Blues v Chiefs
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The Blues did not escape unscathed on the injury front either. Prop Alex Hodgman and bench hooker Ray Niuia both suffered what appeared pretty serious leg injuries, while MacDonald had some concerns over second-half try-scorer Karl Tu'inukuafe as well. "Our front row took a bit of a hit tonight."
Props falling over everywhere Chiefs have a couple as well Laulala and Ta'avau both injured not sure how badly.
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Wasn’t it great seeing Cruden’s league-esque distance touch finders back.
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Chiefs beat the blues without Mckenzie, Harris and Retallick. With Cane off at half time. With 2 tight heads that couldn’t scrum. And with Weber, cruden and ALB on the bench. (That meant TTT had to start which is my worst nightmare). Blues are sh*t, try to change my mind.
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Oh and without Luke Jacobson who’s a tank for us too ^
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@kev said in Blues v Chiefs:
@macandcheese From all comments Nock and Plummer are fine they just need to select them.
That's noted
I can live with Plummer at #12 or ahead of Perofeta at #10
I've no clue how good Nock is Not seen him play much
Seen enough of Ruru to know he's putrid at #9 at least at SR level -
Firstly congratulations to the Chiefs , it’s no mean effort being down 5-19 at halftime and then coming back to win going away especially whilst having a host first liners unavailable..
Thought the changes made by Gatland at halftime were spot on,Cruden’s impact especially, his ability to seize upon opportunities, but more importantly his ability make sure his team is playing in the right parts of the field goal kicking aside.They often say the first sign of madness is repeating the same things and expecting different results ..
Over the last few seasons and again tonight , you cant fault the effort the Blues forwards, really and truthfully they set a platform in the first half that should have seen the game taken well and truly away from the chiefs..
But what happens behind the scrum at 9,10 and 15 is so crucial..these are positions in the modern game where doing the right at key times in terms of game management is everything .I am not sure what picture the coaches or the high performance coaches are watching in around these positions , but they have been an issue for a very long time and it continues to be an issue ..
Sometimes it’s easy to criticise the players that are running out in these jerseys ,but the art of being a good selector knowing when players can’t step up into a position,so the next move is to address it, do what ever it takes..
I am more disappointed with the people within the Blues organisation that make these decisions.. -
@KiwiMurph problem is, the 9s in the squad.
Ruru has had his moments (however fleeting) Nock even less so, and Christie who isn't much cop either...who do you choose?
That said, if Nock gets a run without injury and gains some confidence to play to his potential, he has the game to Become one of the missing peices in the Blues puzzle...but that is IF.
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Ruru, Perofeta and Duffie were predictably poor. Eklund wasn't great either, but Niua was good off the bench, so that's a positive on the hooker front.
Marchant was OK in his debut, but didn't get much chance to really run in space because Ruru had an obsession for attacking the blindside for most of the game. And then in the 2nd half, Perofeta stopped passing to the backs and we missed some overlaps because of that.
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Samisoni look the real deal
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@taniwharugby said in Blues v Chiefs:
@KiwiMurph problem is, the 9s in the squad.
Ruru has had his moments (however fleeting) Nock even less so, and Christie who isn't much cop either...who do you choose?
That said, if Nock gets a run without injury and gains some confidence to play to his potential, he has the game to Become one of the missing peices in the Blues puzzle...but that is IF.
Nock hasn't had nearly the opportunities that Ruru has had. Nock actually started to show some really good form last season and won the starting job and looked good but then got injured out for the Super season.
So sure enough Ruru gets given almost all the preseason minutes and is named the starter despite it being super obvious last season his play was hindering the Blues attack.
Nock might not be the answer either but they need to give him a shot - his service is far better and surely that would help whoever is at 10.
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@KiwiMurph was quite evident in that game he went off last year, his passes were swift and accurate, when Pulu came on his looked like they were in slow motion by comparison.
This is Nock's 5th season with 25 appearances...
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So after reading the comments:
(1) Laulala and Ta’avao looked seriously underdone, and Angus seemed to be carrying his leg injury into the game. Well done to the Blues scrum but I expect the Chiefs won't be playing Brown much as a TH lock as he depowered the scrum. Ross did very well to play the full 80 mins, and Moli fitted in at TH in the 2nd half. Getting Allardice back will help, as well as playing a more balanced loose forward trio.
(2) 32-10 in the 2nd half tells the story. The Chiefs could bring some class and experience on to finish the game and that was the big difference. I was surprised it was Nankivell that was replaced but he didn't display his Ta$man form out there.
