SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs
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late but belated match report from Saturday night. Been an IRL whirlwind for a few weeks, so good to be back at a computer for a while. Few things to cover off
Tom Robinson
Outstanding as captain. Talked more to the refs in one half of rugby than Patty T did in the whole season to date. I love Pat T, and he's awesome to lead in the team, but influencing refs is not his strong suit. More Tom talking to refs please. Also, he arguably won us the game with his super astute captains challenges.Captains Challenges
Can't stand them. This week they benefitted us, but they suck. Seeing refereeing teams standing around with hands on hips talking is just stupid. At the ground you have no idea what's going on, and they are a goddamn lottery. Burn them with fire, they are a blight on the game. Which brings us nicely toGoal line drop outs
Suck idea as well. FFS, who comes up with this stuff - toally changes the balance of 'ruck just outside the goal line' to 'just over' goes from 5 m scrum to getting the ball back on halfway. It's nuts.Refs and TJs
I commented before the game that I thought the standard was abysmal. They don't get laws to help the, but it's a lottery at times. In this game there were a couple of clear howlers on the touch judges (feet in touch, carried out) that are clear and obvious, but not picked up in real time by the person standing there. Overall, all year it's been super average. I won't start on the tip tackles/tackles in air this year -- they have gone from flavour of the month and starting with Red Cards to 'whatever'. All we want from refs is broad consistency... but one week you get a penalty reversed for a head rub, compared with grabbing playesr in the air having no negative consequences.It's not easy to fix this one, but it's really really impotant to the health of our game in the medium to long term.
Chiefs
Up for it, as expected. Nothing to lose. Scrum held up well and managed to ge tthe ball out when it started to fall apart. Probably a fair result in the end (20 point loss), but battled bloody well to get there. Which brings us nicely toBlues
this game was a perfect example of a team that's down on confidence and looking lumbering and predictable. Last year we saw slick interpassing near sidelines, and good rugby IQ. This year we don't know who our best 9 is, and are not playing heads up rugby. Can't see and exploit space at the moment, and it shows. Despite the talent, the spine is still weak compared to most other sides in the comp (2/8/9/10/15). I think we really missed James Parsons and BB out there.we seemed determined to give the ball back to the Chiefs and relieve pressure. Whether it was dropping goal line kickoffs out on the full, conceding stupid penalties or just plain playing poorly it was an entertaining but low skill game. That said, at 19 all you could panic and fall over, and they stepped up, controlled the game and run in 20 quick points. Genuinely can't complain about the finishing at the end.
I'll post more in the 2021 Blues thread, but at the end of the day we were one reffing decision away from a winning season and a trip to the final. It was two steps forward last year, andhalf a step back this year. Frustrating as a supporter. I do wonder if something has happened in camp - we played very well for three weeks, and then just shat the bed for the rest of the comp.
If I were coach, I'd forget about the backs and just use our dominant forwards in the loose to create space. When those boys get on a roll, no one can live wtih them - combine with a decent set piece and we'd be looking to grind down teams. Not pretty, but I'll take that over shovelling the ball around all over the place.
That said, mauls have come on a long way this year. You could see them working on them every game, mauling where prvoiusly we wouldn't. Our maul defence is much better as well - compared to where we were, we've seen massive improvement. And ultimately, that goes to us winning agains NZ sides, which we couldn't do previously. 4-4 is incredible compared to Tana and JK ... and two of those were games we did everything but win.
@nzzp some of your best work .!
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The biggest takeaway for me is trying to get my head around the contribution of Tanielu Teleʻa..
Leon MacDonald told us in an interview after Crusaders game that the loss of Tele’a early in the game had disrupted the Blues attacking game plan ..After Saturday evening ,I saw nothing that even resembled any sort of creativeness from the backs with Tele’a being a pivotal part of the Blues attack ..!
Or maybe I am just missing something..
