Chiefs v Blues

hydro11

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.
 
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.

antipodean

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.
 
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.
 
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.

pukunui

Thought the Blues did well to make a game of it after being written off.
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.
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.
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.
A 9 who can pass might also help.
 
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.
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.
 
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.
 
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.

Bones

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The Blues would make a half break but there was never any support players there to take an offload or clean out the ruck.
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.
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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.

pukunui

You might be right there. The fact they scored two good tries from individual brilliance would also point to that being the case, just that it came off those times.

leytonandamanda

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 
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Crucial

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.
 
David Holwell used to do the same for the Canes

taniwharugby

Hall is very hesitant, Guyton less so but his pass is worse...West is standing far too deep...
 
Problem is, Hall/West is probably the best the Blues have right now

African Monkey

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Hall is very hesitant, Guyton less so but his pass is worse...West is standing far too deep...
 
Problem is, Hall/West is probably the best the Blues have right now
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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

ACT Crusader

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. 
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. 
Chiefs are at that stage where they expect to win and will find ways to win. Good place to be in.

Crucial

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.
 
i know that is simplistic but doing these basics then makes the defence have to work properly or give you opportunities.

WillieTheWaiter

most annoying thing for me watching that game was thinking how farking amazing we'd be if we had the Ioane boys... nearly had em, they were keen.. the old man stopped them.
 
saw him after the game and gave him sh*t about it. feel better now. ha.

The Silver Fern

Chiefs v Blues