[2017 Super Rugby] Round 4: Rebels vs. Chiefs (17/03/2017)

[SomeOke]

This is the Rebels that I thought would pitch up this side. Not world beaters but tough. I really like how Tom English is shaping up and they have a couple of useful men out wide.

Also it was only one game but I'd say D-mac is a better FB. Still one of the best players in the world though.

 

[Car]

His body language suggested he was a bit nervous. I can understand that. Give him a couple of games. It's not as if his bad calls decided the game. We need a few Argentine refs.

I hope so, but this constant talking already annoyed me in another match with him. I know, so I hope he improves.

 

[galumay]

Surprised me the Chiefs took so long to put away the Rebels, I guess its good to have an off day against one of the weaker teams rather than the other NZ teams so it may work out for the Chiefs.

 

[Larksea]

was an interesting game, chiefs will bag the points and should be happy. I think this was a better Rebels team than the one that has been run over in recent weeks. And I also think the ref played a part in the game. He simply wasn't very good and while its easy to say it affects both teams. What actually happens when you have a bad ref is it seems to even the playing field. it keeps the game close when normally the better team would start clocking up points.

The interesting part for me was watching the game the night before where the ref was very good in the tackle and wasn't allowing the tackle assist to go straight for the ball without first releasing the tackled player. Where this ref was just allowing the tacklers to hold on and win penalties and turnovers. And it just stops the game from flowing.

I thought Mckenzie was good at 10 but missed a couple of kicks you would expect him to get. I liked the back row but I think it was a mistake taking Messam off and leaving Sanders on for 80 his legs looked like he was running in concrete the last 20min. TKB was good again, some of his passes early in the game were top shelf. But I also really like that guy who was the reserve halfback!? Finlay Christie, ok I had to scroll up to find his name. Good speed to the rucks and a nice pass he played an important role in those last few minutes when the chiefs finally broke the shackles.

 

[nzlizard]

I thought this was a good game from the Chiefs, made to play hard by the Rebels who played really well, esp that FB.

Chiefs fitness delivered and we got there, kicking was a worry, quite a few missed that should have gone over.

After 3 tough local derbies this a mental break for the players and it showed in a couple of areas, but the measure how they got over the line at the end.