Chiefs vs Highlanders
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wally" data-cid="577792" data-time="1462613017"><p></p><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="577765" data-time="1462612018"><p>
Well at least when the Chiefs lose this all you blokes can spend the week bitching about the referee.<br><br>
Overlooking the fact that Dave Rennie has once again been outcoached by Jamie Joseph</p></blockquote></blockquote>
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Agree 100%. <br><br>
Rennie outcoached. <br><br>
If Joseph can get a good performance out of L Whitelock then he's a genius. <br><br>
Cane not looking AB material. -
That smile from Ben Smith in the post match was quite telling when Sumo mentioned Naholo. He really means a lot to this team.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mattasaurus" data-cid="577797" data-time="1462613153"><p>They're the best games to watch by a loooong margin.</p></blockquote>
I dunno. I quite enjoyed watching the Chiefs give the Brumbies a hiding in Canberra, for example... :)<br><br>
But yeah the pace of the game between the NZ sides is on another level at the moment. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="577772" data-time="1462612252">
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<p>Would be an even bigger farce if that's the case. There is clear criteria that says RC if player lands on head/ neck which Dixon didn't do.</p>
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<p>Shoulder too.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mattasaurus" data-cid="577797" data-time="1462613153">
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<p>They're the best games to watch by a loooong margin.</p>
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<p>TBH, I don't actually like them, I prefer supporting a NZ team over a foreign team (and the Crusaders of course). </p> -
<p>All this does is tightens up the NZ conference...especially if the canes and Blues pick up wins.</p>
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<p>Crusaders 37</p>
<p>Chiefs 37</p>
<p>Highlanders 32</p>
<p>Hurricanes 31</p>
<p>Blues 20</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="577777" data-time="1462612416">
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<p>D-Mac has been very poor tonight</p>
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<p>You'd swear he was only aged 21 or something...</p>
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<p>He just needs to settle it down a bit. Anyway, Chris Rattue was calling for him to replace Cruden as the Chiefs 10, which is always the kiss of death. Much like when he said Ben Smith wasn't any good...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="577771" data-time="1462612216">
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<p>Once again Bird has been a passenger. Miles from higher honours.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>I think he's already been overtaken by Scott Barrett anyway.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="577804" data-time="1462613375"><p>I think a factor in the win was simply "the Landers had Naholo back".<br><br>
The bloke scored two tries that perhaps some other wingers may not have scored, and was annoying at the breakdown all night.</p></blockquote>
He was very influential. Not much fun for Chiefs fans tonight but very exciting for ABs fans. Fuck that's an impressive first game back after a broken leg. Can see why Hansen wants him in black so bad. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="577777" data-time="1462612416">
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<p>D-Mac has been very poor tonight</p>
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<p>The chorus calling for him to be in the AB XV against Wales is getting noticeably quieter. We're heading into the championship rounds of this competition and he looks like he's trying too hard now.</p>
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<p>Also I don't want a 80kg back defending against the Welsh backline.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="577810" data-time="1462613626">
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<p>The chorus calling for him to be in the AB XV against Wales is getting noticeably quieter. We're heading into the championship rounds of this competition and he looks like he's trying too hard now.</p>
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<p>Also I don't want a 80kg back defending against the Welsh backline.</p>
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<p>Is he the next TNW?</p>
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<p>I want him in the AB squad, I think he has loads of talent, but he is not ready yet for test football: correct decision making and defence are the major work-ons.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="577800" data-time="1462613271">
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<p>I dunno. I quite enjoyed watching the Chiefs give the Brumbies a hiding in Canberra, for example... :)<br><br>
But yeah the pace of the game between the NZ sides is on another level at the moment.</p>
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<p>yip i enjoyed that too ;)</p> -
