Chiefs steal it late

Chiefs steal it late

RYAN VREDE reports on the Chiefs’ 29-22 victory over the Brumbies secured through a Jackson Willison try at the death.

It was by no means convincing but the Chiefs continue their early-season march, giving further fuel to the growing belief that they will be among the teams involved in the business end of the tournament. To progress beyond the play-offs they need to exorcise the demons that sporadically tempt them to abandon a balanced approach in favour of crowd-pleasing panache.

The Chiefs at times resembled the rudderless side they were last year, shifting the ball laterally without any platform to do so effectively. Where purpose had characterised their attacks prior to this match, there was too much hope of individual brilliance, which was in short supply. It was no surprise that both their tries were built on pragmatic phase play.

Credit to the Brumbies for their structure, accuracy and power on defence – hallmarks of a Jake White team. The pressure they were able to exert in this regard contributed significantly to a string of handling errors the Chiefs committed, although a number of their cough-ups were simply schoolboy.

The Brumbies should have been ahead at the break (tied 9-9) having shown greater composure on attack but lacking the killer blow in the red zone. Their phase play and rolling mauls troubled the Chiefs, who lacked the gainline physicality to stifle the former and the organisational skill to quell the latter. Their lack of punch in the tackle compromised their breakdown contest and resulted in them conceding a string of breakdown penalties, which Christian Lealiifano duly banked.

He traded three pointers with Aaron Cruden, the flyhalves kicking five apiece to lock the scores at 15-all going into the final quarter. However, you sensed that the Chiefs had the edge. With their cavalier spirit reigned in slightly they were able to exert pressure in a manner they never were in the first half. They worked through phases and rewarded when Sona Taumalolo drove over from close range. Cruden converted to give his side the lead with seven minutes to play.

But then the Chiefs showed their tactically naive side once more, attempting to run themselves out of their territory instead of punting deep and forcing the Brumbies to take risks. They turned over possession and with four minutes to play Brumbies lock Sam Carter burrowed over the whitewash. Lealiifano held his nerve to level the scores once more from a difficult angle.

But the Chiefs redeemed themselves immediately. They depleted the Brumbies’ defensive line through multiple phases before shifting the ball to Willison for the match-winning score.

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226 Comments

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  • 201.ufo: Reply to this comment

    @rossoneri(rossoneri)-192:

    Hi Rosso…

    May I correct something…?

    That song is by Robbie Robertson – solo – not The Band. Came from his self-titled album in 1987.

    An awesome album… also had Broken Arrow on it… (which was covered by Rod Stewart but much better by Robbie)… and a superb song called Showdown at Big Sky… among others…

    Daniel Lanois produced and U2 did backing stuff for him…

    He also had a song called Shine your Light… which was used for a movie called Ladder49… Great song!

    Robbie also did two albums of songs for native americans… which imo opinion are some of the most powerful poignant songs ever written anywhere anytime…

    listen to Ghost Dance… gives you goosebumps on your soul…!…

    “you can kill my body…
    you can damn my soul…
    for not believing in your god…
    and some world down below.

    You don’t stand a chance against my prayer…
    You don’t stand a chance against my love!”

    The Band were giants and pioneers in rock history…

    And Robbie Robertson is one of the deepest thinking people, let alone rock stars, ever…

    An amazing human being…!!

  • 202.welcome to my life, hugh...: Reply to this comment

    @cane(cane)-184:
    very good, cane.
    @rossoneri(rossoneri)-192:
    nice its robertson.

    i am more of a jim croce man myself.

  • 203.Sheriff: Reply to this comment

    And after that ‘ Flasha Flashlight ‘please

  • 204.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment

    If we’re talking late 60s, early 70s, this is my kind of thing.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVC2cszdTao

  • 205.Dawn: Reply to this comment

    Hearts I rip
    Biggie Smalls and Junior Mafia
    Some mark *** *******
    We keep on coming
    While we running for your jewels
    Steady gunning
    Keep on busting at them fools
    You know the rules

  • 206.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @Dawn(Dawn)-205: **** biggie, **** mobb deep :mrgreen:

  • 207.ufo: Reply to this comment

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-204:

    Neil Young is my all time favourite… bar none…
    Know most of his lyrics and have most of his albums…

    can’t name a favorite neil young song of mine… their are just too many…

  • 208.ufo: Reply to this comment

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-204:

    Neil Young is my all time favourite… bar none…
    Know most of his lyrics and have most of his albums…

    can’t name a favorite neil young song of mine… there are just too many…

  • 209.Dawn: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation(Transformation)-206:

    All saccharin needs to be countered with some bad a s s lyrics

  • 210.ufo: Reply to this comment

    sorry double post…

  • 211.Sheriff: Reply to this comment

    And then to my friend from Port Elizabeth

    ‘ Kunjani’ by Ricardo & Friends

  • 212.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @Sheriff(Sheriff)-211: awe ma se kind…

    i dedicate “never again” by prophets of da city to the my bra Lawman up in SnorCity trying to repatriate his ouens to all the suburbs. :D

  • 213.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    gym calls

  • 214.Sheriff: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation(Transformation)-212:

    :-)

  • 215.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @ufo(ufo)-201: A great guitarist and songwriter. Always enjoyed his stuff although I don’t own any of his albums.

  • 216.Sheriff: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-215:

    Stormersboy, tell me – are you kullid?

    Ive been from the site for some time so a few regulars here I dont know

    Hope you dont find it intrusive

  • 217.ufo: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-215:

    yeah… if you get the chance to watch the last waltz… as mentioned by robzim… do so… to me that’s what being a band is all about… these guys enjoyed themselves and just reveled in it…

    will bring you a compilation cd of robbies when we have those beers…!!

    off to newlands now…

    go STORMERS…!!!!

  • 218.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment

    Enjoy the game, UFO.

  • 219.Sheriff: Reply to this comment

    Guys – enjoy the weekend – all of you

  • 220.IAAS: Reply to this comment

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-204:

    Only one I have of his is Harvest. Not a bad song on the album. It’s a must in anyone’s collection.

  • 221.Dawn: Reply to this comment

    Stupid sheriff and his stupid questions.

  • 222.Tartan: Reply to this comment

    Neil Young – Harvest, After the Gold Rush, Rust Never Sleeps are all amazing albums.

  • 223.Dawn: Reply to this comment

    Tartan if scotland lose tomorrow I will have to reconsider support.

  • 224.Schalk is Pote Fouries daughter: Reply to this comment

    Anyone know where to view the Super 15 Stormers v Blues game online?

  • 225.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment

    @Tartan(Tartan)-222: I have those plus an album he released in the early 90′s called Sleeps with Angels. Very moody with grunting guitar and echoey riffs. Great album for driving.

  • 226.wallabie.: Reply to this comment

    @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-118:

    Well then from what base do you present your assumptions?

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