Chiefs resist late Saders surge
9 Mar 2012
JON CARDINELLI watched the Chiefs withstand a typical Crusaders fightback to win 24-19 in Napier.
Following a dominant showing in the first half, this was always going to be the Chiefs’ game to lose. After turning in a powerful performance last week against the Blues, they were similarly impressive at the breakdown on this occasion. They were also surprisingly good at the scrum, unsettling an All Blacks front row to the point where the Crusaders conceded penalties and territory all too regularly.
Flank Liam Messam enjoyed an outstanding match at the breakdown, but it was the Chiefs’ collective fire and precision at the coalface that made all the difference. They also used midfielders Sonny Bill Williams and Richard Kahui to take them further beyond the gainline and stretch what was again an uncertain Crusaders defence.
While it was another shaky showing by the Cantabrians, they showed remarkable guts to stay in touch with a rampant Chiefs side. The visitors led by only 10 points at the break, a scoreline that wasn’t reflective of their overwhelming dominance at the collisions as well as the territory.
Credit should go to the Crusaders for hanging in there in the period before half-time, and then fighting back in the second stanza. They never managed to take the lead, but they chipped away at the deficit.
Despite coughing up possession in promising positions, they remained in the Chiefs’ half and finally earned some reward. A telling breakdown turnover was latched on to by Kieran Read, who subsequently found Robbie Fruean for the finish. At 16-13, the Crusaders were within striking distance.
But the Chiefs hit back in impressive fashion, using their rabid forwards to hammer away at the Crusaders defence. Sona Taumalolo emerged from a pile of bodies and the TMO awarded the try to the visitors. It was a strike that gave the Chiefs some breathing room as the game approached the final quarter.
The Crusaders scrum stabilised with the introduction of Wyatt Crockett in the second half and they began to pressure the Chiefs through a more territorial approach. Flyhalf Tyler Bleyendaal held his nerve to kick some important penalties, and it seemed as if the Crusaders were on the verge of an unlikely win.
But more brutal Chiefs defence pressured the Crusaders into errors, and the hosts certainly didn’t help themselves by making a series of unforced mistakes. The Crusaders also had an opportunity to snatch a late win when Read stuck out a hand for an intercept but failed to gather the ball.
On another day he may have secured the pill and dotted down under the posts, but on this occasion the knock-on was fitting – the Crusaders weren’t clinical enough throughout the contest and didn’t deserve to win. Aside from the lapse after half-time, they Chiefs maintained their intensity and accuracy and were rewarded with the big scalp of the Saders.
64 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
9 Mar 2012, 11:08 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-49:
Zac Guildford would probably disagree based on today
The Aussies have been too busy landing cheap shots in most of their derbies so far to actually play hard.
9 Mar 2012, 11:08 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-50: Smith?
9 Mar 2012, 11:09 am
Oh yes, forgot for a second that SBW plays for the Chiefs this year.
Why didn’t I support the Crusaders today???
9 Mar 2012, 11:09 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-49: @willievz(willievz)-48: I tend to agree with Willie on this one. Judging by some of the hits that the Chiefs put on the ‘Saders team today the “most physical” tag could well rest with the NZ conference too.
9 Mar 2012, 11:26 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-52:
Major mix up!
Of course he’s a Cane, but the way the Chiefs defended it was like he was there as well haha
9 Mar 2012, 11:59 am
Owen Franks was diabolical today. Worst performance Ive ever seen him dish up>Got owned by Taumololo in scrums,was non existent in loose and missed tackles,fell off a few and dropped so many balls. He was pathetic…Cory Flynn not far behind add Bleyendaal too.
9 Mar 2012, 13:02 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-56:
he was bad yes, perhaps he’s not 100% ? he certainly didnt show up. bleyendaal’s doing his best to look like a domkop skopper without really knowing whats going on in the game, took some stupid options, add that one dumb indiscretion.
ellis for me was also poor.
9 Mar 2012, 13:38 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-56:
both Franks boys got owned by Uncle and nephew team on Chiefs side.
9 Mar 2012, 15:16 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-35:
Jinne, ek geniet vir jou op hierdie blog
As if you give a rat’s behind about the other SA teams. You mean it is good for the Bulls if they lose?
You would support the Crusaders against ‘other’ SA teams if it would mean the Bulls gain from the result.
9 Mar 2012, 15:37 pm
The Cheifs tight 5 has got to be the best so far. Totally destroyed the Saders in the rucks, mauls and scrums. twas beautiful to watch. Made those Franks brothers and the Whitelocks piss in their pants, totally loved it.
9 Mar 2012, 15:51 pm
@SHARKattack(mabu)-60: And to think they suffered an injury to one of their 1st choice props in the 1st round. They are playing great rugby.
9 Mar 2012, 15:53 pm
@SHARKattack(mabu)-60:
And did that Crusaders tight 5 need a snotklap !!
9 Mar 2012, 16:24 pm
got to love the new conference system,NZ conference no new teams anyone can win on their day.SA and AUS 2 weak sides 3 if you if count the brumbies,gift points to the top sides twice over.great system,absolute joke.
10 Mar 2012, 05:56 am
Still clinging onto the ‘”SA has the more physical conference” is a joke.The Bulls v the Orange Boys derby could be put down to that time of the month.
Without Nz teams we could rename comp SUPER BORING RUGBY. Nz derbies with their high octane instinctive attacking rugby coupled with big hits and enormous pressure is what the punters come to see.
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.