<p>D Mac just isn't needed in the squad right now. We know who our two best first fives are and who our best 10/15 utility is. D Mac probably doesn't make the squad unless he is your number one fullback and he isn't better than Ben Smith at this stage (who will be 15 with Naholo 14) plus Dagg is playing well.</p>
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Beautiful result, great work Landers rewarding me for my unconditional support since the Crusaders dropped out last year. Until next week when you're a bunch of useless fluffybunnies.<br><br>
Ngatai lifted but the whole episode was woeful. Communication between the refs was laughable and the guessing was just hilarious.<br><br>
Chiefs lost the forward battle and the overrated backline couldn't do anything about it, plus lost their bottle and got the dropsies. Lots of brittle players. Retallick their best player, played like a Cantab.<br><br>
Aaron Smith was good; Naholo; 10 battle went to Sopo; nice, organised, comprehensive win.<br><br>
Top of the table woo! -
<p>Apologies to all those I disagreed with about Dixon getting tackled without the ball. I thought Dixon was contesting a ball that had been kicked and was taken out in the act of gathering that ball</p>
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<p>Upon viewing the replay it is abundantly clear that Dixon had the ball, then jumped into a tackle which caused him to flip in the air :think:</p>
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<p>Ngatai will no doubt be cleared because he did nothing wrong and was at no fault whatsoever :idiot2:</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79739197/chiefs-second-fiveeighth-charlie-ngatai-yellowcarded-for-dangerous-tackle'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79739197/chiefs-second-fiveeighth-charlie-ngatai-yellowcarded-for-dangerous-tackle</a></p> -
<p>Can NMS or Naholo play 11? It would be nice to see competition for Savea. Don't think I've ever seen NMS at 11, Naholo I can't remember.</p>
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<p>Points out of ten for the AB contenders in the match. This is my opinion only, you are free to disagree</p>
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<p>Sopoanga 7 - solid did nothing wrong. Did nothing particularly right</p>
<p>Cruden 7 - see comment for Sopoanga</p>
<p>Smith 8 - better kicking game than Webber. Good option taking</p>
<p>Webber 7 - does he even have a box kick. I am sure he does. Can't remember it tonight. Some sexy passes.</p>
<p>Naholo 10 out of 10</p>
<p>Ben Smith 5 - I thought he didn't look AB material. Simple knock on in the red zone and lacked the zip he had last year. Needs to get back into the AB camp to start drinking Grant Fox's power shakes at 7:30am.</p>
<p>Mckenzie - 7 - Outplayed Ben Smith but took some bad options at times and failed to get away the crucial last pass. He came into first receiver very nicely a number of times and directed traffic. Brave effort under the high ball but would have wanted to have been even better. Some stupid kicks with the ball in hand at times instead of taking the tackle and recycling. </p>
<p>Ngatai 8 - Very strong game his yellow card notwithstanding.</p>
<p>James Lowe 6. Typical James Lowe game. Did some good things. Did some average things. Overall was an asset. Good try assist.</p>
<p>BBR - 10. Stood out in the Chiefs pack.</p>
<p>Elliot Dixon - 6. Did nothing right or wrong all night. Loses 1 point for jumping into a tackle and nearly killing himself.</p>
<p>Sam Cane 4. Where was he at the breakdown. Not his best effort in the 7 jumper this year. Usually he kills it. Not tonight.</p>
<p>Fekitoa 6 - did nothing right or wrong. Passing mark.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="577816" data-time="1462614680">
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<p>Apologies to all those I disagreed with about Dixon getting tackled without the ball. I thought Dixon was contesting a ball that had been kicked and was taken out in the act of gathering that ball</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Upon viewing the replay it is abundantly clear that Dixon had the ball, then jumped into a tackle which caused him to flip in the air :think:</p>
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<p>Ngatai will no doubt be cleared because he did nothing wrong and was at no fault whatsoever :idiot2:</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79739197/chiefs-second-fiveeighth-charlie-ngatai-yellowcarded-for-dangerous-tackle'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79739197/chiefs-second-fiveeighth-charlie-ngatai-yellowcarded-for-dangerous-tackle</a></p>
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<p>Seriously, I have no idea what Dixon is doing in that video. Looks like a complete unco.</p>
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<p>What I see is Ngatai goes to tackle Dixon (since the ball is going to him). Dixon goes to tackle Ngatai after Ngatai has committed to tackling him. At the last second Dixon realises the ball is coming to him and flails his arms about. The ball hits him on the shoulder then he jumps into Ngatai's tackle.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I really can't see how Ngatai can be at fault in that situation. If anything, the dangerous play is Dixon jumping into a tackle.</p> -
<p>Nah, Ngatai carried on with the tackle and made it worse. Yellow right decision. All your arguments could be used against all players going up for the high ball. <em>But he jumped into it ref. </em></p>
