Highlanders v Chiefs
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="597312" data-time="1468661752"><p>So Highlanders get Brumbies.<br>
Chiefs get Stormers<br>
Crusaders get Canes if the Lions get at least one bonus point against the Jaguares - if not they get the Lions.<br>
Canes get the Crusaders unless they win it all in which case they get the Shorks.</p></blockquote>
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Does that put the lions ahead as they will have the same wins as the canes and the canes beat them in RR -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mattasaurus" data-cid="597318" data-time="1468661958"><p>The way he manages his squad uses his bench is sublime</p></blockquote><br>Yes agree 100%.<br><br>Also his tactical change at half time was there for all to see. In the first half the Chiefs were getting numbers to their own rucks and making ball secuity and repeat phases/recycled ball a priority.<br><br>And we were doing well because of it. Joseph noticed that and directed his terrier like players to just be agressive to the nth degree of the law at the breakdown to stop the chiefs multi phase play.<br><br>Luckily for them the referee seemed to allow it. Often I felt the Landers were too aggressive. Yet it proved decisive. The Chiefs themselves could see what Otago were doing - and decided to launch into<br>some aggressive clean outs to send a message. This culiminated in Ben Smith flagrantly going in from the side and forcing the Chiefs player to react, which Sanders did illegally. I don't think the Landers<br>changed their tactics with the goal of that outcome, but they knew something good would come from them harrassing us at the ruck.
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<p>good game of footy that. </p>
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<p>one number 7 was head and shoulders above all the others on display in either game tonight. very pleased to see cane play like that at the business end of the season. he then dixon were the two best loosies on the park. messam very quiet, sanders very stupid. luke whitelock is a pretty decent super player now, almost at george levels. both those tight 5s are all hard workers eh - big bird the surprise package- i had started thinking he was never going to get there, so am stoked to see that. retallick lucky not to be carded i reckon, silly niggly shit and offending on the try line. </p>
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<p>forwards pretty even but chiefs probably shaded it, the landers backs were far better though. ben smith, aaron smith, sopoaga, naholo, osborne all better than their opposites by varying degrees.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Number 10" data-cid="597316" data-time="1468661913"><p>Agree that Bird had an excellent game.<br>
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Which it makes it more odd that he was subbed off when playing well.<br></p></blockquote>
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Think they were just trying to inject some pace as the game was slipping away.<br><br>
Only sub that was stupid was bring weber on for TKB when we needed his D<br><br>
Not sure if seta was injured or he's just shit in big games but fuck me he was crap tonight.<br><br>
Same with lienert brown. Had been talking him up today he was crap too.<br><br>
Lowe showed why they keep going with Naholo for ABs. Just owns him every time -
<p>Huge game again by Cane. If you want to see an openside dominate in defence and set others up, watch this game.</p>
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<p>fekitoa is a good player. he just needs to sort out one decision: if the outside break is not on, don't try to take it. just run hard and straight and keep the ball safe. that sideways shit is a nightmare for outside backs, a nightmare for forwards, a recipe for turning the ball over or getting penalised for obstruction.</p>
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<p>not many players i can think of who have only one such glaring problem, and shouldn't be a tricky one to sort out.</p> -
<p>Harris quietly had an impressive game, his lineout throwing is outstanding.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rocky Rock Rockbottom" data-cid="597338" data-time="1468663958"><p>
What a sumptuous double header of rugby. Holy shit it was intense.<br><br>
Hansen spoke about players stepping up at this stage.<br><br>
Ben Smith.<br>
Aaron Smith.<br>
Sam Cane.<br><br>
Big match temperament players. We knew it then and now we know it again.<br><br>
Tamanivalu, DMac, James Lowe and Fekitoa need to do more than that.<br><br>
Fekitoa is just a mini tornado that peters itself out. Just keep in front of him and let the fricasee of dissipation run its carbonating course.<br><br>
Lowe dropping the ball with tryline begging like he'd just seen his mum pashing Jamie Joseph in the stands.</p></blockquote>Quality alias and two quality posts. I like this guy already. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rocky Rock Rockbottom" data-cid="597338" data-time="1468663958">
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<p>What a sumptuous double header of rugby. Holy shit it was intense.</p>
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<p>Hansen spoke about players stepping up at this stage.</p>
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<p>Ben Smith.</p>
<p>Aaron Smith.</p>
<p>Sam Cane.</p>
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<p>Big match temperament players. We knew it then and now we know it again.</p>
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<p>Tamanivalu, DMac, James Lowe and Fekitoa need to do more than that.</p>
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<p>Fekitoa is just a mini tornado that peters itself out. Just keep in front of him and let the fricasee of dissipation run its carbonating course.</p>
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<p>Lowe dropping the ball with tryline begging like he'd just seen his mum pashing Jamie Joseph in the stands.</p>
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<p>About time we had a wordsmith on this forum</p>
<p>Is that you Dismal Pillock??</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="597346" data-time="1468665216">
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<p>fekitoa is a good player. he just needs to sort out one decision: if the outside break is not on, don't try to take it. just run hard and straight and keep the ball safe. that sideways shit is a nightmare for outside backs, a nightmare for forwards, a recipe for turning the ball over or getting penalised for obstruction.</p>
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<p>not many players i can think of who have only one such glaring problem, and shouldn't be a tricky one to sort out.</p>
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<p>He's had three seasons to stop doing it. I doubt he will stop now.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="597346" data-time="1468665216"><p>fekitoa is a good player. he just needs to sort out one decision: if the outside break is not on, don't try to take it. just run hard and straight and keep the ball safe. that sideways shit is a nightmare for outside backs, a nightmare for forwards, a recipe for turning the ball over or getting penalised for obstruction.<br><br>
