Chiefs steal it late
16 Mar 2012
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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16 Mar 2012, 06:44 am
Tough game for the Brumbies. The Chiefs are looking ubstoppable. I hope the Brumbies at least keep it rspectable. Chiefs by 15+
16 Mar 2012, 07:05 am
no, after the shirt they pulled against the cheetahs i hope they get 50+ put on them.
dooses.
16 Mar 2012, 07:40 am
Yep, its time for a serious reality check for the Brumbies, the unbeaten start is going to end big time!
16 Mar 2012, 08:39 am
Shocking Sky Sports fark all on 5+ channels & no game coverage.. @Sky Fail!!!
16 Mar 2012, 08:40 am
@welcome to my life, hugh…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-2: Got to agree
16 Mar 2012, 08:46 am
Let’s see what Jake Whites young Brymbles team really has to offer..
16 Mar 2012, 08:49 am
The Chiefs tighhead prop is fricken huge! He looks more like a professional pie eater then a professional rugby player, interesting to see how long he lasts, because he looks pretty powerful and exciting….
16 Mar 2012, 08:51 am
Bumblies cannot be the best Oz team? Oz conference even softer than the RSA one?Lol?
16 Mar 2012, 09:01 am
brumbies to pull an upset and annoy all jarpies?
16 Mar 2012, 09:04 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-9:
Hehe… careful what you wish for they say…
Brumbies forwards being extremely good so far at starving the Chiefs of possession and threatening the try-line… however it feels like a break-out is only a few seconds away…
16 Mar 2012, 09:07 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-9:
Off the topic but do you know what happened to that lock from Crusaders, Isaac Ross?
Been a slowish first half but enjoying the play of Chiefs #9 since last week already,.
The most impressive part of his game is that he doesn’t wave his arms at the ref at each his ruck or takes two steps to his side before he sets his runners away, and he can take a half gap as well.
Good player.
16 Mar 2012, 09:08 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-9: We’d just put it down to the SA influence.
Win-win!
16 Mar 2012, 09:09 am
Ouch ball dropped over the line by Fardy from the Brumbies!
16 Mar 2012, 09:10 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-11: isaac ross fell out favour at the saders ended up playing for the chiefs but now is in japan.
16 Mar 2012, 09:10 am
Brumbies are playing like a SA team.
Keeping the ball close to the forwards with that Bulls technique of a support player on the back of the ball carrier, bashing into the closest opponent.
16 Mar 2012, 09:12 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-15:
Only way to do it against this side… although the Chiefs forwards as just as good…
Brumbies tactical kicking is good too…
16 Mar 2012, 09:14 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-11: @Transformation(Transformation)-14: Ja he was good. I enjoyed his play. Quite mobile for a lock with good skills.
16 Mar 2012, 09:16 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-14:
Thanks, and he was an All Black as well wasn’t he?
Was it the injuries or was he just that bad that they let him go?
I remember him having amazing handling skills but was lacking in the physical department sometimes.
16 Mar 2012, 09:18 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-16:
Just like an SA side
Their scrum is solid and line-out working fine.
A boring team to watch but effective.
16 Mar 2012, 09:24 am
My Franschoek deal has been given the go ahead.
Meanwhile non-cullert residents from Plumstead will be relocated to Delft and Kraaifontein; those who cannot be accom there to Atlantis
The only thing that is here to stay is change
16 Mar 2012, 09:25 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-15: No Saffer side plays like that! Quality play so far, inches from two or three tries so far, not bad at all! Just need to be sharper in contact and maintain that defensive effort. At the very least, regardless of outcome, they have exposed several shortcomings in this Chiefs side.
16 Mar 2012, 09:26 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-19: Boring? I take it you haven’t seen a single Brumbies game this year! Their running is very good. You don’t have the slightest idea what you are talking about.
16 Mar 2012, 09:27 am
I see Jake’s Brumbies whom were completely written off by pretty much every1 “15+” etc not doing too bad at 9-9 HT. Be an interesting second half to see if they can sustain it.
16 Mar 2012, 09:29 am
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-20: What are you on about, old fool? This is what happens when you skip the morning pills.
16 Mar 2012, 09:30 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-18: no, he got schooled by victor big time in the 2009 tri-nations and was made a scapegoat by all of new zealand media – remember the new zealand lineout was so shambolic that GH had to shift hansen to “strategy” and he GH took over the forwards/lineouts. being dropped by the all blacks and the fallout affected his game and he never kicked on, so he went to the chiefs and subsequently moved to japan.
