Hurricanes v Chiefs

sparky

Commiserations to the Chiefs. You have played some superb Rugby this year. Given the world-class players on your roster and the spirit in your squad, it can't be long until you'll win another Super title. 
So proud of the Canes!!!! Such a big improvement from the start of the season!!! So much hard work and great to see so many guys delivering on their potential!!!!! Another final. Happy days!!

Mokey

Congrats Canes, thoroughly outplayed the Chiefs tonight. Just were the complete package. Chiefs looked tired and out of sorts, apart from Retallick.
 
Best part of being Wellington born and Taranaki/Hawkes Bay/Waikato raised - I honestly didn't care who won, knowing that I would have a team I actually support in the final!
 
Now then. Who will the Canes be facing...

dingo

I went to the final last year, I shall go again this year.
 
I didn't think we'd be there. The chiefs are the "crusaders" of the 2010s. They are tough adn won't give up. I deeply respect them and thought they'd win.
 
Weirdly I'm slightly more confident we have a chance at actually winning despite Wellington and the lower/eastern/western north island awesomeness being the perennial bridesmaids. The (very slight) amount of confidence comes from the 'canes playing like a a champion team this year versus last year being a team of champions (Nonu...you are the best second five NZ has ever seen) plus the difference a first five who is basically on fire...something the lower/eastern/western north island awesomeness have never had before including last year. Perhaps helped by players who have been half asleep alyear like VV are waking up.
 
If BB doesn't start as AB 10 this year then I'll sugest that maybe Steve Hanson thoinks soup rugby is basically shit.

sparky

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="crusadersfan" data-cid="601611" data-time="1469870667">
I think the reason Rennie has won 2 titles was Wayne Smith was an assistant, since he has left the Chiefs havent taken the title. </blockquote>
Rennie remains in my opinion one of the best 4 or 5 Rugby coaches in the world. He'll be disappointed by tonight but he'll learn from it. 
Losing Charlie Ngatai to concussion issues was a massive blow to the Chiefs' season. When he was on fire a few months ago, they looked unbeatable.

dingo

Watching Rennie talk I'm reminded why I like him. Obviously he from the lower/eastern/western north island awesomeness.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dingo" data-cid="601621" data-time="1469871476">
<div>
If BB doesn't start as AB 10 this year then I'll sugest that maybe Steve Hanson thoinks soup rugby is basically shit.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
TBF, Hansen probably knows what he is doing....while I;d be surprised if BB isnt given the first run at 10 if he remains uninjured, if he doesnt, I wont lose my shit

antipodean

<strike>Canes</strike> Beauden deserved winners.
 
Chiefs played 40 mins like there was only five remaining on the clock. Managed to bomb two certain tries and at least one other possible. For the last quarter of the game they didn't have any structure at all.
 
TJP had an excellent game. Great passing and option taking. Looked very mature in comparison to some of the headless chicken stuff he's displayed previously. If he and Golden Balls stay on the field ne=xt weekend, I can't see them losing.

Rancid Schnitzel

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dingo" data-cid="601621" data-time="1469871476">
I went to the final last year, I shall go again this year. 
I didn't think we'd be there. The chiefs are the "crusaders" of the 2010s. They are tough adn won't give up. I deeply respect them and thought they'd win. 
Weirdly I'm slightly more confident we have a chance at actually winning despite Wellington and the lower/eastern/western north island awesomeness being the perennial bridesmaids. The (very slight) amount of confidence comes from the 'canes playing like a a champion team this year versus last year being a team of champions (Nonu...you are the best second five NZ has ever seen) plus the difference a first five who is basically on fire...something the lower/eastern/western north island awesomeness have never had before including last year. Perhaps helped by players who have been half asleep alyear like VV are waking up. If BB doesn't start as AB 10 this year then I'll sugest that maybe Steve Hanson thoinks soup rugby is basically shit.</blockquote>
 
