Blues v Chiefs

Tim

@Tim said in Blues v Chiefs:

Akira had his best game for a while.

Odd comment as he's been pretty good since his return.

See, all it takes for him to get plaudits is to not run the ball and just go from ruck to ruck.

Thought his defence had the most sting, and he hit rucks a bit more effectively. Combined with some good carrying.

Kirwan

@Tim said in Blues v Chiefs:

On ya Blues. Good teams can even beat bad refs.

Man he made some bad calls tonight. Funny to see the complaints about just the last one.

Blues should have won that by plenty, clearly the better side.

Tim

@Kirwan Yeah, they'll be cringing during the Monday review when they how many times they let a team like the Chiefs off the hook.

Mokey

In summary, the Chiefs blew a ton of chances, Gatland is free to return to Wales whenever he likes, the ref sucked, and the Blues were extraordinarily lucky to retain 15 men for 78 mins.

KiwiMurph

Blues were bloody lucky.

Ref was poor - as is often the case - these refs just can't keep up with the intensity/pace.

Chiefs aren't a bad side - a bounce of the ball here or there and they have what - 3 wins at least in this comp?

Credit to the Blues goal line defence but cripes they shoot themselves in the foot again and again.

Kirwan

At least we will never have to hear about Garland being AB coach ever again.

Tim

@Kirwan Or him state before games that the opposition has no threats.

booboo

@Bones said in Blues v Chiefs:

Disappointing to see Robinson take himself out of contention for AB selection there.

? Huh?

gt12

I'm wild. Fucking filthy wild.

I'm happy to admit that the Blues are a better side, but the Chiefs should have been playing 14 far earlier, and that last penalty is a fucking shocker.

Bones

@booboo said in Blues v Chiefs:

@Bones said in Blues v Chiefs:

Disappointing to see Robinson take himself out of contention for AB selection there.

? Huh?

Man bun.

Tim

Cane is a very good, very tough player, but there's harder hitters at 7 out there now.

Tim

@gt12 The ref ignored your players not releasing and coming in from the side consistently. These are the big changes they once enforced. Should've been a yellow card against the Chiefs when Papalii took it to the 22 about 60 min in.

Steven Harris

As someone who has watched Rugby for over 40 years, I have always said that Brendon Pickerall as an official is out of his depth , I have mentioned this many times on this forum ..but as a Blues supporter I make no apologies on winning a tight contest given what we have had to endure from officials over the last several years..
On today’s game , the Blues kept the Chiefs in the game with their own indiscipline..we will have to be much better against a Highlanders team on the improve ..

Yeetyaah

@Tim 1, 2 or even 3 penalties more still doesn't stack up to 15. You can't deny the Blues should have been down a player far earlier and that Goodhue was off his feet.

gt12

@Tim

He’s terrible. We’re crap.

And you guys are a better team.

But with the game on the line in the last 5, he went even further. Those last few minutes were utter incompetence.

Or, is he a cheat? He’s from Auckland/Harbor isn’t he?

Tim

@gt12 Grew up south of Auckland, moved there for uni.

gt12

@Tim

Born in Takapuna apparently,

Steven Harris

@gt12 it doesn’t matter where Pickerall is from , he could be from the moon.., he would still be terrible , I commentated his debut match ,Northland v Southland a few seasons back...it was the longest rugby game I have ever called ..started at 7.35pm and did not finish until after 9.30pm..he went to the TMO to check on decisions or foul play on at least 8 occasions..I knew then, this guy is gonna be an issue ..compare his performance to Doleman last night ..night and day basically

Crucial

I used to give him a bit of leeway as h was thrown into high level stuff very early as what appeared as a “project” to show young guys they could choose reffing as a career.
Trouble is that he hasn’t lifted in competence at all yet they keep moving him up the chain.
His lack of knowledge when sitting in the TMO seat was highlighted then today a critical howler among a number of odd decisions and misses.
He knew he probably got that one wrong too. He wouldn’t look at Cane and was looking very uncomfortable.

KiwiMurph

Yeah Pickerall has been bad for a long long time.

I remember he ruined the Wallabies-Barbarians game in Sydney a few years back with non-stop whistle.

The Silver Fern

Blues v Chiefs