Chiefs v Blues
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<p>I know it's fun to have a go at the Blues at every opportunity but great effort all the same to them. We were always gonna struggle in the last 25 with Kaino off leaving next to no leadership out there and a backline full of kids but they gave it their all. People were expecting the Chiefs to win by plenty but were really made to work for that but well done to them.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="fcc" data-cid="570809" data-time="1460108317"><p>
The blues have to be the worst coached team in the competition. Their attack is so laboured and slow when they have to construct anything. Contrast it to the individual brilliance we see when they get turnover ball and you can see what they could be.</p></blockquote>That's not coaching. Feeney has been telling West to get moving forward with the ball before releasing it ( heard him say so on the radio last week) but for some reason West makes the whole backline take the ball flat footed. That's why they only look good from broken play. <br>
Sadly for the Blues they are still lacking a decent 10.<br><br>
Edit: saying West isn't decent is harsh on the guy. He is a good player just not at the class needed to compete at the highest level -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="570808" data-time="1460108286">
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<p>Hold on, will both teams get the BP?</p>
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<p>Yep, because the Chiefs scored their tries but also gave away far too many penalties.</p>
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<p>And because West had the best boot tonight. 100%</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="fcc" data-cid="570809" data-time="1460108317">
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<p>The blues have to be the worst coached team <u><strong>in the competition</strong></u>. Their attack is so laboured and slow when they have to construct anything. Contrast it to the individual brilliance we see when they get turnover ball and you can see what they could be.</p>
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<p>I think you're being harsh. Leaving aside the Reds, the Cheetahs etc, Tana has had to pick up the pieces from Kirwan. That was a pretty decent performance overall.</p> -
Chiefs did very well to grind out the win, winning is a real habit for them at the moment. Injuries hurt them in the 2nd 40 so credit to them for holding their nerve.<br><br>
Blues probably did enough to win but their finishing and some dumb mistakes in the 2nd 40 cost them. Plenty of positives from the match though, with some pretty obvious work ons. I think Tana has them moving in the right direction - they've played all the NZ teams so will be looking forward to a few easier home games. They now have the Sharks then the Rebels at home before heading to SA (which is nowhere near the challenge it used to be) so they have a chance to move up the table a bit.<br><br>
Ranger has to move to the wing, he's very much a do one good thing followed by two shit things type player, which is costly in the midfield.<br><br>
I am a little worried that D Mac is someone that looks a million bucks at Super level with plenty of space, but may struggle in a more physical test match with far less room to move. Only one way to find out though, and I think he will get a shot at it in TRC.<br><br>
Man this NZ conference is tough. -
<p>Some thoughts after the match:</p>
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<p>Nutbrown did a better job than I thought he would.</p>
<p>That was the longest game in history thanks to all the injury breaks, I thought both teams did well to keep some sort of flow considering how many prolonged stoppages there were.</p>
<p>The Chiefs will be thanking all deities for next week's bye. Talk about the walking wounded.</p>
<p>A very messy bonus point win, but fuck we'll take it.</p>
<p>Blues played pretty well, some individual patches of brilliance, but damn their attack fucking line dances back and forth across the field. No chance for anyone to get any momentum, cos they are all catching the ball from a standing start.</p>
<p>Dave Rennie will be no doubt spitting tacks regarding the handling errors and penalties tonight. Few times ball security was lacklustre too.</p>
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<p>But overall, we beat ye olde foe, so FUCK YEAH.</p> -
<p>That was probably the game of the year so far. I think the Blues would have to feel disappointed with that. They scored two tries from individual brilliance but just didn't look threatening as a team. Most of the points about the Blues backline have been made by others but they did look very flat footed and the Chiefs had them figured out. I think West is still a good player; hopefully he learns to run more. He is more than competent at everything else. The Blues were 20-10 up and then Ranger and Nanai both made mistakes which the Chiefs scored off.</p>
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<p>I think the Blues just have too many players who are all the same. Ioane, Moala, Li and Ranger all seem to play similar games. I just don't think they have the range of players in their squad.</p> -