It should also be noted that Barrett was carrying an injury into the finals, Ardie didn't play and iirc NMS was broken as well. 
The Landers were pretty farking good as well (;

dingo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="601627" data-time="1469872069">
<div>
It should also be noted that Barrett was carrying an injury into the finals, Ardie didn't play and iirc NMS was broken as well. 
The Landers were pretty farking good as well (;
</div>
</blockquote>
Yes, but the lower/eastern/western north island awesomeness don't have Nonu who was on fire on 2015 and was one of the rocks on which RWC2015 was created. Conrad I'll admit was past his best but still the calming influence for the 2015 'canes.
 
 This year neither is playing either and maybe that compensates for last years slightly off BB and a missing Awesome Savea.

mariner4life

Fuck!

pukunui

Boom pretty happy with that, while i am a chiefs fan at certain times the Canes are great to wstch when they get going. Didn't expect this ine to be so one sided though. Chiefs had nothing. Their attacking gameplan appeared to be from the Brumbies play book for most of the game. When they tried their normal game it just fell apart. The travel seemed to kill them. James Lowe in the ABs ? No thanks. J Savea would be getting crucified if he had a game like that. Rettalick and Bird were good. Cruden and Cane pretty anonymous. TKB and Weber outplayed by TJP pretty convincingly. 
For the Canes BB was shit hot. The debate is over now IMO he starts for the ABs. Cruden and Lima fight for the bench. 
BB doesn't need the opposition to be tired to do his thing so start him. Ardie made some huge plays and FABRR was good filling in for Coles. But he is in the David Pocock club of troll like body shape. 
Canes pretty lucky not to see yellow earlier. A bit like the chiefs a couple of weeks back vs the Highlanders. 
Come on Highlanders make it a repeat of last years final.

mimic

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="601422" data-time="1469857827">
<div>
Nah, the Canes have the best 7 and 10 in the history of <strike>NZ</strike> world rugby, the Chiefs don't stand a chance.
 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
 
Never a truer word spoken.

hurricane

This post is written while the wounds of defeat are still fresh so take it with a grain of salt if you disagree with any of the following hyperbole. 1) Dave Rennie may be one of the better coaches I have seen from a player development perspective but I think he is a bit run of the mill for in game tactics and player selection choices. He isn't the worst going around tactically but it isn't his strength, actually "coaching" and teaching players skills is his gig. The biggest thing on his resume for me isn't any championships he has won, it is development of a completely lost and bewildered Aaron Cruden into a world class 1st 5. Some of his selection decisions, not just in this game, but over the years have been curious at best and ill advised at worst. 2) I spent the first fiften minutes of this game throwing my toys out of the cot over the performance or better still non performance of TKB. Kicks out on the full, giving away turnovers that led to tries and I forget what else wound me up. When we finally brought on Weber it was for him to defend a critical 5 metre scrum when surely knowing that TKB is the better defender you leave TKB on until that danger is over. Brad Weber then failed to live up to any of my expectations and seemed to be flustered by how far behind he was on the scoreboard. Perhaps he is just not used to chasing a game. 3) Memo to Aaron Cruden when they are rushing up on you with fast line speed then go with the boot for a while. Don't keep running it all night or that line speed will get faster and faster. 4) Memo to Sam Cane what were you actually doing exactly when Barret picked off your pass for the intercept. It looked like you forgot you were a forward and were trying to suck in a ton of defenders by delaying your pass and the setting the back line away. I can't ever recall McCaw trying to make the perfect pass to set up the backline and I think you should keep things simpler in the future. 5) Another memo to Sam Cane - why did you run over Riccatelli? 6) Memo to Sam Cane and Aaron Cruden - why not take the three points early doors in a final instead of going for 7. This game tested my patience. It felt a bit keystone copish at times from the cheifs. We are better than that. Thanks for the season. Making the semis is a good effort. Win it all next year.

