "deal with the first things first", but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Agree completely for the sake of consistency it was a yellow.

Dane Coles biggest problem is he is a ****wit muppet head that shut off avenues to the ref by acting like a 5 year kid having a tanty when he doesn't get what he wants. On quite a few occasions the ref told him to go away and be quiet while he watched something, yet Coles kept on yapping on like the ****wit moron he is his. Cane was told the same so he walked away and waited for the ref.

So Coles only has himself to blame, refs don't want people ignoring there instructions and Coles spent the whole night doing that, then on top of things the ref was asking the captains to stop the ****le and the ****wit moron Coles gets involved and starts threatening players and trying to push them around. No wonder the ref didn't listen to him, I wouldn't have. Architect of his own demise if you ask me.

 

[nzlizard]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11816928

Leitch banned 1 week for head high tackle, seems about right given what I remember of it.

 

[Larksea]

1. Having yellow carded Fatialofa for a shoulder charge (which was fair enough), he then allowed a very late no-arms charge by Chiefs No, 4 on TJ Perenara. It was blatant, it was obvious it happened right in front of him and he ignored it. This is the sort of inconsistency that referees must be taken to task for.

Perenara then completely cleaned up Cruden with a late charge. no point picking out one or two either way because the game was full of off the ball stuff that didn't get picked up.

I agree that the ref kinda lost control of the discipline but I think if you go through the whole game with all angles it didn't really help one team or the other. Both were guilty.

Was a good performance by the chiefs after a hard couple of weeks.
The return of Sam Cane helped, he had a big game.
Again Retalick and Bird are some locking combination. Its not all about Retalick either, Bird is very much a big part of it. Still a way to go, I hope he stays injury free because he is dead set ready for a test recall.
Beaver had a handy ~75 minutes from the bench. Though it has to be said he doesn't really fit the mold of the other chiefs backs in terms of speed and agility he still genuinely contributed with his defense, cleanup work, straight running and couple of important turnovers.

McKenzie was absolutely superb, he hasn't played with a lot of fireworks this year. its concerning that his Knee is heavily strapped. But his general play has been top shelf. His defense/tackling, made a few try savers and high ball work. Hes always in the right spot. Brilliant on attack and that goal kicking? Was he 6 from 6 in those conditions??? Seriously? Without ripping defenses open and running trys in like he did early last year. I think hes actually been better so far this year.