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For the Blues, Sotutu and Robinson were really good. Sotutu seemed to rise to the challenge of facing the big Chiefs No. 8. Best game this year IMHO. Robinson just goes and goes at 100% and making some really dominant tackles.
The lack of awareness of space and putting the person outside of you into space by the Blues backs was just criminal. Really like Riko on the wing but as a centre, his default position is to pull the ears back and go for the line. The new fullback completely ignored a free Clarke outside of him on a number of occasions as well. For the backs, the parts are there but the machine has a few things to work on.
Clarke is soooo out of form! Even defensively he is running around like a headless chook. Is he looking to beat the man or just run into people? Why is he never in the right place?
The Chiefs are really on their way up, aren't they?. The head coach is getting a good rap now (McMillian?). There seems to be a really good crop of very young looseheads coming through the ranks at Super level (and esp. at the Chiefs). Surely Foster needs to take a punt of one or two with the 2023 World Cup in mind. If Moody goes down just prior or loses form.....@old-samurai-jack said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
Clarke is soooo out of form! Even defensively he is running around like a headless chook. Is he looking to beat the man or just run into people? Why is he never in the right place?
Caleb Clarke massively out of form this season. Don't know what's going if its injury or a mental thing or poor coaching but his work rate is significantly below that expected of an AB starting wing.
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The biggest takeaway for me is trying to get my head around the contribution of Tanielu Teleʻa..
Leon MacDonald told us in an interview after Crusaders game that the loss of Tele’a early in the game had disrupted the Blues attacking game plan ..After Saturday evening ,I saw nothing that even resembled any sort of creativeness from the backs with Tele’a being a pivotal part of the Blues attack ..!
Or maybe I am just missing something..️@steven-harris Yeah Tele'a at this level is no more than a 20 minute impact player off the bench. He doesn't have the skill set to play in the midfield.
For now, he's a winger who can fill in at centre, no more. He's certainly no 12.
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@old-samurai-jack said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
Clarke is soooo out of form! Even defensively he is running around like a headless chook. Is he looking to beat the man or just run into people? Why is he never in the right place?
Caleb Clarke massively out of form this season. Don't know what's going if its injury or a mental thing or poor coaching but his work rate is significantly below that expected of an AB starting wing.
@sparky said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
Caleb Clarke massively out of form this season. Don't know what's going if its injury or a mental thing or poor coaching but his work rate is significantly below that expected of an AB starting wing.
Clarke has acknowledged this too.
“Personally I feel like I haven’t really got to my full potential, it’s been a lot harder this year, trying to get into these games. “I came into this year with a goal to be working off the ball and getting the ball a lot,” he said. “Whereas I’ve been working off the ball, but every time I’m running off my wing, I can hear everyone talking, like ‘Caleb’s coming’. “Last weekend I could hear Sam Whitelock say that every time I tried to sneak around the rucks. “Stuff like that is frustrating, but at the same time it is quite cool that I’m being so heavily marked. But it’s been one of those years where I’ve wanted to do tackle busting runs and get over the gain line, but it’s been tougher not getting the ball.” -
@sparky said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
Caleb Clarke massively out of form this season. Don't know what's going if its injury or a mental thing or poor coaching but his work rate is significantly below that expected of an AB starting wing.
Clarke has acknowledged this too.
“Personally I feel like I haven’t really got to my full potential, it’s been a lot harder this year, trying to get into these games. “I came into this year with a goal to be working off the ball and getting the ball a lot,” he said. “Whereas I’ve been working off the ball, but every time I’m running off my wing, I can hear everyone talking, like ‘Caleb’s coming’. “Last weekend I could hear Sam Whitelock say that every time I tried to sneak around the rucks. “Stuff like that is frustrating, but at the same time it is quite cool that I’m being so heavily marked. But it’s been one of those years where I’ve wanted to do tackle busting runs and get over the gain line, but it’s been tougher not getting the ball.” -
@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@bovidae second year syndrome - suddenly you get marked, and you lift your game
Yep. Use the extra attention to distribute / offload and find the space that is created elsewhere. Maybe that is why he keeps heading infield rather than trying to go outside? Trying to link up, rather than go over or through a couple of defenders.
