Hurricanes v Chiefs

[nickdnz]

I only caught the very last moments of the game last night due to working late.How did Hayward go and who were the standouts? Do either team have a chance to be ***le contenders based on last nights performances?

Hayward did pretty well. He didn't look out of place, and he had a few nice touches and kicks. Certainly didn't do a bad job. In terms of standouts, I was thinking to myself the entire game that if Conrad Smith wasn't playing, we'd be getting whooped. Some of his defensive tackles were amazing. Julian Savea had some nice touches while Andre Taylor looked very impressive, making two great line breaks.

Victor Vito looked very good on attack for the Canes, while Messam looked good on defense, so Henry's job hasn't been made much easier. For the Chiefs, Umaga, Masaga, Messam and especially Scott Waldrom had good games, however both Hika Elliot and Aled de Melmanche's lineout throwing was shocking. For the Canes, the standouts were Taylor, Vito, Smith and Savea, while Aaron Cruden actually had a pretty goo day, kicking all the goals till he was replaced by Kirkpatrick.

In terms of ***le contanders, I wouldn't be too sure of either. Canes were missing Weepu, Nonu, Gear and Lowe, all of whom I'm sure will make the team better, but I can't see them winning the conference over the Crusaders. The Chiefs looked pretty good, but once again I can't see them coming near the conference. Tim Nanai-Williams was super covered during the game, but still showed some real touches of class, and even scored a try. I can't see anyone honestly thinking Mils Muliaina would have done better.

 

[lance2010]

Hayward did pretty well. He didn't look out of place, and he had a few nice touches and kicks. Certainly didn't do a bad job. In terms of standouts, I was thinking to myself the entire game that if Conrad Smith wasn't playing, we'd be getting whooped. Some of his defensive tackles were amazing. Julian Savea had some nice touches while Andre Taylor looked very impressive, making two great line breaks.

Victor Vito looked very good on attack for the Canes, while Messam looked good on defense, so Henry's job hasn't been made much easier. For the Chiefs, Umaga, Masaga, Messam and especially Scott Waldrom had good games, however both Hika Elliot and Aled de Melmanche's lineout throwing was shocking. For the Canes, the standouts were Taylor, Vito, Smith and Savea, while Aaron Cruden actually had a pretty goo day, kicking all the goals till he was replaced by Kirkpatrick.

In terms of ***le contanders, I wouldn't be too sure of either. Canes were missing Weepu, Nonu, Gear and Lowe, all of whom I'm sure will make the team better, but I can't see them winning the conference over the Crusaders. The Chiefs looked pretty good, but once again I can't see them coming near the conference. Tim Nanai-Williams was super covered during the game, but still showed some real touches of class, and even scored a try. I can't see anyone honestly thinking Mils Muliaina would have done better.

Hey nickdnz thanks for the wrap up of the game.I cant' wait for Nonu to play again.I hope the Canes get on a roll and get the no.2 spot or even surprise us all and take the conference.

 

[dan the man]

The Hurricanes backs just don't seem to gel nicely without Weepu steering the ship. Eaton did well but Piri's leadership and ability to direct play is really missed, with Nonu, Weepu and Gear the Canes could definitely be in the finals...

 

[Amobokoboko]

The problem the Chiefs have it that whenever they come behind they lose control and give away the game.

 

[Larksea]

Looked like a good game very close game, only saw extended highlights because I went to the Warriors game at eden park.

Interesting that the first try was Donald running straight over Cruden to score under the posts which was almost a carbon copy of when he did the same thing against him in the ITM cup last year. Don looked like he had an ok game, first highlight of the game was a Savea break and Donald made a good tackle on him then he found touch 5m out from a penalty around half way. Messam also looked very good again with some telling breaks and his tackling & breakdown work is what has really improved since 2008-09. Waldrum also impressing.

Cruden did well with the boot but most of them looked in front, kirkpatricks kicking looked very impressive.

The game was basically decided by the referee(s) when they penalised Hika Elliot for playing the ball on the ground/not releasing when he striped it in the tackle when it was well off the ground. Shocking call that turned what should have been a chiefs counter attack into 3 points for the hurricanes around the 75min mark.

