Chiefs v Blues
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Good work Blues for not letting this turn into a 60 point rout.
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is a RC automatic week off?
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A man up for 40 mins and they only won by 15 points? After being up by 12 at half time?
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@antipodean said in Chiefs v Blues:
A man up for 40 mins and they only won by 15 points? After being up by 12 at half time?
Our bench made a huge impact, and at 41-9 all intensity went of the Chiefs.
Red card was fully deserved, but that was the end of the game. Can't tell much about either team from that game.
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Thought Akira was poor in his 40. Few bad options from colins want so see one of Colin's or Duffie off backline too safe
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@muddyriver said in Chiefs v Blues:
Thought Akira was poor in his 40. Few bad options from colins want so see one of Colin's or Duffie off backline too safe
He was working pretty hard, particularly at the ruck was unlucky not to get a few turnovers.
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@Kirwan said in Chiefs v Blues:
Red card was fully deserved, but that was the end of the game. Can't tell much about either team from that game.
I wathed the first half, and agree on the Red under the new rules. No argument and stupid.
You can tell the Chiefs have Wayne Smith's DNA. Crikey the put on some good moves - real highlights reel stuff to break down defences. They are going to go OK this year I reckon.
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Was impressed with Cowley-Tuioti around the field tonight. He was everywhere before getting subbed off as was Blake Gibson. For me they were eaasily our 2 best starting forwards tonight.
Pulu made a few errors but love the way he throws himself about. He keeps coming and doesn't go into his shell after a mistake.
The bench did what was expected but the game was well gone when they came on. If anything, the gametime was probably the most important thing to take out of that game for them.
Important not to let our heads drop after tonight. Must win game for us next week otherwise we'll lose too much ground on the other sides similar to last season at around this period.
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C-T was mobile but looked a bit lightweight - however PT next to him might help.
I think Collins got exposed - he looks too slow/not athletic enough for NZ derbies. Also the backline looked better when Molala came on. Think that should be the start. Very cool seeing Ranger score from a classic Rene bump off.
Gibson was very impressive - that boy just keeps going.
Congrats Chiefs - some wonderful handling - Cruden had a great game for his 100th.
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@KiwiMurph I'd expect Cowley-Tuioti to drop out to the bench and have Pat and Jimmy Tupou starting.
Yes Collins lacks a bit of spark. He's solid but doesn't add a lot in attack. Him and Nanai need to swap around and change things up a bit more as Nanai is wasted just sitting on the wing throughout the match waiting for the ball to come to him. I would take a bit of pressure off Rieko a bit if Nanai would join our attack from fullback from time to time if he keeps getting picked on the wing.
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Just back from the game. I don't think I've ever been as pissed off after a 15 pt win. The Chiefs played really dumb rugby in the last 30 mins and almost threw away a bonus point after leaking 3 tries.
I haven't read earlier comments yet but I thought Boshier was immense. And obviously the Chiefs were hurting after the scrum effort in the pre-season game. Having Hika back in the front row certainly helped there.
Anyway, a good start to the comp before another big NZ derby next week.
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@taniwharugby said in Chiefs v Blues:
is a RC automatic week off?
Don't think so. The judicial officer could decide that a first half RC was enough punishment.
It is a problem though when you up the onfield card thresholds. It means an automatic hearing and being punished twice for the same act. Under the old rulings that would probably not have been a RC so the same act jumps from 10 minutes on the sideline to a loss for the team, and possibly weeks away from the comp.
Just seems a little harsh.
IMO RCs should be saved for the really bad acts. Using them as a tool to try and keep contact lower still feels a bit OTT. If safety really is the concern why aren't missiles into the ruck treated harsher? Sliding with the knees into a try scorer etc etc. -
@Kirwan said in Chiefs v Blues:
@antipodean said in Chiefs v Blues:
A man up for 40 mins and they only won by 15 points? After being up by 12 at half time?
Our bench made a huge impact, and at 41-9 all intensity went of the Chiefs.
Red card was fully deserved, but that was the end of the game. Can't tell much about either team from that game.
Yeah, it showed how it is the small mental things that make the difference at this level. As soon as the Chiefs lost that tiny edge to their game and just played solely from skill they were outplayed by a determined Blues side.
If the game proved anything it's that Umaga has instilled some backbone into the side which should help them immensely. Now they just need to ensure they can cover up their small errors as well as their big ones.
