Highlanders v Chiefs

[Larksea]

I wouldn't be suprised to see Donald come on and play 12 if the chiefs get behind. The midfield doesn't look ideal and he will be a threat on attack and actually has very good defence too. Donald & Delany are both the kind of players where if one of them fires the chiefs will be very hard to beat and having them both on the field IMO is a good idea because of that. Another reason I'd like to see Don on is because this early in the season there are a few more penalties as players test the refs. And Donald is getting a lot of distance on his touch finders.

 

[Sam Owen]

I would have had:
12. Donald
13. Muliaina
15. Nanai-Williams

But then what do I know?

Thats a brilliant idea and why not. Mills has reasonable experience at centre and him working with Stephen or Tana should create for Siti or Dwayne/Leilia. I think Mills getting closer to the action is what he needs right now anyway after his 2 blunders last week (dropped a try and missed Robbie Coleman to Mills defence that was a super dart and step).

The other thing is Tim is in good nick, he showed that towards the end of the Super 14 and last years ITM, yes he dropped a try last week but he had a good game otherwise. Time on the bench for this man is time wasted, if hes all good let him play 80mins.

 

[Larksea]

sure mills is fine at 13 but the AB supporter in me never wants to see him stuck there, i'd sooner put Isaac Ross at 13.

 

[Larksea]

have to say the highlanders side looks very strong, the forward pack in particular. With Lauaki gone and Bourke & Lee injured the Waikato Trio is weakened a bit, with latimer being mainly a workhorse and Waldrum being more of a disruptive type player it really falls on Messam to come up with the big plays in the forwards and swoop on any quick ball that comes by. The highlanders trio is much better ballanced with Manu providing the grunt, thompson a lineout option and tireless defender who has the ability to get through the line away from the forwards. Going to be a real contest, Chiefs front 5 have to fire or else it will be a long day and the backs will have a lot to make up for.

 

[TRF_RC]

I'm with Larksea on this one, Mils is good at 13, but there's a reason he's the best full back in the world. His angles, the way he reads the game...and he's getting older now, why isn't getting slower?
I swear the guy is a machine.

 

[donmcdazzle]

9, Leonard
10, Donald
11, Sivivatu
12, Tana
13, Kahui
14, Flash/Williams
15, Mills

that backline would have to be close to if not the best in the super14

You've got to be taking the mickey? It has one all black starter in it. It's the third best backline in NZ; blues, 'canes and crusaders all have better backlines.

Leonard is about the 7th best halfback in the country, Donald is the second best first five in the franchise, Sivivatu is starting to resemble Rupeni around the middle, Kahui can't stay on the park, Masaga/Williams are good but are hardly top line wingers. Mils is obviously fantastic and Tana lacks a yard of pace and is just not a top player anymore.

I do like the look of Nanai-Williams and Kerr Barlow as players of the future though, put them in with Delaney and the backline starts to look a bit better.

Can any fan of the chiefs/Waikato tell me what they think of Willison? Looks like he has all the potential in the world but just hasn't put it together for a few seasons now. Any hopes that he will make the next step up? Between him and Tokula there is some good potential in the midfield.

 

[Sam Owen]

but there's a reason he's the best full back in the world. His angles, the way he reads the game...and he's getting older now, why isn't getting slower?
I swear the guy is a machine.

Yeah Mills is great at the back but not my worlds best (especially when performing two costly errors last week). Hes the All Black fullback what more can you say. Kurtly Beale had a good game last week and so did Corey Jane. To me there is no clear frontrunner when it comes to worlds best fullbacks these days.

Can any fan of the chiefs/Waikato tell me what they think of Willison? Looks like he has all the potential in the world but just hasn't put it together for a few seasons now. Any hopes that he will make the next step up? Between him and Tokula there is some good potential in the midfield.

Geez they got some good midfield stock.

 

[TRF_RC]

Yeah Mills is great at the back but not my worlds best (especially when performing two costly errors last week). Hes the All Black fullback what more can you say. Kurtly Beale had a good game last week and so did Corey Jane. To me there is no clear frontrunner when it comes to worlds best fullbacks these days.

He's been consistently up there for a while now. In the last autumn internationals, when the Southern Hemisphere toured Europe, he was still a stand out player in my eyes, however, you're right, Beale's a hell of a force to deal with.
I'm sure come RWC time someone will put their hand up as the big dog. I genuinely thought Lee Byrne was going to overtake Mills in this area a couple of years ago, but no such luck.

 

[Darwin]

I'm with Larksea on this one, Mils is good at 13, but there's a reason he's the best full back in the world. His angles, the way he reads the game...and he's getting older now, why isn't getting slower?
I swear the guy is a machine.