 

[187]

The problem the Chiefs have it that whenever they come behind they lose control and give away the game.

The problem with the Chiefs is they have Donald as their 1st 5! Haha.

 

[Larksea]

The problem with the Chiefs is they have Donald as their 1st 5! Haha.

I think (not sure though) the chiefs were winning when donald left the field?

 

[187]

I think (not sure though) the chiefs were winning when donald left the field?

They probably were, I just dislike Donald ha. He played ok though in this game, so did Cruden whom I dislike as well.

 

[ranger]

Looked like a good game very close game, only saw extended highlights because I went to the Warriors game at eden park.

Interesting that the first try was Donald running straight over Cruden to score under the posts which was almost a carbon copy of when he did the same thing against him in the ITM cup last year. Don looked like he had an ok game, first highlight of the game was a Savea break and Donald made a good tackle on him then he found touch 5m out from a penalty around half way. Messam also looked very good again with some telling breaks and his tackling & breakdown work is what has really improved since 2008-09. Waldrum also impressing.

Cruden did well with the boot but most of them looked in front, kirkpatricks kicking looked very impressive.

The game was basically decided by the referee(s) when they penalised Hika Elliot for playing the ball on the ground/not releasing when he striped it in the tackle when it was well off the ground. Shocking call that turned what should have been a chiefs counter attack into 3 points for the hurricanes around the 75min mark.

Its great to see Stephen Donalds' mum is still out flying the flag..

 

[Larksea]

If I'm Donalds mum then Cruden must be Donalds ***** because he lets him score every time.

 

[donmcdazzle]

Yeah Donald was ok, the try was the same sort of try he usually gets, head down and powering over. Wasn't like Cruden missed the tackle but Donald just sort of dragged him over. To be fair he is pretty decent at this level, he is big and quite strong. Too bad for him he has proven his game is worthless any higher up; he can't step up to the next level or handle any pressure.

Neither team played very well, both have terrible forward packs if we are being honest. Ross must be the softest lock in NZ, can see why Canterbury got rid of him. Vito is infuriating, has all the physical tools but doesn't know what to do with it when he gets the ball, full of indecision and has no clue how to run effective lines.

I can't see either team challenging seriously for the ***le this year based on poor forward packs. A shame since they both have talent out wide.

 

[ranger]

If I'm Donalds mum then Cruden must be Donalds ***** because he lets him score every time.

When the one dimensional "put your head down and run as hard as you can every time" approach to first five play starts working at test level you're going to be one happy mother.

We may aswell bring back Thomas Waldrom to play 10..

 

[nickdnz]

If I'm Donalds mum then Cruden must be Donalds ***** because he lets him score every time.

1:06

He hardly missed. Donald had all the momentum, and Cruden tackled him before he got to the line, Donald just managed to reach out. Doesn't exactly take much vision, just general hard running on a stretched opposition. Regardless, Stephen got bumped like Mike Catt in this game, except it wasn't against Jonah Lomu, it was against 85kg Andre Taylor, and Stephen Donald flew.

 

[Larksea]

If Donald's try didn't take much vision they how much Vision was in Cruden's defence? What he didn't see it coming even though Donald gave him a sample the last time the faced each other? And you're next point is a perfect example of how a lot of the nz public ignore Donald when ever he does something good and light tourches and pick up pitchforks when ever he makes a mistake. Like Mike catt and Stephen Donald are the only people who have ever been bumped off in a tackle and Lomu & Taylor are the only people who have ever done it. And that's somehow more significant that what Donald did to cruden?

And not that it matters but if Taylor is only 85kg then Scott Waldrum's Hair is naturally grown. Just because you pull it off some profile on some website doesn't mean it's true.

Cruden's not a bad tackler and Donald's no bad player or power puff for that matter and I'm not his mum but I do believe he gets a bumb deal from the NZ public.

 

[nickdnz]

If Donald's try didn't take much vision they how much Vision was in Cruden's defence? What he didn't see it coming even though Donald gave him a sample the last time the faced each other? And you're next point is a perfect example of how a lot of the nz public ignore Donald when ever he does something good and light tourches and pick up pitchforks when ever he makes a mistake. Like Mike catt and Stephen Donald are the only people who have ever been bumped off in a tackle and Lomu & Taylor are the only people who have ever done it. And that's somehow more significant that what Donald did to cruden?