pakman

Thought starting Chiefs tighties had the better of it, but balance of Canes loosies too much for Chiefs. 
Big difference was that Chiefs backs never got to grips with rush defence. Travel probably took edge off and a number of Cheifs specials didn't stick. But tactically Chiefs needed to come out after half time with counter to rush, but instead were predictable. Hence intercept, which killed them. 
Savea and especially Barratt were a case of give them and inch and they'll take a mile! 
Chiefs fans can have no complaints about result.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tordah" data-cid="601605" data-time="1469870422">
<div>
probably because he won the Super Rugby title in his first year in charge of a team full of no-names? And then next year again even though the roster changed dramatically.
Maybe because under him, the NZ U20 won every single fucking game?
Don't judge him on this one game
</div>
</blockquote>
I'm not. But it's been a good while between drinks there buddy.
 
Names like Joseph & Schmidt should be equally in the running.

dingo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="601636" data-time="1469873111">
<div>
Never a truer word spoken.
</div>
</blockquote>
Yes there was...
 
Anyone who thinks A Savea is better than Micheal Jones is too young (or has alsheamers) to rememeber the best "classic" 7 who has ever played. They also can't remember the best 7 who ever played the game who could evolve from a classic 7 to reinvent the position until he retired in 2015.
 
Weirdly, even though Carter just retired, I think BB has the potential to be compared with Carter when BB retires. Both have won a RWC for example.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="601637" data-time="1469873443">
6) Memo to Sam Cane and Aaron Cruden - why not take the three points early doors in a final instead of going for 7.
</blockquote>
 I said that at the time. The lineout and drive were fine - you had the momentum. But the subsequent penalty from the scrum right in front of the sticks should have been kicked. It would have put them in front and given reward for the territory and pressure.

nostrildamus

If BB becomes first pick wouldn't Sopoaga have an advantage over Cruden if both are competing for the bench?

mimic

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dingo" data-cid="601642" data-time="1469874201">
<div>
Yes there was...
 
Anyone who thinks A Savea is better than Micheal Jones is too young (or has alsheamers) to rememeber the best "classic" 7 who has ever played. They also can't remember the best 7 who ever played the game who could evolve from a classic 7 to reinvent the position until he retired in 2015.
 
Weirdly, even though Carter just retired, I think BB has the potential to be compared with Carter when BB retires. Both have won a RWC for example.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
The comment I quoted was made in jest. My reply was because even though it was in jest, Ardie and BB were huge tonight.
But yes, continue on showing off your wisdom because us folk too young round here.

Stargazer

Crap internet connection, so only one response to the game from me:
<ul><li>Best Chiefs players: the locks</li>
<li>Best Canes players: BB, TJP, Ardie</li>
<li>Biggest positive surprise: although I had seen him play really well before, never thought Riccitelli would make such a good impression. May be someone with an AB future ...? So glad he's a Magpie!</li>
<li>Most negative surprise: the inability of the Chiefs to convert chances into points, although credit is due to the Canes' defence</li>
<li>Match-up 1: despite Cruden not being terribly bad, BB totally dominated the battle of the 10s. Only magic from BB (attack & defence), while Cruden had some awful handling errors.</li>
<li>Match-up 2: TJP waaaaaaaay better than TKB/Weber, although to Weber's defence, he was brought on much too late in the game</li>
<li>Match-up 3: not Cane's first bad/average game of the season. Ardie clearly the best 7 of the last few games, esp. tonight</li>
<li>Lowe: not AB material; can't catch or pass (not just this week)</li>
<li>Dmac: very, very disappointing; was impressive in beginning of season, but has been steadily deteriorating in last third of the season; at first, he seemed to have problems on defence only, but now a lot of errors have crept in as well</li>
<li>I think this Canes' team has the potential to go all the way this year. Despite the players that are missing from last year, they look better now. I think it's mostly a mental thing. There's fire in this squad.</li>
</ul>

The Silver Fern

Hurricanes v Chiefs