Hurricanes v Chiefs
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Just finished watching the game on delay. A few thoughts. Would love to see Ratima start more games. His speed around the ruck and bullet pass were huge factors in the 2nd half I felt. For mine Weber isn't in the RWC equation, but then we are talking about Foster.
The Canes best being subbed at crucial times (Kirifi, Roigard, Aumua and even Bird) didnt help Canes and didnt work out at all. What was Holland thinking. Morgan plays like a 15 playing 10. Pleasantly surprised with DMac's control and decision making which has improved with each game. He is I would say ahead of BB and RM currently and playing himself into RWC contention at 10. What is up with Ardie, very quiet game. PGS had a stormer. BBBR just being BBBR, that man has some engine. What a game. Would have loved to have been there. -
With a few days to digest this game three things I took from this game were:
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I don't know if anyone can stop the Chiefs this year. The only team I feel that has that capability is obviously the Crusaders, however, that really depends on who they can get back from injury and if they can make a run for it in time. I feel like the Chiefs just have too much confidence in their game and I hope they haven't peaked too soon.
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The Hurricanes were delivered a huge wake-up call on Saturday. I don't think I can remember seeing a Canes team come out in the second half looking so flat before. Everyone looked disinterested, there was no urgency like there was in the first-half and Holland showed what a poor coach he is after he made some very odd substitutions at a crucial period in the game. At the end of the day the Canes aren't title contenders with Morgan at ten. He failed to put us in the right areas of the park and once Booth came on, we effectively had no kicking game apart from Jordie. This will improve when Ruben Love comes back into the fullback position but the fact no one knows when that will be is a worrying sign, I've got a feeling he could be done for the season.
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Stevenson needs to be in the All Blacks. Excuse the overused term, but I feel like he is having a similar year to Milner-Skudder in 2015. He's hardly put a foot wrong, and his confidence is growing with each game he plays. Surely his performance put a smile on Foster's dile as he watched from the stands.
Where I see the season going from here is the Chiefs and Brumbies (due to their easier draw) will fight it out for first place, Crusaders will get up to third, and the Hurricanes and Blues will most likely meet in a quarter final.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
With a few days to digest this game three things I took from this game were:
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I don't know if anyone can stop the Chiefs this year. The only team I feel that has that capability is obviously the Crusaders, however, that really depends on who they can get back from injury and if they can make a run for it in time. I feel like the Chiefs just have too much confidence in their game and I hope they haven't peaked too soon.
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The Hurricanes were delivered a huge wake-up call on Saturday. I don't think I can remember seeing a Canes team come out in the second half looking so flat before. Everyone looked disinterested, there was no urgency like there was in the first-half and Holland showed what a poor coach he is after he made some very odd substitutions at a crucial period in the game. At the end of the day the Canes aren't title contenders with Morgan at ten. He failed to put us in the right areas of the park and once Booth came on, we effectively had no kicking game apart from Jordie. This will improve when Ruben Love comes back into the fullback position but the fact no one knows when that will be is a worrying sign, I've got a feeling he could be done for the season.
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Stevenson needs to be in the All Blacks. Excuse the overused term, but I feel like he is having a similar year to Milner-Skudder in 2015. He's hardly put a foot wrong, and his confidence is growing with each game he plays. Surely his performance put a smile on Foster's dile as he watched from the stands.
Where I see the season going from here is the Chiefs and Brumbies (due to their easier draw) will fight it out for first place, Crusaders will get up to third, and the Hurricanes and Blues will most likely meet in a quarter final.
Stevenson surely gets a call up. Only thing is a question mark on his defence at international level. From may barstool I have not noticed glaring deficiencies as such but I've seen it mentioned by quite a few others.
He certainly has the hot hand on attack.
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@Jailbreak7 said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
Just finished watching the game on delay. A few thoughts. Would love to see Ratima start more games. His speed around the ruck and bullet pass were huge factors in the 2nd half I felt. For mine Weber isn't in the RWC equation, but then we are talking about Foster.
The Canes best being subbed at crucial times (Kirifi, Roigard, Aumua and even Bird) didnt help Canes and didnt work out at all. What was Holland thinking. Morgan plays like a 15 playing 10. Pleasantly surprised with DMac's control and decision making which has improved with each game. He is I would say ahead of BB and RM currently and playing himself into RWC contention at 10. What is up with Ardie, very quiet game. PGS had a stormer. BBBR just being BBBR, that man has some engine. What a game. Would have loved to have been there.DMAC clearly head of the other two. Japan hasn't impacted him thankfully. He still lacks that yard of pace he had pre ACL for me. But has plenty of toe regardless. He seems in a zen kind of mood. Like his goal kicking, even from distance.
As an aside I find the Japanese sabbaticals are a net negative on the team. Players rarely come back in equal or better form than when they left. BBBR is only close to vintage now, Beaudy fell off a cliff after it.
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I only saw the back half of the game, then highlights as was away over the weekend but the Canes really seemed to bottle it from what I saw.
10 is a problem for us no doubt. I don't think we can win a comp with Morgan there so I'd be tempted to chuck Love in and see what happens. I really hope he's back soon.
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@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
I only saw the back half of the game, then highlights as was away over the weekend but the Canes really seemed to bottle it from what I saw.