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The biggest takeaway for me is trying to get my head around the contribution of Tanielu Teleʻa..
Leon MacDonald told us in an interview after Crusaders game that the loss of Tele’a early in the game had disrupted the Blues attacking game plan ..After Saturday evening ,I saw nothing that even resembled any sort of creativeness from the backs with Tele’a being a pivotal part of the Blues attack ..!
Or maybe I am just missing something..️ -
@steven-harris what a head scratcher...doesn't feature at all then all of a sudden is a pivotal part of the game plan against the champs...ol Rangi didn't do himself (or Telea) any favours! SMH....
@nogusta said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@steven-harris what a head scratcher...doesn't feature at all then all of a sudden is a pivotal part of the game plan against the champs...ol Rangi didn't do himself (or Telea) any favours! SMH....
I think what gets said to the media is deflection in some ways - probably didn't help losing a starter, but I'd be very surprised if he wasn't playing a bit of a game with the journo's, trying to turn the heat up on others
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@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@bovidae second year syndrome - suddenly you get marked, and you lift your game
Second year syndrome in his 4th Super season?
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
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@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@bovidae second year syndrome - suddenly you get marked, and you lift your game
Second year syndrome in his 4th Super season?
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attention -
@steven-harris Yeah Tele'a at this level is no more than a 20 minute impact player off the bench. He doesn't have the skill set to play in the midfield.
For now, he's a winger who can fill in at centre, no more. He's certainly no 12.
@african-monkey said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@steven-harris Yeah Tele'a at this level is no more than a 20 minute impact player off the bench. He doesn't have the skill set to play in the midfield.
For now, he's a winger who can fill in at centre, no more. He's certainly no 12.
He's a lot like Moala. He doesn't quite look like a true midfielder or winger, but talented enough to be out there.
He looked handy on the wing back in 2019, but we have plenty of wingers now.
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@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attention@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attentionPlayed 5 games in 2018 and 8 in 2019. All starts.
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@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attentionPlayed 5 games in 2018 and 8 in 2019. All starts.
@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attentionPlayed 5 games in 2018 and 8 in 2019. All starts.
huh, nice work. I googled and coudln't find much. What a raw talent back them...
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@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attention@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attentionI think that was Tanielu Tele'a in his rookie year when he played on the wing.
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@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attentionI think that was Tanielu Tele'a in his rookie year when he played on the wing.
@kiwimurph I don't remember him taking out a South African in the air in Super Rugby, but Tele'a got red-carded for a late, shoulder charge in the game against Wales during the World Rugby U20 Championship (JWC) in 2018. Got a 3-game suspension for that.
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@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attentionI think that was Tanielu Tele'a in his rookie year when he played on the wing.
@kiwimurph said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@dice said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
TBF, his first two seasons weren't too memorable and he was basically a teenager back then.
did he even play much? I think he spent a lot of time with the 7s, and I just remember a yellow (or red) for taking out a south african player in the air.
but yeah, I think 2020 was his breakout year - now he's actually getting the attentionI think that was Tanielu Tele'a in his rookie year when he played on the wing.
far out I'm getting old. Telea it was indeed
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@african-monkey said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:
@steven-harris Yeah Tele'a at this level is no more than a 20 minute impact player off the bench. He doesn't have the skill set to play in the midfield.
For now, he's a winger who can fill in at centre, no more. He's certainly no 12.
He's a lot like Moala. He doesn't quite look like a true midfielder or winger, but talented enough to be out there.
He looked handy on the wing back in 2019, but we have plenty of wingers now.
@dice Yup have to agree there.
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And yes, Tele'a got a red card for taking the Stormers winger out in the air in 2019.