(3) I thought TTT wasn't great in the 1st half, throwing some high passes to Trask, but he was much better in the 2nd half. Weber should be the starter though.
(4) I have always rated Boshier and he showed his value in this game. He can get on the wrong side of the ref at the breakdown at times but is so good over the ball. It might be better to play him and Cane as flankers with Sowakula at no.8 next week. And Jacobson to return...
If I was a Blues fan I wouldn't be too despondent. They looked very good in the 1st half, got much quicker ruck ball and were more aggressive on defence. The key is to maintain that energy and performance for the full 80 mins.
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@Toddy said in Blues v Chiefs:
A fit Akira would've been pretty handy in that last 30-40 minutes.
Particularly as Gibson was completely anonymous when he came on, unlike the Chiefs flanker on debut.
Considering that Akira wasn’t even training with the team and in his blazer, and on the back of the tired athlete comments last year, isn’t it likely he’s in the extra group of 9 being rested?
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@Machpants said in Blues v Chiefs:
So who was picking the chiefs for champs...?
Not that the first games means that much, but they've got a fair bit of work to do
I am. Still pretty big on them even after that performance.
First run through thread now since Friday. Attended the game and was quite happy with some of our (Blues) game play but once again let down but shit halves (as expected though). Kick our goals and that game could have been a win.
Overall pleasing in parts but also a lot of the same old....
Oh yeah my eye fillet was overcooked BUT the beer was cold!
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@JK yeah the Blues found ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory - at least they fired a shot unlike my Canes!
I don;t thinkk they're the real deal compared to the Dockers tho, their forward pack will really have to step up from that performance. Whereas the saders were same old same old, plus rust.
Overall NZ forwards all need to stand up, compared to what SA are offering!
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@Machpants I think what’s been lost on a few people , by the time the 2nd half rolled around , you ended up with 2 very young props 22 year old Pouri Rakete Stones who was on debut and 21 year old Tevita Mafilieo who up until 8 x days previous was in the Blues Wider Training squad , and it was real help when Fafita spent 10 in the bin...not..!to me the tactic of running into brick defence in channel one is madness especially against a pack that had 5 springboks in their starting lineup ..
That’s why my biggest disappointment was with the senior players,TJ, Barrett and Laumape and contrary to a few people saying Evans had a good game, I actually thought he was quiet , in fact what got shown up was his size when it comes to the physical stakes.. but you know what, that’s where leadership comes into play, move your better runners a bit wider, personally I would have played more of a kicking game , that brings your fetchers into the game when the opposing team has to bring ball back ..
Would have better to have have moved those bigger Stormers around..Bring your line speed into play ..I actually thought and I have several people confirm this with me the Kirifi was the Canes best player and that was by a country mile ..
Bit early to be putting the boot in..I am more pissed of with the Blues performance...your winning the set piece battle at scrumtime, they physical stakes at breakdown and your leading 19-5 at halftime, to me ones a little easier to explain .. -
@Steven-Harris said in Blues v Chiefs:
@Machpants I think what’s been lost on a few people , by the time the 2nd half rolled around , you ended up with 2 very young props 22 year old Pouri Rakete Stones who was on debut and 21 year old Tevita Mafilieo who up until 8 x days previous was in the Blues Wider Training squad , and it was real help when Fafita spent 10 in the bin...not..!to me the tactic of running into brick defence in channel one is madness especially against a pack that had 5 springboks in their starting lineup ..
That’s why my biggest disappointment was with the senior players,TJ, Barrett and Laumape and contrary to a few people saying Evans had a good game, I actually thought he was quiet , in fact what got shown up was his size when it comes to the physical stakes.. but you know what, that’s where leadership comes into play, move your better runners a bit wider, personally I would have played more of a kicking game , that brings your fetchers into the game when the opposing team has to bring ball back ..
Would have better to have have moved those bigger Stormers around..Bring your line speed into play ..I actually thought and I have several people confirm this with me the Kirifi was the Canes best player and that was by a country mile ..
Bit early to be putting the boot in..I am more pissed of with the Blues performance...your winning the set piece battle at scrumtime, they physical stakes at breakdown and your leading 19-5 at halftime, to me ones a little easier to explain ..OK Sure. Slightly off topic, but it's still rugby I guess
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Fear not. All is not lost Blues fans. Thought they performed well, just need to be more clinical in the red zone - oh and find a decent kicker,
