[2017 Super Rugby] Round 6: Chiefs vs. Bulls (01/04/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

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

Teams

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (co-captain), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi

Substitutes: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Stephen Donald, 23 Solomon Alaimalo

Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11Jamba Ulengo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Nick de Jager, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Pierre Schoeman

Substitutes: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Jannes Kirsten, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Warrick Gelant

 

[SomeOke]

Not really sure what the solution is for the Bulls, it's sad because I really wanted them to perform this year. Their back line is so heat on paper.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Not really sure what the solution is for the Bulls, it's sad because I really wanted them to perform this year. Their back line is so heat on paper.

All brawn and no brain...

We make the dumbest decisions this year. Our defence is terrible. We have such a big pack, but it seems like all the teams have found ways to counter us. Pollard is still not up to scratch.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

This has been an absolutely dire game so far.

 

[galumay]

Well the Bulls didnt look like scoring tries is part of their strategy, as you say TRF Mr Fish, it was pretty dire for most of the game. Chiefs class shone thru in the end.

 

[SomeOke]

Thought the Bulls actually had a really good first half, Chiefs too good in the end. Bulls made some poor decision making as well, if you're going to beat the Chiefs I think it's far better to just hold on to the ball.

 

[Makos]

Thought the Bulls actually had a really good first half, Chiefs too good in the end. Bulls made some poor decision making as well, if you're going to beat the Chiefs I think it's far better to just hold on to the ball.

Teams usually figure that out later in the season & the Chiefs drop off.

The usual routine from the Chiefs, commit a penalty whenever the opposition gets into the 22 & bore everyone to death. At least McKenzie provides some entertainment.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Teams usually figure that out later in the season & the Chiefs drop off.

The usual routine from the Chiefs, commit a penalty whenever the opposition gets into the 22 & bore everyone to death. At least McKenzie provides some entertainment.

Did a Chiefs player insult your mother when you were younger or something, @Makos? I've don't recall ever seeing someone with such an obvious bias against a team, I can only assume it's due to some sort of childhood trauma?

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Such a shame, bulls had it under control. I don't think it was the chiefs that shifted gears in the second half, but more along the lines of the bulls making silly mistakes in all 3 tries.
Got to admit the Chiefs are an extremely composed team thou. They never look desperate and they stick to their plan.

 

[Makos]

Did a Chiefs player insult your mother when you were younger or something, @Makos? I've don't recall ever seeing someone with such an obvious bias against a team, I can only assume it's due to some sort of childhood trauma?

Is that meant to be a sick joke?

I'm just not a fan of their brand of rugby & culture in the club.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

I always thought the Chiefs had one of the best brands of rugby in the comp, and an admirable whanau type culture with a bit of Maori influence...

 

[Makos]

I always thought the Chiefs had one of the best brands of rugby in the comp, and an admirable whanau type culture with a bit of Maori influence...

Each to their own. I don't like how they commit so many penalties when teams are on the offensive. They're frustrating to watch in that respect. The Maori side is lovely. I was thinking more along the lines of the drinking and stripper groping culture that they have.

 

[Larksea]

pretty standard in NZ that many people(outside the chiefs region), in particular crusaders supporters see the chiefs as a 2nd rate team and chiefs supporters in a similar light.

was an interesting game, it looked to me like for the first half the chiefs had lost a lot of their continuity which can happen after a bye week. Every time the looked like they had the bulls defense broken a pass would go stray.

The Stevenson try was superb and just what the chiefs needed to spark them. He actually had a brilliant game, some very good kicks. IMO easily his best game of super rugby so far which may position him as the chiefs #1 right winger.

Damien McKenzie is having a phenomenal season. His high ball work, tackles hes making as well as his injections on attack are absolutely top shelf. Without a doubt the form 15 in NZ this season.

Another mind blowing game from retalick. The guy is a freak of nature.

Cruden controlled the game well and his defense has been quite superb this season.

TKB was great again.

James Lowe was brilliant as well, attack or defense. He was right on point, couple of knock on's but still a big showing.

Chiefs missed a lot of tackles but rather than that being bad defense I think it was more about the rampaging Bulls attack early in the game. But as is trademark now the chiefs scrambled and kept the bulls out. But the thing is the bulls were never going to be able to keep up that intensity for 80min...

Cane's head knock didn't look good, I would not be surprised if he was out for some time because of that. I think he can safely be ruled out of the trip to the republic.

 

[galumay]

Did a Chiefs player insult your mother when you were younger or something, @Makos? I've don't recall ever seeing someone with such an obvious bias against a team, I can only assume it's due to some sort of childhood trauma?

I was wondering the same thing! I get that people who suffer from the worst of tribalism get fanatical about the franchise they follow, but hating another franchise to that extent is unusual.

 

[Makos]

I was wondering the same thing! I get that people who suffer from the worst of tribalism get fanatical about the franchise they follow, but hating another franchise to that extent is unusual.

An overreaction & exaggeration.

Some minor critical commentary & pessimistic comments, but nothing out off hand or overly vitriol.

Saying I "hate" them so much that it's "unusual" is laughable & makes me wonder if you've ever been genuinely involved in a fanbase before if you think what I'm saying is unusual.

 

[bazwaz]

...yea does come off a little bit offensive ..not all Chiefs players grope strippers anymore than do all your Highlander players cheat on their girlfriends in handicap toilets...thats pretty dopey stereotyping innit....
And most rugby teams have a drinking culture - so spare us the sanctimonious BS...
think there might be a bit of sour grapes lingering in some of these comments...pretty innocuous though, small time trolling...bit dopey for Makos supporters to slander a team containing some of their own players though..

 

[Makos]

...yea does come off a little bit offensive ..not all Chiefs players grope strippers anymore than do all your Highlander players cheat on their girlfriends in handicap toilets...thats pretty dopey stereotyping innit....
And most rugby teams have a drinking culture - so spare us the sanctimonious BS...
think there might be a bit of sour grapes lingering in some of these comments...pretty innocuous though, small time trolling...bit dopey for Makos supporters to slander a team containing some of their own players though..

My own personal judgments are just that. We all have different opinions and views.

Aaron Smith was at least in a consensual situation with an ex-partner. Not in some seedy sauna drunk with a hired stripper. Call me sanctimonious all you want, but that's poor form.

Anyway, Cheifs look good for the play-offs and I'd still rather a Kiwi team win it than not. So good luck to them.

 

[Larksea]

I think the chiefs have a every good culture, I think it has been a major driving force behind their success under Renee. sure the stripper thing was bad. But it was an issue with a couple of bad decisions being made rather than an issue with culture. Have to remember a lot of these guys are ~20-25 years old, constantly hang out with large groups of other men and there is generally a lot of drinking involved. its a recipe for disaster and I'm surprised more stuff doesn't come out. I can only imagine how vigilant the franchises have to be to keep the players in line. I know what I was doing when I was that age... And I was generally the sensible one...

 

[TRF_heineken]

Bulls just not fit enough too stay in the game. It was a great first half by them, and for the first time in this year's tournament it seemed like the Bulls physicality aided them. They put in a lot of tackles.

Pollard had a better game, and for once he kicked all his shots at goal successfully.

 

[Makos]

Admittedly Stevenson's try from the Chiefs was fantastic, great bit of individual skill.