And not that it matters but if Taylor is only 85kg then Scott Waldrum's Hair is naturally grown. Just because you pull it off some profile on some website doesn't mean it's true.

Cruden's not a bad tackler and Donald's no bad player or power puff for that matter and I'm not his mum but I do believe he gets a bumb deal from the NZ public.

1. Donald's try didn't take much vision. He's physically bigger and stronger than Cruden, and wasn't far out from the line. Any forward in the world could have scored that try, so as I said, it didn't take much vision.

2. I've met Andre Taylor, he's not a big guy, and he literally made Stephen Donald fly. I only mention it because of this erpic and one sided picture you seem to have of Stephen Donald. You make out like Donald destroyed Cruden in their last encounter, but you're the only one who seems to think so, and just because you say it, it doesn't make it true, in face more often than not, the opposite.

3. The New Zealand public hasn't turned against Stephen Donald with out a reason. He was judged in the same way as any other player has been judged, and he has consistantly been found by a majority, to have come up short. It's true that he is backing up the greatest fly half of all time, but he's also made enough mistakes for people to make up thier mind that he just isn't up to test standard. It's not one mistake, it's fourty, and for every game he does something right, he'll do four things wrong in the next. The fact that you're a Chiefs fan seems to leave you so amazing bias, that you cannot see what everyone else can. I've watched almost every Chiefs game and Waikato game in the last four years, so it's not a lack of exposure that people judge him poorly, it because he is poor.

4. In terms of Andre Taylor's profile, he was listed as 85kgs in the 2009 Manuwatu profile, 88kgs in the current Hurricanes profile ://www.hurricanes.co.nz/team/players/andre-taylor. I can promise you he's not any bigger than that. Regardless, it's Donald's poor defense that made him get bumped, not Taylor's obvious raw abundance of power.

 

[donmcdazzle]

^^ Andre Taylor is no bigger than 88kg that's for sure.

Larksea we all get that you think Donald is a great player and all that, but you must realise everyone watches the same games you do and have come to the conclusion he is just not that good. It's great you like him, good for you, but you continually try to force feed us this "everything Donald does is great" mantra that just just isn't going to wash. Did he not prove to you he wasn't up to it on the last tour? He was in the form of his life leading up to the tour (I despise his play but can admit he was good in ITM cup) so if he was ever going to produce it was then but he once again fluffed his lines on the big stage. He hasn't played that well so far, neither have any other 1st fives besides Carter though. I actually think you have quite good things to say in general; except when talking about Donald, and to a lesser extent Leonard. Then you become a protective soccer-mum who keeps trying to convince everyone he is good by raving about his average performances.

 

[Shaggy]

The disappointing player from the chiefs this year, is Sivivatu (not just in this game, but all of them) , he just looks like he's running at half pace, and not up to match fitness ... it's a shame, because I like his play, but at this rate, I don't think he'll make the World Cup squad

 

[Amobokoboko]

I reckon Delany is a much better player then Donald, also more down to earth ( Donald was acting as a big *** on those Stand in Black video's during the EOYT).

 

[Sam Owen]

The disappointing player from the chiefs this year, is Sivivatu (not just in this game, but all of them) , he just looks like he's running at half pace, and not up to match fitness ... it's a shame, because I like his play, but at this rate, I don't think he'll make the World Cup squad

True that, I dont know whats up with his crusing. I want to see him in a situation where he has to burn so he can show us his pace that once made him an exciting winger.

 

[nickdnz]

True that, I dont know whats up with his crusing. I want to see him in a situation where he has to burn so he can show us his pace that once made him an exciting winger.

For a long time now he has jogged it to the line, it has always annoyed me about him. Sometimes it works if a winger has a brillaint step like Jason Robinson, however Sivivatu is more of an all out sprinter, which is why it has always been so frustrating. I think we'll see him do better in the later stages of the comp, but I can't honestly say he is in the top 3 wingers in NZ at the moment.