Highlanders v Chiefs

broughie

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="597544" data-time="1468723360">
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Yup, Cane was smacking guys backwards all night. Put in some massive hits. Todd is (mostly) an accurate tackler but rarely makes dominant tackles like Kaino, Cane, Ardie etc.
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Maybe you don't want to follow me down this road but although Ofa got owned his tackling was immense. Those impact tackles make a difference to a game.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="597575" data-time="1468728562">
Maybe you don't want to follow me down this road but although Ofa got owned his tackling was immense. Those impact tackles make a difference to a game.</blockquote> 
2 penalty tries also makes a difference to a game

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="597350" data-time="1468666304">
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He's had three seasons to stop doing it. I doubt he will stop now.
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I think people were saying things like that about Ma'a in 2006 (and 2007). ;)

Toddy

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="597517" data-time="1468719759">
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It is a nice stat but tell me about the quality of the tackle. Compare a Kaino tackle to whoever.
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Hence the ;).

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="597575" data-time="1468728562">Maybe you don't want to follow me down this road but although Ofa got owned his tackling was immense. Those impact tackles make a difference to a game.</blockquote>
Ofa is so destructive around the park that he was selected for the ABs despite his poor scrummaging. If they can get that part of his game to at least solid he could make an awesome bench player.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="597544" data-time="1468723360">Yup, Cane was smacking guys backwards all night. Put in some massive hits. Todd is (mostly) an accurate tackler but rarely makes dominant tackles like Kaino, Cane, Ardie etc.</blockquote>
I call bollocks to that. Todd misses one tackle and all of a sudden he's rubbish. Funny I notice Read isn't rubbish despite getting shrugged off by Halaholo in exactly the same manner. I've seen Todd make plenty of dominant tackles. 
Anyway, to echo someone else - it appears Cane has bulked up massively? Or just the white outfit?

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="597544" data-time="1468723360">Yup, Cane was smacking guys backwards all night. Put in some massive hits. Todd is (mostly) an accurate tackler but rarely makes dominant tackles like Kaino, Cane, Ardie etc.</blockquote> I wouldn't say Ardie is a dominant tackler. For me he's more of the Pocock type; makes them so consistently but is much better coming in second man to get a turnover. He's just got far more upside on attack.

taniwharugby

Cruden on celebrating with the Highlanders....
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/elliots-bit-character-cruden-talks-joining-in-highlanders-celebrations'>https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/elliots-bit-character-cruden-talks-joining-in-highlanders-celebrations</a>

pukunui

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="597523" data-time="1468720455">
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Almost?
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You probably have a point there. While the Highlanders won there weren't any real standouts and Cane was pretty bloody good.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="597609" data-time="1468734982">I call bollocks to that. Todd misses one tackle and all of a sudden he's rubbish. Funny I notice Read isn't rubbish despite getting shrugged off by Halaholo in exactly the same manner. I've seen Todd make plenty of dominant tackles. 
Anyway, to echo someone else - it appears Cane has bulked up massively? Or just the white outfit?</blockquote>
 
I call bollocks right back at ya I don't think Todd makes many dominant tackles, I see him as a mistake free player. Makes his tackles and links well. That's not because of one tackle he missed - my whole point is that he's an accurate tackler! 
Agree on Read though, very poor defensively. I just hope in true AB/Crusader style he is saving himself for when he's wearing just black.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="597622" data-time="1468737839">I wouldn't say Ardie is a dominant tackler. For me he's more of the Pocock type; makes them so consistently but is much better coming in second man to get a turnover. He's just got far more upside on attack.</blockquote>
Fair enough.

Bones

Huh, well agree to disagree I've often been surprised at how much oomph he has in contact.

gt12

Haven't read the thread and spent the weekend avoiding all media to make sure I could watch this without knowing the score. 
My thoughts from the game as I was watching are a bit random and very Chiefs focused. 
First half 
Early, we are very direct and were rewarded with a good try. Using the space around the ruck well. 
Second part of the half though, and just too much territory for Landers mainly from the Chiefs inability to clear the ball and exit well (plus the Landers continuing to put pressure on and make good decisions to kick and keep the territory). 
A series of stupid decisions to play the halfback within here to not help, plus 4 handling errors - two of them were crucial for fucking up an exit (Taimanivalu) and when finally on attack in the Landers 22 (ALB). 
It fucking took until the 38th minute for the Chiefs to get a good exit and I'm worried we used too much energy on D in the first 40.. 
First half half-time comments 
Moli looks like a big pussy - almost stops when he runs into contact. 
Second half 
Handling fucking things up again whenever we have territory. Highlanders pressure is fantastic. But hold on, weren't the Chiefs on advantage 5 out there Jacko? We went for a speculator kick and that's it over? Was the ruling in the first half Jacko or was it only a KO ad? 
Oh fuck. Sanders you idiot. That's going to be the game. You stupid sack of shit. Should have been our penalty as he was way round the side, because you know the Landers will make us pay. And they do, with one of the best tries of the year. 10 points and I'd say that's that. 
James Lowe you muppet. Don't think you would have got there though. 
Hometown really is a bit hometown. We break through Cane and go close - Landers clearly slowing it down right on their line but no penalty advantage. We finally get there via Boshier but it's a free ride for the last 3 minutes for the Landers to slow it down whenever they're under pressure. Big ups to Cane throughout this movement and well done for getting back into it. Think we're just holding them out though... 
And, there it is. Landers try with a rule I can't quite understand and needs clarification. Is it ok to knock a ball out? But it's off his chest so no knock on? Is that ok when I lose the ball back on my chest when I'm running? Even if the other guy touches it? He was actually holding the ball? It's a different ruling every game now. I can understand why it's given but I'm really confused about this law and how it is implemented. Anyway, no bonus point now (and I didn't know it at the time, but there also goes the NZ conference). 
On attack trying get at least a BO. Wtf is the Asst. ref doing? We break and Dmac passes it backwards but it comes off a lander and that's ruled a knock on?!?? Fuck you hometown and Asst. ref. That's quite possibly the season there. 
Now, on the other hand, it's also one more example of handling and trying to push the pass under pressure that has been the major factor in removing pressure on the landers. To be effective going forward, the Chiefs really need to understand that we don't need to score off every possession... 
Final minutes. Chiefs have it back and are attacking. Landers pouring men in - but hold on, where's the taking out the halfback penalty Jacko? Fuck you they totally played the man playing HB there and that's the game you fucking hometown loving muppet. 
Final thoughts 
Landers are a fantastic team who I'll support when we inevitably get knocked out in the next couple of weeks due to ongoing problems with decision making under pressure. I love the Chiefs but I think they made their life too difficult by making a series of shitty decisions in the first half which essentially took them out of the running for any points and provided the landers with possession and territory. It was like the Lions game again without any break-out tries. Trying too much against a team with a clear plan. 
Things were compounded by Sanders card which changed the game - because the Landers are far too good to not take advantage of those kind of opportunities. His stupid fucking decision. Can't argue it. 
Looking at the other side, the landers have such a great spine from 9,10, and 15 with great support and a clear plan to use pressure to creat points. They're a great fucking team and if we can't get our shot together, I'll be supporting them ahead of other kiwi teams I think. 
Fantastic game of footy, but 
fuck, fuck, fuck!

The Silver Fern

Highlanders v Chiefs