10 is a problem for us no doubt. I don't think we can win a comp with Morgan there so I'd be tempted to chuck Love in and see what happens. I really hope he's back soon.
Id like to see that from an allback perspective too. Your Garden Bachops, Gatlands and Mitch Hunts of the world aren't the answer so we need to unearth some up and coming fly halves preferably with a bit of mongrel/personality and wheels. We need more arrogance at 10.
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i was really impressed with the accuracy of the Hurricanes tackling in the first half. The Chiefs were constantly asking questions, moving the ball around, and the Hurricanes kept making spot tackles. Problem was, that's hard to do for 80 minutes.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
With a few days to digest this game three things I took from this game were:
- I don't know if anyone can stop the Chiefs this year. The only team I feel that has that capability is obviously the Crusaders, however, that really depends on who they can get back from injury and if they can make a run for it in time. I feel like the Chiefs just have too much confidence in their game and I hope they haven't peaked too soon.
Early days yet. I wouldn't even say that the Chiefs are humming. So far they have worked well as a team to defend (led by the much maligned Cane) and have probably had one of the more stable lineups. The drw has worked well for them too. That good start against the Saders putting them in the box seat and from there they have controlled things. Even the resting of players has worked to plan at the right times. You need luck in this comp and so far the Chiefs are making theirs.
Playoffs are a different matter though and the season will obviously depend on the matchups there plus the canny abilities of the Saders to plot an end game once placing themselves in the mix.- The Hurricanes were delivered a huge wake-up call on Saturday. I don't think I can remember seeing a Canes team come out in the second half looking so flat before. Everyone looked disinterested, there was no urgency like there was in the first-half and Holland showed what a poor coach he is after he made some very odd substitutions at a crucial period in the game. At the end of the day the Canes aren't title contenders with Morgan at ten. He failed to put us in the right areas of the park and once Booth came on, we effectively had no kicking game apart from Jordie. This will improve when Ruben Love comes back into the fullback position but the fact no one knows when that will be is a worrying sign, I've got a feeling he could be done for the season.
You are right regarding the subs. Certain RR games can put you in a strong position (eg Chiefs round 1) and this was one of those games. Holland should have kept his most effective players on despite whatever the pre-match sub plans were. Roigard looked like he could have easily continued and I found it strange to hook him for an inferior option. Worry about next week next week. As the old 'Newcastle Song' went "Don't you ever let a chance go by, oh Lord
Don't you ever let a chance go by"- Stevenson needs to be in the All Blacks. Excuse the overused term, but I feel like he is having a similar year to Milner-Skudder in 2015. He's hardly put a foot wrong, and his confidence is growing with each game he plays. Surely his performance put a smile on Foster's dile as he watched from the stands.
If he continues this form it will cause some real headaches for Foster and Co should there not be any injuries to force their hand. RM, BB, WJ, DMac, SS, SP.........only 2 get to start and maybe one on the bench. I'm assuming that WJ comes back and plays 15. Personally I think we should go into the RWC with two proper wingers (Telea, Clarke Narawa, LF all putting their hands up)
Where I see the season going from here is the Chiefs and Brumbies (due to their easier draw) will fight it out for first place, Crusaders will get up to third, and the Hurricanes and Blues will most likely meet in a quarter final.
I can't tip week to week let alone use a crystal ball but that sounds feasible
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@Crucial you dont think Stevenson would be great at 14 if WJ plays 15 ?
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@kiwiinmelb said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
@Crucial you dont think Stevenson would be great at 14 if WJ plays 15 ?
Or visca versa.
Worth noting Telea has played plenty of 11 in his time.
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@kiwiinmelb said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
@Crucial you dont think Stevenson would be great at 14 if WJ plays 15 ?
I think there are lots of options. Let's see if/how Jordan goes when he comes back.
Both operate best at 15. So do others. Stevenson has been showing more form at 15 than he ever did on the wing.
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@Crucial said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
@kiwiinmelb said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
@Crucial you dont think Stevenson would be great at 14 if WJ plays 15 ?
I think there are lots of options. Let's see if/how Jordan goes when he comes back.
Both operate best at 15. So do others. Stevenson has been showing more form at 15 than he ever did on the wing.
Fair enough
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@Bones I don't think he was better last year, but it's good to keep in mind that he's not only returning from injury, but also only 21 years old. He needs to improve quickly though, because 20-year-old Godfrey is already showing signs he'll be better than Morgan.
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Yes still young so may improve. and he needs to too by a lot. Esp clearing the goal line when under pressure. Something Cameron is mostly great at doing but not Morgan. I would prefer either Barrett or Godfrey at first for this reason alone.
Another area of concern is the number of injuries. It's happens almost every year under the current coaches. Wellington won with almost none so maybe see what they did differently
The biggest area of concern though is our incompetent coaches. Esp regarding what is required at lock. The teams being outmuscled too against the better sides.
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@Winger said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
I would prefer either Barrett or Godfrey at first for this reason alone.
Have you seen Godfrey at 10?
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@Crazy-Horse said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
@Winger said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:
I would prefer either Barrett or Godfrey at first for this reason alone.
Have you seen Godfrey at 10?
He played at 10 when he came on at Levin in preseason and I commented then how much potnetial he had, good boot and running etc.
In saying that I also commented on how badly Morgan kicked out of hand that day, and if it is a problem and rest of game is good perhaps using someone else off line is the answer?
