Waratahs v Chiefs

[niedermayer]

Leonard was playing really well, not sure why you would take him off. Foster is an idiot when it comes to subsitutions.

 

[Seaton]

Here comes Tana

 

[niedermayer]

The Waratahs just hung on in this game, it was like they ran out of gas. They were offside A LOT in the last 20 minutes, just wasn't picked up. Just goes to show the Chiefs, you can't expect to play well for only 30 minutes and win

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Aye, Warratahs lucky to hang on in the end, all possession they had they just booted right back to the Chiefs

 

[ZOEY]

Leonard did exceptionally well in that game. sometimes the coaches sees what we don't see, substituting him was not on.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Sigh, a try behind after 5 minutes. White sin binned + Penalty try. This is going from bad to worse.
the Chiefs really need to get their game back on trail ( luckily they have a bye next week). Pity Gatland isn't the new coach for next season.
I'm starting to get worried about the rest of the season. The next game is against the Crusaders. Oh dear.

 

[Bogdam]

i know the Chiefs will win the match!!!!because they have a secret weapon..........king Tana......goooooooooooooo Chiefs

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

You do know the match was 12 hours ago and the Tahs beat the Chiefs 23-16 right?

 

[cyRil]

Sigh, a try behind after 5 minutes. White sin binned + Penalty try. This is going from bad to worse.
the Chiefs really need to get their game back on trail ( luckily they have a bye next week). Pity Gatland isn't the new coach for next season.
I'm starting to get worried about the rest of the season. The next game is against the Crusaders. Oh dear.

Aye, I feel the same mate!

 

[Shaggy]

Despite holding on for the win, the Warratahs have big problems with their tight five and their leadership - yes, they dominated in some of the scrums earlier in the game, but the Chiefs are hardly the most dominating of tight fives in New Zealand or South Africa ... it was noticeable, once again, how the game started to go pear shaped for the Tahs when Phil Waugh was forced from the field - the forwards lacked leadership ... Polota-Nau is about the only one in the tight five that consistently puts his body on the line ... Robbie Deans must be a little bit relieved that he has four other franchises to pick his forwards from, because these guys look a little soft to me

 

[Draggs]

Aye, I feel the same mate!

I see what you did there.

 

[Sam Owen]

Foster is an idiot when it comes to subsitutions.

Here comes Tana

I thought Foster should've brought Tana on a little earlier. Sweeney (as good a player as he is) really wasnt doin much. Tana couldve done the same as Sweeney on attack (Tana fans might argue more) but its Tanas defence and his ability to scramble (get back) and shut down those half breaks that wouldve made him more suitable for the situation the Chiefs were in, 'cos lets face it the Chiefs defence wasnt good.

Liam perhpas should be permanent captain 'cos it really brings out the best of him.

Warratahs were the better team on the night. The commentators felt that the 'Tahs fell asleep and thats how the Chiefs snuck back in and maybe they did but even if the 'Tahs stayed awake, I think the Chiefs wouldve still snuck back in because theres not much between the 2 teams. Pakalani, the 'Tahs centre I think his name is Smith and Polota-Nau had good games last night.

 

[Shaggy]

I thought Foster should've brought Tana on a little earlier. Sweeney (as good a player as he is) really wasnt doin much. Tana couldve done the same as Sweeney on attack (Tana fans might argue more) but its Tanas defence and his ability to scramble (get back) and shut down those half breaks that wouldve made him more suitable for the situation the Chiefs were in, 'cos lets face it the Chiefs defence wasnt good.

Liam perhpas should be permanent captain 'cos it really brings out the best of him.

Warratahs were the better team on the night. The commentators felt that the 'Tahs fell asleep and thats how the Chiefs snuck back in and maybe they did but even if the 'Tahs stayed awake, I think the Chiefs wouldve still snuck back in because theres not much between the 2 teams. Pakalani, the 'Tahs centre I think his name is Smith and Polota-Nau had good games last night.

I agree Sam, by the time Tana came on, it was too late for him to really do anything ... I felt Fritz Lee probably came on too late too ... I could see what Ian Foster was trying to do, by trying to maximise the impact from his bench, but I think he got the timing wrong, bringing on Aled, Fritz, and Tana too late

... I think there's no doubt that Messam will be the long term captain - when is Mils back? ... he's likely to be in Japan next season anyway

 

[smartcooky]

Despite holding on for the win, the Warratahs have big problems with their tight five and their leadership - yes, they dominated in some of the scrums earlier in the game, but the Chiefs are hardly the most dominating of tight fives in New Zealand or South Africa ... it was noticeable, once again, how the game started to go pear shaped for the Tahs when Phil Waugh was forced from the field - the forwards lacked leadership ... Polota-Nau is about the only one in the tight five that consistently puts his body on the line ... Robbie Deans must be a little bit relieved that he has four other franchises to pick his forwards from, because these guys look a little soft to me

Especially Al Baxter!!

