Highlanders vs Blues
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Some random thoughts
SBW is slow as hell in the open field. Strictly a 12 only - cant be considered for 13.
Naholo and Rieko were both excellent - brilliant to watch.
Rob 'Matchbox 20' Thompson really strong.
Akira made a statement - workrate up - looks bloody fit - x factor galore. Outplayed Luke Whitelock.
Pulu clearly outplayed by Aaron Smith but by no means was he poor - error free, was decisive at ruck time, made good captaincy choices.
Gatland's boot a huge step up from Ihaia.
Preston looked out of his depth - I had my suspicions when Steve Bates talked him up - sure enough.
Nutbrown wasnt atrocious but he isnt a very good ref - Highlanders got the rub of the green.
Cracking game considering first for both.
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I am not convinced about the "Akira workrate up" observation.
Will wait and see, think he drifts in and out of games a lot, hard to argue with two tries but they were not super difficult, the second against A Smith more difficult but he should be scoring those tries. His lineout work looked pretty good at times on opposition throw.
No question he outplayed Whitelock L, how is Whitelock an AB number 8, can't break tackles or beat a man, the only thing he seemed to offer last night that he didn't really make any stupid mistakes and turn the ball over when he went into contact, and goes into contact without much impact.
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As a neutral, I think the better side won. The Blues can be brilliant but they lack the necessary composure to be clinical.
Positives :Hodgman can scrum.
Scrafton was very effective in the rucks. Good game from him.
Tuipolutu was very good when he came in.
Akira's workate has greatly improved. Early days admittedly, but he's on his way into the AB squad if he can keep on playing like that.
Gatland is better and quicker than I expected.
Collins was not as awful as most ferners think he is. Solid game despite the early penalties.
Squire has shown why he is an All Black (Whitelock not so).
Really impressed by Aaron Smith. Damned, he is really fit to get behind every ruck so quickly !
Walden was sharp in his both tries. Otherwise, he was very quiet.Negatives :
Coltman can't throw.
George Moala was pretty ineffective. From what I saw in this game, the Blues best backline should be : Collins - Duffy - Ioane - SBW - Nanai (or Duffy at fullback and Moala on the wing).
The Blues bench props were not up to the standard in terms of scrummaging. -
Here are the Ioane and Whitelock stats:
Tries 2:0
Ball carries 9:9
Good passes 2:3
Line breaks 0:0
Offloads 0:1
Tackle breaks 2:1
Turnovers conceded 1:0
Turnovers won 0:0
Tackles dominant 1:3
Tackles made 8:11
Tackles missed 1:2
Handling errors 2:1
Penalties 0:0
Lineouts stollen 0:0
Lineouts won 3:0 -
@username said in Highlanders vs Blues:
Here are the Ioane and Whitelock stats:
Tries 2:0
Ball carries 9:9
Good passes 2:3
Line breaks 0:0
Offloads 0:1
Tackle breaks 2:1
Turnovers conceded 1:0
Turnovers won 0:0
Tackles dominant 1:3
Tackles made 8:11
Tackles missed 1:2
Handling errors 2:1
Penalties 0:0
Lineouts stollen 0:0
Lineouts won 3:0What is that saying about statistics?
There's lies, damn lies, then statistics ...
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@username said in Highlanders vs Blues:
Here are the Ioane and Whitelock stats:
Tries 2:0
Ball carries 9:9
Good passes 2:3
Line breaks 0:0
Offloads 0:1
Tackle breaks 2:1
Turnovers conceded 1:0
Turnovers won 0:0
Tackles dominant 1:3
Tackles made 8:11
Tackles missed 1:2
Handling errors 2:1
Penalties 0:0
Lineouts stollen 0:0
Lineouts won 3:0Here endeth today's lesson about your opinion vs objective data.
Can I suggest every citizen on the planet retains this lesson for all aspects of life 😁
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Stats are for selectors who don’t really watch the game.
How effective were each persons carries? How many defenders did they take out of he game during that carry? How much did they each lift their team with each dominant tackle? Was their good passing under pressure, or was the opposite 20m away?
I could go on, but stats are only half the story.
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The most import stat is errors keep them to a minimum and there’s a good chance your on the winning side of the ledger.
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I notice the Whitelock stats don't include the turnover he conceded when held up like a bitch by Tuipolotu and ref ruled collapsed maul. Whitelock did nothing, Ioane was everywhere, especially helping out Collins with the high balls.
I really enjoyed this game, astounding to think it was the first of the season. Very even, very open, some cracking tries. In the end i thought the difference was the Highlanders elite players were just better. Aaron Smith is easily the best halfback in the world, and makes a massive difference to any side he plays for. Ben Smith was fucking handy as well, despite not being quite as sharp (understandable given his break).
For the Blues they were pretty close, but their formation, and how flat they are playing, isn't going to work with SBW jogging on to the ball. Those big midfielders need to be hitting the ball harder to hold defenders, or generate the momentum to provide offloads (not that the blues outside backs were sniffing around them). Pulu still slows down far too much of their ball as well. Highlanders just looked more settled, and better coached.
