Chiefs crusaders - live chat

Try Chiefs!! Against the run of play, my man Robbie F scores

Thanks for the summary nukefree. I have only been able to see a few minutes of the game. I watched the try and some of the leadup. It looked like a typical first game of the season, i.e. basic & silly mistakes like being ahead of the kicker, etc.

Saders seem to have the ball for longer stretches but Chiefs are ahead. Much like the pattern of last years Chiefs games.

just win

It is half time in one of the worst games I have seen for years.   And it goes both ways:-

The Chiefs

*   Thus far the Chiefs forwards were poor in scrums - in SA we would call it crinkle paper scrumming;

*    Their line out play varied between rubbish and non-existent;

*    Their defence was good.

*    They rained penalties and was lucky that the Crusaders jad the worst goal kicker imaginable

The Crusaders

*    Scrums and line out play reasonable

*    Defence putrid at times -  Freuan try being an excellent example 

*    Ball handling skills bordered on the non-existent.  

*    Rained penalties as well.

It could be early season jitters - but this was rubbish thus far.

Good try by Whitelock. Defence was poor as they were more concerned about the ball going wide.

 Try Chiefs!! Against the run of play again.

 Well a win is a win but from what I saw the game was very scrappy. Both teams will be happy to have that one under their belt.

Poor ol' saders, looked like a familiar pattern, i.e. long periods with the ball but few points. Hope they get it sorted.

 ...Go the Mighty Chiefs...Gotta feel for Bleyendaal missing five kicks and getting dragged but the Crusties had their chances...

....Not sure how many players we lost there as we already had 13 out injured before the game...can't be too many loose forwards left...

Well done the Mighty Chiefs on winning their first game out when the odds were so greatly stacked against them..

...Aaron Cruden also demonstrating why he is the best standoff in world rugby leading what was largely a Chiefs B team to a great win at the home of the 7 times Super rugby champions the Crusties...sorry Crusty fans but the Chiefs are looking to make it 3 titles in a row....

...How good were the Chiefs tries though ?? Especially that last one by James Lowe- nothing like a a late intercept try just when the opposition is looking dangerous on attack with one point difference and seconds on the clock...Freuan also showing why he is such a good investment...

..Does't get much sweeter than that for Chiefs fans...next victim please..

Brycy

With that kind of performance by either side  there will NOT be too many victims.

Brycy

There shall be a NZ conference team in the top 3- with what I see today the Chiefs can with some luck make position 3 their own.  The Crusaders will not be in the top 5 if they keep on with rubbish performances like today.  

This was a poor show - the Chiefs forwards are not suspect - they are downright poor in both scrumming and line outs.   The Crusaders were better - but their ball handling skills were rubbish.

Against reasonable and stronger teams - the kind of performances both teams put up today would just not be good enough.

kingcorn

Not only boring - but the basic mistakes made by players made me wonder whether I was watching a game between school kids.   The number of penalties - yellow cards - ball handling errors, missed penalty kicks at goal, etc - I lost count of those.  

A game better to forget - never to watch a replay even I am bored as hell. 

 Lets analyse some of the things of this morning's match and see what went wrong.

Penalties

*   Chiefs            -     14

*   Crusaders      -       8

That made for 22 penalties given away in 80 minutes of play.   Must be some sort of a record for Super 15.

Line out takes 

*   Chiefs           -       5  (3 by their locks)

*   Crusaders     -       11

The line-out performance of the Chiefs were pathetic bearing in mind the opposition is no great line out players anyway.

Defence by back row

*   Chiefs  -  Tackles made   =  22

                   Tackles missed =   2

                   Ratio               =   8,3% 

*   Crusaders hiefs  -  Tackles made   = 12

                                Tackles missed =  2

                                Ratio                = 14,3%

Chiefs were good enough - the Crusaders below par.   The latter count showed a low tackle work rate and a slightly too high missed tackle ratio - what happened to the Mighty McCaw?????

These are just a few things that showed below par performances by both sides.  The spectators should have demanded their gate money back.