He looks every bit the tough, uncompromising THP; the ramrod-straight back, the hard look on his face and the fire in the eyes as he stares out his opposing Lucy. Then the pressure comes on and he folds like Ragdolly Anna.

He was so poor for the Wallabies v All Blacks in 2009 that the referee (Kaplan), who was continually (and rightly) pinging him for either dropping his bind or dropping the scrum, said to him "If you can't scrummage properly then we'll get you off and bring on someone who can". Straight after that, Robbie whipped him off the field (after only about half an hour) because he could see a yellow card coming.

When his replacement (Ben Alexander, I think) came on, Kaplan remarked "I hope you do a better job than the last guy".


That was it for Al Baxter. He didn't play for the Wallabies v the All Blacks again after that.

NOTE: I secretly hope that Robbie will pick him again, because Tony Woodcock will hand him his arse on a platter.

 

[Amobokoboko]

The most important thing now is to get the team back on trail. When everybody comes back out of injury they should try to win every game that's still to play.

 

[Sam Owen]

Especially Al Baxter!!

He looks every bit the tough, uncompromising THP; the ramrod-straight back, the hard look on his face and the fire in the eyes as he stares out his opposing Lucy. Then the pressure comes on and he folds like Ragdolly Anna.

He was so poor for the Wallabies v All Blacks in 2009 that the referee (Kaplan), who was continually (and rightly) pinging him for either dropping his bind or dropping the scrum, said to him "If you can't scrummage properly then we'll get you off and bring on someone who can". Straight after that, Robbie whipped him off the field (after only about half an hour) because he could see a yellow card coming.

When his replacement (Ben Alexander, I think) came on, Kaplan remarked "I hope you do a better job than the last guy".


That was it for Al Baxter. He didn't play for the Wallabies v the All Blacks again after that.

NOTE: I secretly hope that Robbie will pick him again, because Tony Woodcock will hand him his arse on a platter.

LOL...bit harsh Cooky.

 

[Larksea]

scrums were a bit frustrating, yes the tah's massive front row had the upper hand but I dont think the ref did a very good job overall either. One good thing I guess is that the chiefs scrum always seems to get stronger as the game goes on. Which could very well be about running the bigger oposition props around the field a bit and taking some of their puff away. Another good thing is that Toby smiths side was fine I think. He really is a good scrummager one problem I've been hinting at is that nathan whites workload has been pretty massive this season and he's likely just worn out. With Afeki, Ben May and Toby smith all spending time on the sidelines with injury so far Nathan white has not had a breather.

Still are some posatives to take from the game for the chiefs:

- that 2nd half performance would have beaten most teams if it was put together for the full 80.

- Liam Messam is in superb form, he was IMO the best player on the park. And he's not just doing one or two things well he's doing everything well. His defence is huge - he put 2-3 big hits on Palu in the early part of that game and Palu never recovered before being taken off early. His breakdown work is very good, he's come up with some passes any good 10 would be proud of and those runs he goes on down the right hand side of the field should be inspiring the chiefs too much more than bonus point losses Fending, bumping and swating players off like flies. He is at his best playing #8 and does a better job as captian than Mills (also consider that messam is almost never injured). I can tell he's put on a bit of extra bulk since he's been asked to play 8 and I honestly think he's the best 8 of any in NZ right now. No disrespect to Read who is still in good form and Vito who has been the pick of the canes pack playing at 8. I think NZ's #8 riches are the best they have ever been right now shame it's because we have had 3 world class blindside flankers playing 8 (though Messam has always been an 8 who played 6)

- Masanga is looking deadly this season.

- Brendon Leonard is in great form. Foster is making a big mistake by bringing him off so early. I think it cost the chiefs the game against the blues and Leonard looked very unhappy to be coming off the field when he did in that game.

- Mills & Donald should be back from injury soon. Tim is a good little attacking player with a lot of skill but he is nowhere near the class of Mills on defence either tackling or against the high ball. And you could say that Delany's good kicking helped win the game against the sharks but no doubt his poor kicking was a major factor in losing the last two games add to that some of his kicking around the field has been poor, plus the chiefs backline hasn't looked as well organised with mike running things. I'm sure many people saw Donalds injury as a chance for Delany to try and show he's the better option but the chiefs have missed Donald big time and he should be welcomed back.

Chiefs need this bye but the worst part is they have to come back and play the crucaders, which is a horrid prospect for any team. Then they have to pack up and face the Lions & Bulls away and by that time they will be in "must win" territory. And if that wasn't bad enough they have to then play the stormers and then the crucaders again!

I think I better dust off by blues shirt.

 

[Shaggy]

I think the positives are that the Chiefs have a bye this week ... now, if we could only get the Hurricanes to do the same

... Actually, my frustration with the Chiefs (and the Canes), is that while I don't mind them losing, they just seem to go missing for large chunks of the matches ... the Chiefs probably only played for about 30 minutes of that match (and i'm being charitable there) - for (insert your favourite deity here) sake, play the full 80+ minutes, and put up a fight, like the Lions and Cheetahs (with the exception of the Reds game)