Chiefs vs Highlanders

hurricane

I think a factor in the win was simply "the Landers had Naholo back".
 
The bloke scored two tries that perhaps some other wingers may not have scored, and was annoying at the breakdown all night.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mattasaurus" data-cid="577797" data-time="1462613153">
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They're the best games to watch by a loooong margin.
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TBH, I don't actually like them, I prefer supporting a NZ team over a foreign team (and the Crusaders of course).

taniwharugby

All this does is tightens up the NZ conference...especially if the canes and Blues pick up wins.
 
Crusaders 37
Chiefs 37
Highlanders 32
Hurricanes 31
Blues 20

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="577777" data-time="1462612416">
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D-Mac has been very poor tonight
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You'd swear he was only aged 21 or something...
 
He just needs to settle it down a bit. Anyway, Chris Rattue was calling for him to replace Cruden as the Chiefs 10, which is always the kiss of death. Much like when he said Ben Smith wasn't any good...

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="577771" data-time="1462612216">
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Once again Bird has been a passenger. Miles from higher honours.
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I think he's already been overtaken by Scott Barrett anyway.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="577804" data-time="1462613375">I think a factor in the win was simply "the Landers had Naholo back". 
The bloke scored two tries that perhaps some other wingers may not have scored, and was annoying at the breakdown all night.</blockquote>
He was very influential. Not much fun for Chiefs fans tonight but very exciting for ABs fans. Fuck that's an impressive first game back after a broken leg. Can see why Hansen wants him in black so bad.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="577777" data-time="1462612416">
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D-Mac has been very poor tonight
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The chorus calling for him to be in the AB XV against Wales is getting noticeably quieter. We're heading into the championship rounds of this competition and he looks like he's trying too hard now.
 
Also I don't want a 80kg back defending against the Welsh backline.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="577810" data-time="1462613626">
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The chorus calling for him to be in the AB XV against Wales is getting noticeably quieter. We're heading into the championship rounds of this competition and he looks like he's trying too hard now.
 
Also I don't want a 80kg back defending against the Welsh backline.
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Is he the next TNW?
 
I want him in the AB squad, I think he has loads of talent, but he is not ready yet for test football: correct decision making and defence are the major work-ons.

Mattasaurus

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="577800" data-time="1462613271">
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I dunno. I quite enjoyed watching the Chiefs give the Brumbies a hiding in Canberra, for example... :) 
But yeah the pace of the game between the NZ sides is on another level at the moment.
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yip i enjoyed that too ;)

hydro11

D Mac just isn't needed in the squad right now. We know who our two best first fives are and who our best 10/15 utility is. D Mac probably doesn't make the squad unless he is your number one fullback and he isn't better than Ben Smith at this stage (who will be 15 with Naholo 14) plus Dagg is playing well.

Canerbry

Beautiful result, great work Landers rewarding me for my unconditional support since the Crusaders dropped out last year. Until next week when you're a bunch of useless fluffybunnies. 
Ngatai lifted but the whole episode was woeful. Communication between the refs was laughable and the guessing was just hilarious. 
Chiefs lost the forward battle and the overrated backline couldn't do anything about it, plus lost their bottle and got the dropsies. Lots of brittle players. Retallick their best player, played like a Cantab. 
Aaron Smith was good; Naholo; 10 battle went to Sopo; nice, organised, comprehensive win. 
Top of the table woo!

Siam

Apologies to all those I disagreed with about Dixon getting tackled without the ball. I thought Dixon was contesting a ball that had been kicked and was taken out in the act of gathering that ball
 
Upon viewing the replay it is abundantly clear that Dixon had the ball, then jumped into a tackle which caused him to flip in the air :think:
 
Ngatai will no doubt be cleared because he did nothing wrong and was at no fault whatsoever :idiot2:
 
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79739197/chiefs-second-fiveeighth-charlie-ngatai-yellowcarded-for-dangerous-tackle'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79739197/chiefs-second-fiveeighth-charlie-ngatai-yellowcarded-for-dangerous-tackle</a>

Billy Tell

Can NMS or Naholo play 11? It would be nice to see competition for Savea. Don't think I've ever seen NMS at 11, Naholo I can't remember.

hurricane

Points out of ten for the AB contenders in the match. This is my opinion only, you are free to disagree
 
Sopoanga 7 - solid did nothing wrong. Did nothing particularly right
Cruden 7 - see comment for Sopoanga
Smith 8 - better kicking game than Webber. Good option taking
Webber 7 - does he even have a box kick. I am sure he does. Can't remember it tonight. Some sexy passes.
Naholo 10 out of 10
Ben Smith 5 - I thought he didn't look AB material. Simple knock on in the red zone and lacked the zip he had last year. Needs to get back into the AB camp to start drinking Grant Fox's power shakes at 7:30am.
Mckenzie - 7 - Outplayed Ben Smith but took some bad options at times and failed to get away the crucial last pass. He came into first receiver very nicely a number of times and directed traffic. Brave effort under the high ball but would have wanted to have been even better. Some stupid kicks with the ball in hand at times instead of taking the tackle and recycling. 
Ngatai 8 - Very strong game his yellow card notwithstanding.
James Lowe 6. Typical James Lowe game. Did some good things. Did some average things. Overall was an asset. Good try assist.
BBR - 10. Stood out in the Chiefs pack.
Elliot Dixon - 6. Did nothing right or wrong all night. Loses 1 point for jumping into a tackle and nearly killing himself.
Sam Cane 4. Where was he at the breakdown. Not his best effort in the 7 jumper this year. Usually he kills it. Not tonight.
Fekitoa 6 - did nothing right or wrong. Passing mark.