I can certainly see the argument against moving one of the best fullback in the world out of position, however the advantages of playing him at centre (just) outweigh these negatives in my opinion. There are two main reasons I'd consider moving him to centre until Kahui comes back (if I was coaching the Chiefs - as an AB supporter I, like Larksea, don't want to see him in a 13 jersey....) :
1. Nanai-Williams gets to start in his favoured position of fullback. Nanai-Williams was the Chiefs best attacking option during the latter half of last year (starting at fullback while Muliaina injured), and was the most dangerous Chiefs player on the park last week. Sure he does make the odd mistake and does have a few defensive issues, but he is improving in these areas. He really is a freakish talent, it seems a real shame not to be giving him 80 mins every week.
2. It will greatly strengthen the mid-field. With the likes of Sivivatu, Masaga, and Nanai-Williams in the back three all the midfield have to do is give them the ball - Muliaina will know exactly what to do (unlike Sweeney who is bound to cut back every time he gets the ball). Likewise he would certainly strengthen their questionably midfield defense.

As a supporter of the Mighty Southland Highlanders I feel much more comfortably facing a backline of Kerr-Barlow, Delany, Sivivatu, Sweeney, Willison, Masaga, Muliaina than I would facing a backline of Kerr-Barlow, Delany, Sivivatu, Donald, Muliaina, Masaga, Nanai-Williams...

 

[TRF_RC]

You've got a fair point Darwin, and i can certainly see what you mean about Sweeney as well.
Watching him in centre last week, he still had his winger brain switched on, he didn't look very effective there at all.

 

[Sam Owen]

So far its halftime and the Chiefs look the better team.

Last week I pointed out Limas need to work on his passing, this week it hasnt gotten better and the Chiefs defence are almost cashing in on the Highlanders stray ball.

During this halftime break coach Joesph needs to talk to Lima about his passing game. He needs to link with Treeby more because it seems the Chiefs are reading Limas long cut-out passes.

So far the Chiefs halves pairing of Delaney and Kerr-Barlow are doing well, it looks like they're giving Donald and Leonard a run for their money all and all its good for the Chiefs.

Waldrom put Siti through and ?????....Siti was looking like a flanker looking to feed a winger, actually thats what Waldrom done hmmm??

 

[Gena_ZA]

So the Highlanders do it again - man they mess up my predictions..
But glad that is traditional under performing team reaps the benefits of playing hard rugby aka Thompson style - hope this is the case and not that the Hurricanes and Chiefs suddenly became poor teams.
I used to like them a lot when Anton Oliver was still playing and the "House of Pain" lived up to it's name.

Best of luck to the Highlanders for the rest of the tournament, you certainly impressed me!

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Reffing decisions come the last twenty or so minutes really annoyed me - there's no way the Highlanders should have won that.

Kerr-Barlow's card was just plainly wrong, he was completely within his rights to kick at the ball.

Likewise, a few of the breakdown decisions were unfair - two or three in particular I had gripes with.

Last week the Chiefs lost due to their complete incompetency, this week that was more because of the ref...

 

[lance2010]

Reffing decisions come the last twenty or so minutes really annoyed me - there's no way the Highlanders should have won that.

Kerr-Barlow's card was just plainly wrong, he was completely within his rights to kick at the ball.

Likewise, a few of the breakdown decisions were unfair - two or three in particular I had gripes with.

Last week the Chiefs lost due to their complete incompetency, this week that was more because of the ref...

Barlow was offside wasn't he? His card was fair.I watch the same game as you and i thought the ref did a good job.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

He wasn't offside because there was no ruck in the first place, the player was tackled, he then released the ball onto the ground, and KB kicked it away before any form of ruck had started. It's a tricky rule, but if you know the ruling it's very clear cut.

 

[Sam Owen]

Well the Highlanders won and they were the better team because thats what better teams do, they win and good on 'em. I betted on them to win.

Donald chose to go for the 3 and cause it had pressure on it Donald missed lol, I thought they shouldve gone for a try but hey who knows.

Good stuff Highlanders, Im sure Adam Thompsons real name is Duncan McCleod.

Lima and Robbie need to work on their passing game or perhaps pivot a bit deeper 'cos I think the rushing defence and its pressure affects their composure to distribute accurately. However one of Robinsons 'just-get-rid-of-it' type passes resulted in a Ben Smith break and a Kade Poki try.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Good stuff by the Highlanders, really happy they scored some tries. hopefully they can keep this level up.
The Chiefs, well. They are slow starters and it seems they have some bad luck. Last week the brilliant opportunity by Nanai Williams that didn't result in a try, now the Barrlow incident. Anyway, Delany should kick them all, Tana back in the squad and fingers crossed for next week.

 

[Cassie]

Really good game by the Highlanders, showing that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the New Zealand conference.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

[Shimon]

Sweet, a tiny little bit of me wanted the Chiefs to get a bonus point for the sake of the standings of NZ teams.

 

[smartcooky]

Kerr-Barlow's card was just plainly wrong, he was completely within his rights to kick at the ball.

Law 15.6 (d) At a tackle or near to a tackle, other players who play the ball must do so from behind the ball and from directly behind the tackled player or the tackler closest to those players’ goal line.
Sanction: Penalty kick

While there is no offside line at the tackle, you still have to enter the tackle zone through the gate, from your own side on the ball.

The penalty was for coming in at the side at the tackle. Kerr-Barlow deliberately cheated to kill the Highlander's forward momentum. That is a

every time, especially in or close to the red zone.