not many players i can think of who have only one such glaring problem, and shouldn't be a tricky one to sort out.</p></blockquote>
His passing game is poor and he lacks the vision to put other players in space. To me the only thing he really brings at the moment is physicality. He has plenty to work on. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="597352" data-time="1468666665"><p>
His passing game is poor and he lacks the vision to put other players in space. To me the only thing he really brings at the moment is physicality. He has plenty to work on.</p></blockquote>Some good d when paired with solid players like crotty... but he's still a work in progress... fit Charlie N...and crotty my preferred combo...<br><br><br>
Needs to learn to straighten attack as others have said and needs to develop his passing game and work harder to put guys in space.. reminds me of early nonu or toeva. ..hope he follows nonu -
Might have been quite different if Chiefs hadn't butchered two tries and made more conversions. Cane immense, Bird and BBBR owned line out and Hames and Moli had wood on Clan. But backs had game where they didn't click. Smiths top notch again, Naholo always a menace, Lima S dangerous. Dixon very accurate, and Squire dominated tackles once in. <br>
Best for me though is how these two teams can make passes which open the other side like a tin of sardines. All too rare at this level -- how many times do you see a midfielder have to slow and reach back over his shoulder?<br>
Great Saturday morning fare for a NZ 'neutral' living in Pomland! -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="597352" data-time="1468666665">
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<p>His passing game is poor and he lacks the vision to put other players in space. To me the only thing he really brings at the moment is physicality. He has plenty to work on.</p>
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<p>yeah i don't know that i really agree with that - his hands look, well maybe not great, but pretty good to me, and when the ball needs to go wide he generally does shift it.</p>
<p>to me it's more when there isn't an overlap or anything, then his default option is to try and go around his player when he should just be going forward.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="597359" data-time="1468667628">
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<p>yeah i don't know that i really agree with that - his hands look, well maybe not great, but pretty good to me, and when the ball needs to go wide he generally does shift it.</p>
<p>to me it's more when there isn't an overlap or anything, then his default option is to try and go around his player when he should just be going forward.</p>
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<p>He's a very good Super player, I'm really only talking about him as an AB which is obviously a much harsher marking system. I'm comparing him to the likes of Nonu and Smith as they're the blokes he'll be replacing if he becomes a regular AB.</p>
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<p>Matt makes a good point re: defense. He's a very good tackler, smacks people backwards a lot of the time which is invaluable at test level.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="597363" data-time="1468667935">
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<p>He's a very good Super player, I'm really only talking about him as an AB which is obviously a much harsher marking system. I'm comparing him to the likes of Nonu and Smith as they're the blokes he'll be replacing if he becomes a regular AB.</p>
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<p>Matt makes a good point re: defense. He's a very good tackler, smacks people backwards a lot of the time which is invaluable at test level.</p>
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<p>yeah i think in the same way you're not really criticising him harshly i'm not really defending him strongly - i think he was pretty average. just think that if he sorted that one decision-making thing, then he immediately becomes a relatively error free player - and along with being a strong defender, with plenty of pace and power on attack that becomes a guy that you could look at as a part of an all black team.</p>
<p>at this stage (if i had to select him i.e. no sbw) i'd stick him at 12, crotty at 13, and tell him to run hard and straight unless he's really sure he is going to make the break - and to pass it whenever crotty asks for it. keep it simpler at the higher level while he learns it. </p>
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<p>i do reckon he can work it out with time and analysis - his decision making on when to rush out of the line for example is generally pretty good.</p> -
<p>Great game! Wouldn't right the Chiefs off for the title just yet but that has thrown a spanner in the works.</p>
<p>Cane was huge. Almost MOTM in a losing side. He put in some huge hits and ran well. Has he bulked up this year?</p>
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<p>Thought the chiefs were VERY lucky not to get a yellow when Naholo scored. IMO they should have given the try and the card for repeated penalties.</p>
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<p>Fekitoa was rubbish. Matched by Tamanivalu so that isn't great signs for the AB midfield. I've said it before but once teams knew Fekitoa was good on the outside break he lost his one trick and now is just erratic.</p>
<p>Was happy with the "knocked out" try ruling. That was a pretty clear case of the defenders hand punching the ball out. Some of the other recent ones not so clear. Regardless I think the ball went backwards so should have been play on anyway.</p>
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<p>Didn't get to see a replay of the Naholo yellow. Was it a clear slap down or marginal? If he slapped it, why wasn't he going for the intercept instead? Same result if he buggers it up ie. knock on or Chief break out.</p>
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<p>Highlanders have a tough one next week against the Brumbies. </p>
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<p>Still think the finals seeding system is a joke. </p> -
Fekitoa reminds me of Taz<br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mattasaurus" data-cid="597126" data-time="1468656498"><p>
The silence regrading jackson from chief's supporters is deafening</p></blockquote>
It's quite amusing reading this thread.<br><br>
I watched this on recording this morning and I thought Jacko was leaning heavily to the Clan. Perspective huh? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="597162" data-time="1468658109"><p>
Title winning defense from the Chiefs. <br><br>
Reminds me of crusaders defense early 2000s when we won the comps with 30-40% possession most games.<br><br>
Sam Cane is the new Reuben Thorne 😉</p></blockquote>
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No need to be insulting...
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By crikey what a great game by Cane. I'd like to say he looke McCawesque. But he was Canesque. Huge. Matt Todd could watch and learn how to tackle from him.