<p>Ranger ruins anything if he's in the midfield. He's shown almost nothing of the player he was before he pissed off OS. West can't run onto a pass because he's got no idea where Hall will fling the ball. West stands so deep he's auditioning for fullback.</p>
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<p>Slowly but surely Tana must be seeing who he can rely on to be his starting XV. Nanai was miles better than Visinia. Kaino was much better following his break. Akira is a huge weapon to have on the bench.</p>
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<p>But all in all the Chiefs simply looked better drilled. Probably because they never seem to need the ball long enough to run out of pattern.</p> -
<p>Thought the Blues did well to make a game of it after being written off.</p>
<p>It has been mentioned but it was so obvious that the Blues were struggling on attack because their backline was too deep, too static and had no flow to it.</p>
<p>Looked like a team that had only been together for a week. Not sure if that is due to the chopping and changing of the starting team or something else.</p>
<p>West only ran it twice from memory and both time he almost created a try. They really need to flatten the backline and start running onto the ball with some pace.</p>
<p>A 9 who can pass might also help.</p>
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<p>Another thing that was very evident was the difference in urgency on attack between the two sides. The Blues would make a half break but there was never any support players there to take an offload or clean out the ruck.</p>
<p>They were always a split second behind. Contrast to the chiefs where they are always busting their arses to get into a good supporting position.</p>
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<p>Thought R and A Ioane played well and Gibson showed he has some gas. Very promising having guys like them coming through. Ranger was disappointing. Looks a bit lost in midfield. Others who have suggested a move to wing might be right. He can then roam and get some confidence back. Moala has been a bit of a let down so far. Might be worth trying 11. Li 12.Moala 13.Ioane 14. Ranger 15. Nanai to tweak but not totally reshuffle the backline.</p>
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<p>Chiefs will be happy to get a BP win when not playing their best game. Good to see their Locks back and Cruden playing well. Hope Ngatai isn't too badly injured.</p> -
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<p>The Blues would make a half break but there was never any support players there to take an offload or clean out the ruck.</p>
<p>They were always a split second behind. Contrast to the chiefs where they are always busting their arses to get into a good supporting position.</p>
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<p>Agree on that, I reckon it was more the players making breaks were never looking to link up though, they'd just run and run with seemingly no thought to getting to support players, often angling away from them.</p> -
Seen Shaun Stevenson play a few times now and don't understand what all the fuss is about him.he offers very little. Seems way out of his depth,poor kicking game,not great in defence and when he gets the ball he seems to eager to let someone else have it. I know he is young but I think pulu,fisiahi and mcnicol look better and not seen anything of tiatia yet at this level<br><br><br>
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<p>Could well be that Hall is more of the problem than West (or that he isn't helping West in trying to move onto the ball. If West isn't confident on getting the ball in front of him to move on to he will hold in the pocket.</p>
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<p>David Holwell used to do the same for the Canes</p> -
<p>Hall is very hesitant, Guyton less so but his pass is worse...West is standing far too deep...</p>
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<p>Problem is, Hall/West is probably the best the Blues have right now</p> -
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<p>Hall is very hesitant, Guyton less so but his pass is worse...West is standing far too deep...</p>
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<p>Problem is, Hall/West is probably the best the Blues have right now</p>
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<p>I've always thought that Bryn Hall was a bit of a problem and that he doesn't help West out enough and yes they are the best we have. Swapping them over won't achieve anything </p> -
I was astonished at the tactics by the Blues in attack. There's going 'side to side' to try and spread the defence thin, but the Blues passing wide was slow, deep and non-sensical. And the worst thing was that it was very deliberate. <br><br>
When you have ball runners in your backline like they do, you just don't shovel it on. Was very frustrating because I thought their defence (other than close to the line) was superb. Ranger really is the best back in defence over the ball, better than his coach was IMO. <br><br>
Chiefs are at that stage where they expect to win and will find ways to win. Good place to be in. -
<p>Even in backline 101 you learn the whip effect of moving forward from the 10 out with the winger receiving the ball with a head of steam.</p>
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<p>i know that is simplistic but doing these basics then makes the defence have to work properly or give you opportunities.</p>
