Chiefs v Blues
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@SammyC said in Chiefs v Blues:
Those starting locks for the blues looked like little shrimps next to Retalick and Bird.
Blues totally smashed up front at set piece and breakdown. What the fuck has happened to Akira Ioane?
He was one of the most dynamic and involved players in the NPC last year. Now he stands around in the midfield waiting for someone to pass him the ball.
Why does Auckland rugby (and the Warriors) do this to promising players so consistently? (Turn them into lazy slobs)
It's more people judging players unfairly. Because Akira is a bit niggly (no worse than Brodie) people seem to enjoy getting stuck into him.
The stats just don't bear out any accusations of laziness.
I would like to see him run onto the ball more for his hit ups, but his acceleration and strength beats so many players it's hard to argue with his approach. It gets more effective as the game wears on, so being yanked at halftime thanks to Luatua reduced his highlight reel. But look who's doing the tackling and trying for turnovers at the rucks, it's usually him or Gibson.
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@Kirwan said in Chiefs v Blues:
@kiwiinmelb said in Chiefs v Blues:
apparently there was a trial game just recently and the blues forwards gave the chiefs a bit of a touch up in all aspects ,
I wonder if that helped to create a false sense of security within the camp
Very unlikely, IMO. It was close right up until Luatua's brain explosion, and on target for the bench to make an impact.
The main weakness before that was our hookers poor throwing, we were sharing penalties at the scrum and halfway through the game we were well ahead in turnovers.
Bit harsh solely blaming Moulds IMO, his throws looked like they went where they were meant to be (bar one looked too flat) just the Chiefs got someone up in front and stole them, so more down to timing of the throw/jump or the Chiefs were reading the blues playbook, bit of both in my view.
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@taniwharugby said in Chiefs v Blues:
@Kirwan said in Chiefs v Blues:
@kiwiinmelb said in Chiefs v Blues:
apparently there was a trial game just recently and the blues forwards gave the chiefs a bit of a touch up in all aspects ,
I wonder if that helped to create a false sense of security within the camp
Very unlikely, IMO. It was close right up until Luatua's brain explosion, and on target for the bench to make an impact.
The main weakness before that was our hookers poor throwing, we were sharing penalties at the scrum and halfway through the game we were well ahead in turnovers.
Bit harsh solely blaming Moulds IMO, his throws looked like they went where they were meant to be (bar one looked too flat) just the Chiefs got someone up in front and stole them, so more down to timing of the throw/jump or the Chiefs were reading the blues playbook, bit of both in my view.
The throws were on the money, but the receivers were out muscled in the contest. There coulda/shoulda been a change of plan, throwing big balls to bigger guys isn't playing to your strengths. The chiefs are disruptive all over the park. Luatua looked like he lined that tackle up 10 seconds before it happened, not a smart move.
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Some of the throws were on the chiefs side of the lineout.. or weren't high enough for the receiver.. many times the receiver had to reach out in front or to the side to get the ball..
If people thought Akira was niggly, just take a look at the chiefs last night.. Akira played well I thought.. We were just getting beat in the set piece.. Hames was boring in all night..
I thought Luatua was playing well, putting in some huge hits until he got sent off..
I was a bit disappointed by the Blues captaincy.. I would've been in the ear of the ref talking up the mounting penalty count.. Get some pressure for a team yellow..
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Jesus Charlie is going to be a huge loss to the All Blacks. He's the perfect bench prop, so effective around the track on both sides of the ball.
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Rewatching this with a bit more ahem clarity than last night ...
... haven't read the thread but SURELY when TKB "lost" the ball short of the line just after Luatua's brain fade that should have been a penalty try? Nanae had no right to dive into the tackle in the field of play. He was offside, off his feet, deliberately knocking the ball forward. Shocking decision (or non decision).
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Tana's selection got what it deserved: since when do you start the 2nd match of the season against one of your NZ rivals by putting all your best players on the bench? There is only so much catch up you can play.
Way too many average players in the Blues starting backline, and Pulu had a very loose game.
Thought TKB was very good for the Chiefs, and obviously the 7 had a good game. Kane Hames looks a very destructive scrummager.
Yeah, Faumuiana will be a loss, but he was only ever going to be a bench option, as I don't think he is a good enough scrummager to regularly start at international level.