16 Mar 2012, 09:31 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-22:
I watched their 1st game vs the Force as well, how would you summarise their play in that match if not boring?
16 Mar 2012, 09:33 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-18: Snap!
16 Mar 2012, 09:34 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-25: Yes I remember that. Quite sad. Isnt he an All Black Legacy?
16 Mar 2012, 09:34 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-25:
I remember that ye, Victor was at the top of his game to the point where he stole their ball at will.
So AB coaches aren’t so perfect in managing young talent as they like to believe.
16 Mar 2012, 09:34 am
no man, no…
they are working together these anzacs
they are working together
16 Mar 2012, 09:35 am
@Guns(Guns)-23: Yes impressive so far. 2nd half should be interesting. I suspect the Chiefs will come out blazing. Try in the first 5 mins of the 2nd half.
16 Mar 2012, 09:36 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-26: They played a clever territorial game in that first half and opened it up in the second. It was a good tactical game. The ONLY reason fans were unhappy was because they wanted a try fest. That’s the Aussies for you, but I see doff Saffers have expanded on this by saying they now play a Saffer game simply because they have a Saffer coach. The Brumbies have played a lot of running rugby bud.
16 Mar 2012, 09:38 am
Chiefs get it together. The errors are bad. You guys have the dominating scrum you should win this game.
16 Mar 2012, 09:38 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-21:
You mean to tell me you haven’t seen a SA side who bashes it up close around the rucks with almost two guys receiving the ball to try and cross the gain line and secure the ruck ball at the same time, over and over again?
With the only time the wing sees the ball is when he’s chasing kicks down field?
16 Mar 2012, 09:40 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-33:
Exactly, they’ve been suckered into a messy game quite clevery by the Brumbies.
16 Mar 2012, 09:42 am
@Guns(Guns)-23:
Amazing what a difference a good coach makes with a bunch of young inexperienced up-starts…
Starting the season 3 months before all else paying dividends for him… and these guys are looking extremely well-drilled, disciplined and conditioned…
That said even the biggest punter would not have tipped them…
16 Mar 2012, 09:43 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-35: The Brumbies have been looking to run it. Chiefs simply poor ball handling and very frail on defence.
16 Mar 2012, 09:44 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-34: That’s something every side does! You clearly know nothing.
16 Mar 2012, 09:48 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-32:
Playing it safe and kicking away every ball you get in your own half is effective territorial play yes, but at the same time overly conservative, the same criticism we’ve had of most SA sides in Super Rugby and even the Boks.
Opponents who can run at them at speed and stretch them over the field will expose them, the only thing that’s let the Chiefs down in this game is their handling.
But credit to the Brumbies as well, so far their defence has been good.
16 Mar 2012, 09:50 am
Yes and apparently the person who called Chiefs by 15+ knows everything!!!
16 Mar 2012, 09:50 am
chiefs now in front, points seem to be coming only from penalties.
for those watching is the game interesting or the ref is taking centre stage?
16 Mar 2012, 09:50 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-38:
Do all sides repeatedly give the ball to their tight forwards, even on their opponent’s tryline with their whole backline waiting to run it?
16 Mar 2012, 09:54 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-42: thats stupid, unless you have no faith in your backline
16 Mar 2012, 09:55 am
@Papoose(papaown)-41:
Ref’s been good… mistakes are all the player’s in this slog-fest… yes it’s always interesting when you support neither team and the under-dog are playing a tactically smart game and threatening an upset…
16 Mar 2012, 09:56 am
lol……just loving this rolling maul aka boere rugby
16 Mar 2012, 09:57 am
@Alucard
Did you what the commentator just said now after the Brumbies good rolling maul?
”You wouldn’t think the Brumbies have a SA Coach in charge, would you?”
Haha
It’s not a diss at the Brumbies, just calling it as I see it.
16 Mar 2012, 09:57 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-44: is it raining?
just cant understand the lack of tries…
16 Mar 2012, 09:58 am
@Papoose(papaown)-43:
It’s called keeping the ball tight and starving an extremely attacking side of possession… and guess what… it’s working…
Chief’s forwards had no answer to that last 20m rolling maul…
And they’re back even!
16 Mar 2012, 09:58 am
C’mon Chiefs!
16 Mar 2012, 09:59 am
@Papoose(papaown)-47:
Dry as a tack and no wind…
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