SF: Chiefs vs. Brumbies
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I think next weeks final will step up a gear, for both sides, hopefully be a cracker!
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@Steven-Harris said in SF: Chiefs vs. Brumbies:
@akan004 not as bad as Steve Hansen
Really? Never liked Shag but I always felt he took losses fairly well and rarely blamed the ref. My memory could be failing me though.
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Holy shit I enjoyed that game. Berry tried his best to keep the Brumbies in the game but to no avail. The tide turned when Noah kicked the restart out on the full. What a great defensive effort from both teams but holy shit I'm riding the Mana train so high after that one.
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Think a big admission by the Brums was to sub Nic White. Needed to keep him on for any chance.
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Cane MOM for me. BBBR not far away. Jeez the ABs could do with J Ioane, useful to have a utility like that. Bench was huge and won it for us, plenty of impetus.
Expect Narawa and SS to be named tomorrow. Jury still out on Vaai. -
Another grind, which makes the live experience all the more satisfying when you win those.
I thought that the big names for the Chiefs stood up when needed. Stevenson really good too. That boot is so handy.
Some of Berry's decisions were puzzling based on the on-field communication, but I'll watch the replay before commenting.
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Bit of a nail biter. I could not follow a number of Nick Berrys decisions and do wonder if the Chiefs tactics reflected the same. A lot of obvious infringements were let go and the calling on lineouts seemed quite inconsistent.
Brumbies defence was great but I thought it looked probable they got across before halftime but no replays to check. But the amazing thing was how few missed tackles and dropped balls by the Chiefs.
I thought Narawa Jacobson and DMac were best on the park but so many others on both sides played well. -
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Obviously, the final call will be based on what happens in next week's final but it's been a remarkable season from the Chiefs.
Despite suggestions that they've let the pedal off the gas a little bit in recent times, they've actually not given up a bonus point since they played the Blues on April 1 - the only bonus point they've given up all season.
Even with the close recent games, neither the Brumbies nor Reds came within 7 points in the finals - and then the likes of the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Brumbies only got within 10 points during their regular season matches with the Chiefs.
They won't want to again find themselves in an arm wrestle with the Crusaders next weekend, but they're certainly battle-hardened and have found ways to win more than their fair share of games. It's very similar to the way the side performed under Dave Rennie in 2012 and 2013.
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So because everyone's interested, to summarise Vaai watch. I decided to really try hard to see what I was missing, but all that happened was I came out with a lesser opinion than when I went in.
Gets around the field fairly well, but I don't know whether it was the brumbies pattern or not, he seemed really accomplished at setting up in a spot where he could get away with doing nothing if he really wanted.
Tackling, definitely tends to favour getting right around the ankles, but that's not what I want to see from my locks. Don't recall any solid hits or dominant tackles (unless you include pulling a guy down from 6 feet in the air).
Carts it up, but is very light on impact - showed some nice footwork a couple of times but still didn't get him far. I'd be surprised to see he wasn't the forward with the least metres post contact.
If he gets to a breakdown, it seems half the time he just inspects and lays one hand on a back. Mixed in with a handful of missed cleans, going straight to ground or a hit and hold.
Throws a handy unders ball, wins his lineout ball.
I just don't get it. Put simply, the only thing Vaai does better than Blackwell is be tall.
Change my mind?
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@Steven-Harris said in SF: Chiefs vs. Brumbies:
@kev Wright had played well for 70 minutes just a couple of mad headed moments that proved very very costly
Wallabies have a bit of a problem at 15.
Wright is well known for these brain fades - Jorgensen is the future but is young as hell (and injured for a while). Jock Campbell at times looks useful but doesn't scream test class. Hodge is probably the safest bet but is more steady than game breaking. Banks as an overseas option is injured again I think.