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Umm, when the All Blacks start the pre season later than the rest of the squad and you had a good performance the week before.
Take Luatua's foul play out of it and Tana's gameplay was on target. The score was close, and with the impact we saw in the last 30mins it's not inconceivable the Blues could have won.
As for your comment about Charlie, he's consistently outscrummed Franks for a few year now, but Hansen generally has to be forced into changes and that has left him stuck on the bench.
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@Kirwan said in Chiefs v Blues:
Umm, when the All Blacks start the pre season later than the rest of the squad and you had a good performance the week before.
Take Luatua's foul play out of it and Tana's gameplay was on target. The score was close, and with the impact we saw in the last 30mins it's not inconceivable the Blues could have won.
As for your comment about Charlie, he's consistently outscrummed Franks for a few year now, but Hansen generally has to be forced into changes and that has left him stuck on the bench.
Oh someone is on the defensive.
If you think that blues 2nd row was the correct starting choice then I can't help you. Canes brought their ABs straight back in no worries.
Anyway we see if the blues can get back on the horse.
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@Billy-Tana made the comment before the game , the bigger names on the bench lack a bit of match fitness at this point in time and are on their way back.
I don't think there was anything else in it
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@kiwiinmelb said in Chiefs v Blues:
@Billy-Tana made the comment before the game , the bigger names on the bench lack a bit of match fitness at this point in time and are on their way back.
I don't think there was anything else in it
Ok fair enough. Savea looks in fine form. If he can do it in the off season then what is up with the blues?
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@Billy-Tell Kaino missed time cos of the Lauaki funeral. Tuipulotu missed time cos of the drug situation. Its easy to criticise in hindsight but Tana wasnt banking on Luatua getting red carded.
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@Billy-Tell savea looks fast , slim and fit , this early in the season !!!
that itself is worth its own thread
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kane hames had awesome game
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@Kirwan said in Chiefs v Blues:
Umm, when the All Blacks start the pre season later than the rest of the squad and you had a good performance the week before.
As for your comment about Charlie, he's consistently outscrummed Franks for a few year now, but Hansen generally has to be forced into changes and that has left him stuck on the bench.
Laughable ... have you not watched any crusaders v blues games in the last few years?
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@Kirwan said in Chiefs v Blues:
@Crash said in Chiefs v Blues:
I knew as soon as they announced John Kirwan as co-commentator the Blues were farked...
It was great to have two pro Blues commentators to even out the pathetic anti Blues dross that TJ spits out. Kept him honest for a change.
Thing is, TJ's right.
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@SammyC said in Chiefs v Blues:
@Kirwan said in Chiefs v Blues:
Umm, when the All Blacks start the pre season later than the rest of the squad and you had a good performance the week before.
As for your comment about Charlie, he's consistently outscrummed Franks for a few year now, but Hansen generally has to be forced into changes and that has left him stuck on the bench.
Laughable ... have you not watched any crusaders v blues games in the last few years?
Scrum is more than one person, Charlie has been scrummaging great with the ABs for a few years now. Franks has dropped off over the same period.
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@kiwiinmelb said in Chiefs v Blues:
apparently there was a trial game just recently and the blues forwards gave the chiefs a bit of a touch up in all aspects ,
I wonder if that helped to create a false sense of security within the camp
The Blues beat the Chiefs in a pre-season game last year as well.
As I mentioned early in the thread the Chiefs definitely weren't happy with their scrum and overall performance in the pre-season game. As I understand it, most of the problem in the scrum was due to Manu dominating Laulala. Also Brayden Mitchell played at hooker so the return of Hika also helped. Often your attitude around the field is linked to your set piece performance.
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@Kirwan said in Chiefs v Blues:
@Crash said in Chiefs v Blues:
I knew as soon as they announced John Kirwan as co-commentator the Blues were farked...
It was great to have two pro Blues commentators to even out the pathetic anti Blues dross that TJ spits out. Kept him honest for a change.
I haven't watched a replay of the game yet but TJ has always been anti-Chiefs so I'd have thought he was favouring the Blues?
Unfortunately I could hear the commentators while listening to the refs mic on Sports Ears so that was annoying.
