Highlanders....the Rugby not the Fantasy

Reffing has been a big problem for some time. They are there to apply the laws, not use the laws to manipulate the game or police style. That's how its been used since the ELVs. The IRB is less concerned about the application of laws and more concerned about promoting an increasingly ugly, frustrating and boring aesthetic to drawn in casuals. 

Welcome back Aug

Moz, I'm in some way surprised at your aversion to the fantasy stuff. You being a numbers guy and all. 

The Chiefs are not what they were five years ago. It's a different and less efficient animal now. 

Thanks Plum. From my perspective, I'd rather concentrate on the actual game. It takes a lot of time to analyse one game. That is more than enough to keep anyone busy. I haven't even posted 5% of what I've extracted from these reviews. So, I prefer to keep the two separate, as they really have no business being tangled with one another. To each their own, so long as the one doesn't interfere with the other. 

Plum

It actually was not the worst Super Rugby game I have seen in my time - but neither was it the best,   There were too many mistakes made on both sides - normally found in early Super Rugby series games.   

Don't expect any joy about asking the orcs about fantasy rugby,   They have no idea about the game of rugby and in performances of players being evaluated,    Over the years it became apparent - the players they hate do better than the players they adore when it comes to performance..

So what is to be done to mask their lack of knowledge about rugby -  just go on all-out attack against the fantasy games - a component of interest to most site members.   This is nothing new - the attack on fantasy rugby has been going on for years,         

Speaking of all out attack... 

...Pretty good game i thought all things considered. Some good running rugby at times with a few meat pies thrown in . Watching two NZ sides cannibalising each other would be the attraction for others. Throw in a bit of contraversy for good measure.

Anyone with any real insight into the Chiefs set up will notice quite a few new players blooded yesterday...

At flyyhalf with all three Chief's flyhalves out injured newbie Leger a centre by trade filled in and played well until replaced by Beaver. 

Former AB Sevens rep Nanai Seturo also went along way to cementing a wing spot with his two tries on debut for the Chiefs

 Other newbies in the backs Manu and Sullivan also looked good . None of these  new players at all averse to contact.. So plenty of positives to take out of the game- plenty of flashes of brilliance even without DMac

Disappointing to let the game slip at the end with the Landers ABs reserves Frizzel and Smith the difference in the end -  both scoring coming off the bench - the turning point of the game....but traditionally we have lost our opening game to the same team anyway...inspirational leader Retalick going off the straw that broke the camels back perhaps.

Interesting though to see how Iaone filled Sopoaga shoes. Plenty of new flyhalves on show this weeekend with BBarret still on his honeymoon and the Blues also experimenting with Black and Pl ummer. The NZ flyhalf production line keeps pumping them out...

Thanks Moz for the comments. The Chiefies often look like a team on a doughnut diet. Gets a bit better as the season and the Chiefs roll on. Great to see ou Brycy so positive - will it last.

Nice to have Organhuffer back to analyse the heck out of the game!!!!

You are right Mozart, "Stephen Donald enabled a try by not putting a penalty in touch" and it was certainly "interesting to to hear the commentators trying to justify a clear shoulder charge of the kind that red carded SBW" Spot on. 

To be fair to Stephen Donald he said he did not expect to be called to Super Rugby LOLS "Yeah, two weeks ago I was sitting on my dinghy fishing in the Manukau Harbour," he said. "I didn't really expect to be playing Super Rugby." that story sounded familiar? 

Donald, the 35-year-old only signed with the club at the start of the week as an injury replacement for Tiaan Falcon and coming off the bench for some "very unexpected" football, on at fullback of all places, amid a very green backline.