Anonymous

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="577816" data-time="1462614680">
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Apologies to all those I disagreed with about Dixon getting tackled without the ball. I thought Dixon was contesting a ball that had been kicked and was taken out in the act of gathering that ball
 
Upon viewing the replay it is abundantly clear that Dixon had the ball, then jumped into a tackle which caused him to flip in the air :think:
 
Ngatai will no doubt be cleared because he did nothing wrong and was at no fault whatsoever :idiot2:
 
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79739197/chiefs-second-fiveeighth-charlie-ngatai-yellowcarded-for-dangerous-tackle'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79739197/chiefs-second-fiveeighth-charlie-ngatai-yellowcarded-for-dangerous-tackle</a>
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Seriously, I have no idea what Dixon is doing in that video. Looks like a complete unco.
 
What I see is Ngatai goes to tackle Dixon (since the ball is going to him). Dixon goes to tackle Ngatai after Ngatai has committed to tackling him. At the last second Dixon realises the ball is coming to him and flails his arms about. The ball hits him on the shoulder then he jumps into Ngatai's tackle.
 
I really can't see how Ngatai can be at fault in that situation. If anything, the dangerous play is Dixon jumping into a tackle.

Samurai Jack

Nah, Ngatai carried on with the tackle and made it worse. Yellow right decision. All your arguments could be used against all players going up for the high ball. But he jumped into it ref.

Anonymous

It couldn't be used against players jumping for the high ball because they'd be in the air when they catch it. Dixon was on the ground when he tried to catch the ball and jump afterwards.
 
I disagree that he carried on with the tackle but you could argue Ngatai carrying on with the tackle (if you think he did) was actually to put Dixon in a safer position. If he'd somehow pulled out earlier, Dixon most likely would have landed on his head. I wouldn't classify that as better than landing on your side.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Samurai Jack" data-cid="577828" data-time="1462618427">
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Nah, Ngatai carried on with the tackle and made it worse. Yellow right decision. All your arguments could be used against all players going up for the high ball. But he jumped into it ref. 
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But that is exactly what many of us have been saying. The way this is being ruled is stupid in situations where it is the actions of the jumping player giving the other one no time to pull out or react differently.
 
As for saying that Ngatai carried on with it. Stop watching the slo=mo and watch real time. He had no time to do untying and was flummoxed as to what happened. he had absolutely no clue.

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="577784" data-time="1462612655">
Wow, bitchy - you sure you're not Shark? ;) </blockquote>
 
It's from the same poster who would have you believe that Rennie deserves little credit for two titles and it was Smith who was coaching the Chiefs. 
Of course he has been quiet as the Chiefs have gone seven straight and have topped the conference. All with an extremely ropey tight five at times. 
Then one loss and the same old invective comes out. 
Just petty really.

Winger

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="577825" data-time="1462616751">
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Points out of ten for the AB contenders in the match. This is my opinion only, you are free to disagree
 
Sopoanga 7 - solid did nothing wrong. Did nothing particularly right
Cruden 7 - see comment for Sopoanga
Smith 8 - better kicking game than Webber. Good option taking
Webber 7 - does he even have a box kick. I am sure he does. Can't remember it tonight. Some sexy passes.
Naholo 10 out of 10
Ben Smith 5 - I thought he didn't look AB material. Simple knock on in the red zone and lacked the zip he had last year. Needs to get back into the AB camp to start drinking Grant Fox's power shakes at 7:30am.
Mckenzie - 7 - Outplayed Ben Smith but took some bad options at times and failed to get away the crucial last pass. He came into first receiver very nicely a number of times and directed traffic. Brave effort under the high ball but would have wanted to have been even better. Some stupid kicks with the ball in hand at times instead of taking the tackle and recycling. 
Ngatai 8 - Very strong game his yellow card notwithstanding.
James Lowe 6. Typical James Lowe game. Did some good things. Did some average things. Overall was an asset. Good try assist.
BBR - 10. Stood out in the Chiefs pack.
Elliot Dixon - 6. Did nothing right or wrong all night. Loses 1 point for jumping into a tackle and nearly killing himself.
Sam Cane 4. Where was he at the breakdown. Not his best effort in the 7 jumper this year. Usually he kills it. Not tonight.
Fekitoa 6 - did nothing right or wrong. Passing mark.
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Sopoaga 8 easily outplayed Cruden 6

The Silver Fern

Chiefs vs Highlanders