Chiefs loss against Highlanders - Why?

The Highlanders were exposed on defence in many areas of the game, they weren't the better team on the night but they managed to do the basics well and keep their composure in the end.

The main issues that was noticed:

- Too often the Chiefs lost momentum after creating multiple phases, handling errors was a problem and decision making. 

- Augustine Pulu ruined a few try scoring opportunities where he should have pass when players was in wide space. 

Goal kicking is one of the most important factors of the modern game. Cruden doesn't goal kick good enough, he's missed alot and it's now becoming detrimental to the team. Damian Mckenzie needs to be at fullback to do the goal kicking while Tom Marshall can play on the wing ahead of Gear who hasn't been on form. Those changes would improve the team immensely.

Shhhhh - don't talk about Cruden's inconsistent goal kicking too loudly. Don't want them getting any ideas about how to handle it. We want him as the AB flyhalf during the WC. Its the not-so-well-kept secret weakness. He seems to get the yips at the most inconvenient of times.

 From what little I saw of the game they just kept making errors and not finishing good play with points on the board. Highlanders kept it close & made the kick to win. That's the way it goes sometimes. Congrats to Highlanders fans.

 I wonder how they game would have gone with competent officals reffing etc.
Chiefs lacked composure and spoilt their chances. As Mike noted the Crude had mediocre day. It happens to all teams. 

 Agree JeromeV - Pulu ruined alot of potential try scoring opportunities by not passing. White Line fever we call it. James was the same. The Chiefs were their own worst enemies last night.

 The Chiefs surely were their own worst enemies and that is a problem.   But then among those enemies we find Cruden.   I can remember the Wellington test against SA last year when eh started off acceptably - not good - and when put under pressure became a joke and had to be replaced early.
Cruden has always been in the shadow of Dan Carter - another player that has gone back by leaps and bounds since his glory days,  when he was the best flyhalf in world rugby.   When Carter was available it was fine - Cruden could back him up on the occasion he was not available.  When Carter was not available Cruden came in on a more permanent basis and in the main messed up badly.
Barrett more and more became the guy to play for the AB's.   Both have negatives - both have problems in defense, both cannot handle pressure.   I think the person to ultimately replace Carter - even this year - is neither of those two.   The better prospect is MacKenzie - not perfect - but a much better prospect than the under-performing Carter and the panicky and defensively poor Cruden and Barrett.           

 Chiefs blew a lot of opportunities when up the Highlanders end. After the penalty tries it looked like they would run away with it. Highlanders played some good basic rugby towards the end and I loved the result.

 Sounds like you don't want Cruden terrorizing your Boks defense during the RWC Mike? . I remember last year when he did not play, your Team with the help of the ref and the Stadium TV Director won?