Chiefs v Highlanders
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@stargazer said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
IMO Cane is a great player, but it seems he isn't as good as he was a few years ago. I wonder whether that has anything to do with that serious neck injury he's had?
Cane had his best year in black ever last year and was rightfully voted NZ's best player. I think any comparisons to previous years in Black need to be put in perspective that back then he was also playing alongside what may have been one of the All Black's strongest packs ever.
I'm still not sure he's captain material. Some captains are just losers and for whatever reason can't inspire those around them. Cane may be one of these.
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@crucial said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
@bones said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
I don't understand how him being tackled is mitigation for that. What...so it would have been better if he hit him in the head?
Simply because his arm only went up when he was tackled around the ankles and falling forward toward an on coming player. It was instinct to protect his head. These rules are all about player safety but a player isnt allowed to protect themselves from potential injury. Ioane ran into his arm not the arm running into Ioane.
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@nepia He did OK in the ABs. The distractors see what they want to see regardless of what happens on the field. The problem seems to be consistency, drifting in and out of games with quiet patches (Kaino was the same when he started).
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@frank Frizzel did OK but yeah, in contrast, Akira looked like he was made for test rugby. His impact was pretty impressive.
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@old-samurai-jack said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
@frank Frizzel did OK but yeah, in contrast, Akira looked like he was made for test rugby. His impact was pretty impressive.
He just needs to repeat it for a few games in a row, frizell debut for the abs was good from memory
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@oleoleole His lack of effort to tackle or even check the catcher in leadup to the long range try was very disappointing also. I think there was a collective lack of defensive urgency when the Chiefs got ahead, and it cost them horribly. Also disappointing to see two of the most effective Chiefs forwards on offence and defence subbed early. They never regained that impact with the subs on.
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@oleoleole come on, that pass from dmac has horrific, but it’s all on gatland for dropping it?
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@arhs I wasn't impressed with the timing of McMillan's substitutions at all. Taukei'aho went off far too early and I would have moved Finau into lock when Brown came on (Ah Kuoi off). Karpik, again, showed he lacks size at this level.
I didn't think Lowe did anything wrong so just sub Wainui.
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@bovidae Agree totally on all of that. I hope Taukei'aho can continue his early form, as his hard hitting and hard running are needed for getting the pack moving forward. I wonder if the coaching philosophy is to get players like him and Finau to empty the tank and give it 100% for as long as they can? Regardless, I thought they were still going strong when subbed far too early.
Lowe was very good and should keep his place. I am hoping Trask and Tupaea are back in the 23 very soon and a first-choice backline can get the chance to gel and align better on defence and offence.
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@kiwiwomble said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
@oleoleole come on, that pass from dmac has horrific, but it’s all on gatland for dropping it?
Yep. Gatland Jr was standing so flat that DMac had to float the pass and give him time to take a step back.
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@kiwiwomble out in the open, little pressure...he should have caught it....yes, the pass was average...but he should have caught it
