Super 15: Chiefs vs Blues. Waikato Stadium (2/3/2012, 06:35 GMT)

[igziabeher]

Can't remember such a poor performance from the Blues. Really dispirited. Every Chiefs' offence looks to be a real threat for the Blues defence. Missed tackles (especially on the 2nd try), bad decisions, good rush defence from the Chiefs. The Blues are really woeful at the moment.
Have to say that in my opinion, the last two tries shouldn't have been allowed (penalty to Nanaï-Williams going to ground and running behind, and more than 90° turned-scrum on the last try). In NH, they wouldn't have been awarded, but I suppose it's just different kind of referee in the SH.
Well done the Chiefs, good first half, but the Blues' opposition is simply woeful.

 

[Black Heart]

Ali Williams is the biggest waste of space.

 

[FlukeArtist]

just awful.
The Blues will have to win all their games overseas if they hope to have a crowd over 10k at their next home game.

two words: **** poor

 

[FlukeArtist]

got to say thou, thats uncharitable of me because the Chiefs have been fantastic

 

[igziabeher]

No interest in this second half. The Chiefs have their bonus point and just hold on defensively, while the Blues can't develop anything interesting offensively. Lineouts are real issue for the Blues, once again pathetic in this area.

 

[igziabeher]

Also can't understand the logic of Hobbs and Ascombe to play 5 metres behind their 9 when the Chiefs are playing rush defence. No brain in this team ?

 

[Black Heart]

Not that it's going to matter but how many times do you have to penalise a team at the breakdown before you give a yellow card?

Chiefs have been lucky indeed.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Lam must feel that axe shaving the hair off the back of his neck

 

[FlukeArtist]

Chiefs haven't been lucky. They are far and away the better team tonight

 

[Black Heart]

I'll say it again for the sake of it, Ali Williams is a damned clown.

 

[Black Heart]

Chiefs haven't been lucky. They are far and away the better team tonight

I was talking about not being carded.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Don't agree with you re Ali either.
He was one of the few that made yards forward. Him, Lowrey and (most especially) Kaino

 

[Gena_ZA]

I will not read any expert comments again, nor will I listen to any friend that has a good knowledge of the game
All of them conspire to mess up all my prediction and fantasy leagues. They have a plan.....

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Where the hell did Ranger go? I don't recall hearing his name in the final half hour...

 

[Tricia McMillan]

I turned the game off with about 6 minutes to play. That was awful. Awful awful awful.

 

[Seaton]

This game had as much structure as Somalia does in it's government.

Blues handling of the ball was cringe inducing at the best of times, and their stars were outshone by the Chiefs, who had a very good game the day.

 

[Icemn]

eish.. who predicted this one :O

i hope for the blues fans, that the return and inclusion of Nonu will give them some spark...

so if the chiefs beat the blues today... and the highlanders beat the chiefs last week... the highlands must be the better team if only it worked like that hey Darwin...

 

[Larksea]

fricken typocal the one week i dont back the chiefs 13+ they actually win 13+

this was a classic example of the team that "wanted it more" won

on paper the blues forward pack should have dominated but the were out thought and out willed pretty much everywhere.

Clarke and Messam really lead by example and pretty much all the forwards were impressive The young prop you have to say was outstanding... barlow had a great game and Cruden seems to be doing most of the basics well.

Kahui and SBW are misfireing a bit in midfield, Kahui can hardly do anything right when he has the ball but he will come right in time. But the main factor in the backs was the work by Robinson and Nanai-Williams. I've always thought that small fast agile players were a big advantage in wet conditions because they seem to be able to change direction and accelerate better than the heavier guys and this was proof in my view.

For the blues, this was really bad, really really bad.

In a season they are supposed to dominate they have 1 point from two games and will be BOTTOM of the NZ conference this week.

Lineouts were shabby, something is seriously wrong, Boric and Mealamu nailed the lineouts last week but this week was messy.

At half time I thought... Who's the blues halfback? Is Mathewson playing? He was literally nowhere to be found - pretty much played off the park by Barlow it seemed he didn't even put up a fight - didn't try and lift his team at all.

Apparently Ali Williams went off at Mathewson big time I think when he was subbed for weepu. No idea what it was about but he Alby just seemed to be very poor and there didn't seem to be any fight in him.

I thought the blues team was kinda on track but they didn't build in last week, if anything they are back to square one... And they seriously need to lift their game or they gonna lose next weekend too...

 

[Black Heart]

Don't agree with you re Ali either.
He was one of the few that made yards forward. Him, Lowrey and (most especially) Kaino

I'd like to see the stats to that. He did get involved more so than what he sually does but there's big difference between hitting the ball up and making the advantage line.

Whenever Ali Williams gets the ball he usually dallies around for 1 or 2 seconds deciding what he's going to do with it (which is rather pointless because he always takes it up anyway) and then hits the line at what can only be described as a half-hearted jog at which point he rarely breaks the advantage line. This is excluding the fact he has a frequent habit of sitting his ass on the wing for 3/4 of the game (this includes All Blacks tests)

Someone should also remind him that he's a tight five foward so he shold not under any circumstances be kicking the ball.

From what I gethered (although it was just a general observation so correct me if I'm wrong) but he made more handling errors than anyone last night. The blokes' overrated.

 

[[email protected]]

Im a loyal blues supporter but that performance last night was pathetic (not that i could do better) but Pat Lam better sort out something fast. Line outs were shocking just as they were last week, Ali Williams needs to be dropped, Jerome Kaino needs to be back at blindside flanker, Chris Lowrey, Alby Mathewson and Michael Hobbs need to be benched and David Raikuna needs to be dropped. My Season 22.
1. T.Woodcock
2. K.Mealamu
3. C.Faumuina
4. A.Boric
5. F.Paulo
6. J.Kaino
7. L.Braid
8. P.Saili
9. P.Weepu
10. G.Anscombe
11. R.Wulf
12. M.Nonu
13. B.Stanley
14. R.Ranger
15. I.Toeava
16. T.Mccartney
17. T.Mailau
18. L.Moli
19. D. Braid
20. A.Mathewson
21. M.Hobbs
22. S.Stowers