Super 15: Blues - Chiefs in Auckland (04-06-2011, 8:35 GMT)

[nickdnz]

I think we're seeing how much the Blues are missing Toeava.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Blues are pathetic.

I take no comfort in the fact that I was right when I said that I thought they would be unable to win the games that count.

Absolutely pathetic.

Those players should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[Darwin]

Blues are pathetic.

I take no comfort in the fact that I was right when I said that I thought they would be unable to win the games that count.

Absolutely pathetic.

Those players should be ashamed of themselves.

I don't think it's time to panic yet; the team is still in 3rd place overall, and still stands at the top of the NZ conference. If the Blues manage to win one their final two games they should assure themselves 4th spot on the table (and a home quarter final), and if they beat the Crusaders (or the Crusaders lose to the Hurricanes) the Blues would win the NZ conferance. Toeava is due to back for the playoffs; I expect they will look a far more dangerous team with him at the back.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Oh there is no panic from me Darwin.

The Blues will lose to the Crusaders, then (quite possibly) to the Highlanders. They'll still scrape into the play-offs, and get smoked in the first round.

Then they'll claim that although they fell at final hurdles, they had a "successful season"... when in reality, all they did was flatter to deceive.

They won games this year that quite frankly if not for the ineptitude of other teams, or just being the benefit of other team's bad luck, they should have lost.

Quite frankly, Once again, the Blues have been pathetically average.

The whole franchise needs an overhaul, because what this franchise has been doing the last few years is not up to scratch.

Time for a cull. Start from the board level and move down to the coaches and players.

 

[Darwin]

Oh there is no panic from me Darwin.

The Blues will lose to the Crusaders, then (quite possibly) to the Highlanders. They'll still scrape into the play-offs, and get smoked in the first round.

Then they'll claim that although they fell at final hurdles, they had a "successful season"... when in reality, all they did was flatter to deceive.

They won games this year that quite frankly if not for the ineptitude of other teams, or just being the benefit of other team's bad luck, they should have lost.

Quite frankly, Once again, the Blues have been pathetically average.

The whole franchise needs an overhaul, because what this franchise has been doing the last few years is not up to scratch.

Time for a cull. Start from the board level and move down to the coaches and players.

If that happens, I think your comments may be justified. However it hasn't happened yet! Most teams go through bad patches during their season as the Blues have over the last month... it doesn't mean their season is over. Over the last month they have lost by 6 points to the Reds (currently 1st on the table), 2 points to the Stormers (currently 2nd on the table), and 5 points to the Chiefs (10th on the table, but showing some great late season form). Imagine if you were a Highlanders supporter - in the last two weeks we have lost at home to the Lions (14th) and the Force (12th)!

The Blues have put themselves in a strong position with two weeks to go until the playoffs. I just think we should wait until the end of the playoffs before we decide whether their season is a failure or a success...

 

[FlukeArtist]

Fair enough Darwin- I hear what you're saying.

But honestly- there is nothing in the way the Blues have/had played this year that instills any confidence, and sadly I KNOW that The Blues will end their season as I described above (I have been through similar scenarios with this team before)

 

[Larksea]

ok game bit back and forth. Chiefs seemed to dominate the first half but the score board didn't mirror that. Obviously a very tricky night for goal kicking and the end result basically came down to Donald doing a better job from the kicking Tee than McAlister in tough conditions. Though not a clear victory I thought Leaonard and Donald were better overall than Mathewson and McAlister which is what I picked to be the major deciding factor in the game.

Chiefs Front row were pretty strong in the first half but mommentum shifted big time when Charlie and Kevin came on the field. Apart from those two I also thought Ali Williams had a bretty good game for the blues. Braid and Saili also had a good showing. The latter Being the pick.

Thought Kaino was pretty quiet.

For the chiefs Messam & Lee were impressive again, Nathan White seemed very good in the scrum. Leonard was solid, Donald had a good game, missed a couple he would normally get in tough conditions but kicked a couple of tough critical goals, almost scored a great solo try only denied by some very good work by Rokocoko also looking at the replays of Tana's try donald followed up and helped ground that ball it may not have been a try without his hand. Kahui was also very good though at one stage did seem to blow a chance for a try by trying himself rather than passing - which was very unlike him.


Sivivatu was brilliant. A couple of months ago I would have thought he had no chance at all of getting back into the AB's but his ability to unlock defences has come to light in a big way over the last month. And the AB coaches will see that as a huge asset to have in their side. His ability to link with mills and Cause havoc has been great to watch. Also that breakout from a good little draw and pass from Leonard almost became a try.

As Was Tana Umaga. I really hope that injury is not serious. With Tana at 12 I can see the chiefs beating the Reds in the final round. That will be an awesome game.

 

[Darwin]

ok game bit back and forth. Chiefs seemed to dominate the first half but the score board didn't mirror that. Obviously a very tricky night for goal kicking and the end result basically came down to Donald doing a better job from the kicking Tee than McAlister in tough conditions. Though not a clear victory I thought Leaonard and Donald were better overall than Mathewson and McAlister which is what I picked to be the major deciding factor in the game.

Chiefs Front row were pretty strong in the first half but mommentum shifted big time when Charlie and Kevin came on the field. Apart from those two I also thought Ali Williams had a bretty good game for the blues. Braid and Saili also had a good showing. The latter Being the pick.

Thought Kaino was pretty quiet.

For the chiefs Messam & Lee were impressive again, Nathan White seemed very good in the scrum. Leonard was solid, Donald had a good game, missed a couple he would normally get in tough conditions but kicked a couple of tough critical goals, almost scored a great solo try only denied by some very good work by Rokocoko also looking at the replays of Tana's try donald followed up and helped ground that ball it may not have been a try without his hand. Kahui was also very good though at one stage did seem to blow a chance for a try by trying himself rather than passing - which was very unlike him.


Sivivatu was brilliant. A couple of months ago I would have thought he had no chance at all of getting back into the AB's but his ability to unlock defences has come to light in a big way over the last month. And the AB coaches will see that as a huge asset to have in their side. His ability to link with mills and Cause havoc has been great to watch. Also that breakout from a good little draw and pass from Leonard almost became a try.

As Was Tana Umaga. I really hope that injury is not serious. With Tana at 12 I can see the chiefs beating the Reds in the final round. That will be an awesome game.

Umuga has ruptured his achilles, and it seems unlikely that he will even be able to turn out for Counties this year. Foster will probably put Sweeney back at 12 next week and cripple the Chefs backline once again!

I actually thought Kaino was one of the better Blues forwards; he wasn't oustanding, but he made a couple of powerful runs and was reliable on defense. I thought Anthony Boric had his quietest game of the year, I didn't realise he was playing until he was subbed off! Probably the most pleasing aspect of the game for me was the play of Muliaina and Sivivatu. Both had slow starts to the season, but appear to be getting back near their best at the right time.

 

[Larksea]

oh god well if Umaga has ruptured his achilles then I doubt we will see him play first class rugby again ever. But the fact he walked off under his own steam and seeing the phy work on him suggests to me it's not that serious. Will have to wait and see.

Kaino didn't have a bad game. Just pretty quiet, Kinda expected him to lift for this game, wasn't he captian?

 

[FlukeArtist]

Ali Williams aside, the Blues were PATHETIC

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

oh god well if Umaga has ruptured his achilles then I doubt we will see him play first class rugby again ever. But the fact he walked off under his own steam and seeing the phy work on him suggests to me it's not that serious. Will have to wait and see.

Kaino didn't have a bad game. Just pretty quiet, Kinda expected him to lift for this game, wasn't he captian?

Umaga's out for the rest of the year.