Chiefs cane lame Lions
5 May 2012
RYAN VREDE watched another ordinary performance from the Lions in their 34-21 defeat to the Chiefs.
It would be remiss not to note an increased intensity from the Lions. Indeed the plethora of fundamental errors that have marked their performances to date were reduced. But those plus points should hardly be comforting if you are a Lions supporter. They are comfortably outweighed by flaws – tactical and technical – that continue to undermine their progress.
Again, much of their play happened well behind the advantage line and when they did attack the gainline they were too easily repelled. Their trademark lateral attacks followed, with flyhalf Elton Jantjies looking every bit as toothless as his mentor Carlos Spencer did when he was playing behind a losing pack. It’s pertinent to remember that this was a largely second-choice Chiefs pack at that.
The hosts’ changes meant they lost some synergy and lacked the fluidity they have exhibited to date. Their attacks were largely disjointed and they profited from their opponents’ defensive and tactical ineptitude.
Defensively they were off-point as well and often looked vulnerable when the Lions earned the right to play expansively through purposeful phase play. Thankfully, from the Chiefs’ perspective, that was an all too rare tactic from the Johannesburg franchise. And herein lies the frustration with these Lions. They look a competent outfit when they play the percentages, indeed appearing to be one capable of seriously testing superior teams. Instead they remain adamant in the belief that they can run teams ragged.
Two of the Chiefs’ four tries came from broken field situations after one of the many rudderless attacks from the Lions resulted in their runners being isolated and turning over possession. The Chiefs had jumped to a 20-0 lead within 25 minutes and then led 34-14 with the final quarter to come, having by that time secured their four-try bonus point.
The Lions bagged their third try (each well constructed) through a powerful rolling maul with just over ten minutes to play to reduce deficit, but they never at any stage looked like they had the capacity to mount a comeback of the magnitude they needed.
And so the Lions’ mediocrity continues and the arguments from those who advocate for their retention in Super Rugby grows weaker by the week.
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby mag on Twitter
359 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 » Show All
5 May 2012, 14:28 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-197: that will encourage strength vs strength and avoid the predictable results we see today. The ‘premier’ league will create what Super rugby once was – the elite of the elite competing against each other and earning and keeping the right to stay there.
I’d still have a tournament style playoff system though.
And the relegation system will spice things up a bit at the bottom half.
5 May 2012, 14:30 pm
@cane(cane)-193:
He’s on a South African blog (which he’s welcome to be on in this cyber age) for one purpose only, to cause shite and ridicule everything South African.
A South African behaving similarly on an NZ blog would cop as much, if not more.
I don’t visit NZ blogs but I would suspect SA’s trading in the imbecilic stuff that’s poppa’s standard fare would – rightly – get flak aplenty.
Poppa’s behaviour is actually spectacularly juvenile, as only immature individuals can get a kick out of visiting another country’s blog and being a serial pest.
Nothing “good for him’, as you suggest.
5 May 2012, 14:31 pm
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-200:
a) No
b) Yes
c) I do
d) n/a
Can’t take this blogging lark seriously. The minute you do is the minute you need to step back and take some time out. Dish it out by all means but don’t cry about it later.
5 May 2012, 14:32 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-196:
Your lot set upon Popps like rabid dogs every time he shows up.
As I said, the mongrel bites back.
He ain’t no Saint as you point out.
But how many of us are?
P.S. I was never reasonable.
8)
5 May 2012, 14:32 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-202: silver fern doesn’t tolerate outspoken Saffas. Say anything contrakiwi and you’re kicked out swiftly. Perhaps Poopy should be grateful he is even tolerated?
5 May 2012, 14:32 pm
Cane and Pooper playing as a ladies doubles team and returning serve I see.
Big fcken belly wobble
Yawn!
5 May 2012, 14:33 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-199: if you cant get it through your thick skull then fair enough..
i responded to a comment about NZs domestic violence problem, and 99% of the time I am responding to a derogatory comment about NZ, which you seem to ignore, and have even stated on this very thread that you didnt read it..
but you are quick to jump on my comment, proving that it did indeed get to you… funny then that some comments may get our backs up as well aye?
but your silence condones these comments at NZ all the time, so, until you guys act like humans and revert to just rugby, I too will remain uncouth and respond in kind…
no victim here, but I imagine there are thousands upon thousands of victims in SA huh?
its not a hard concept to grasp surely?
5 May 2012, 14:37 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-207: oh the picture you paint is always one of “responding” to another comment. “Returning serve” as you say. Funny how you always seem to be the common denominator?
You’re just a one man online defender of all things NZ huh? You must make friends all the time with your unusual “defending” behaviour which seems more like “attack is the best form of defence”.
How long until you blow a poopy valve again and have to take another self imposed exile to cool off? Can it be today please?
5 May 2012, 14:37 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-202:
“”A South African behaving similarly on an NZ blog would cop as much, if not more.”"
NO JOE.
A Saffa on a NZ blog would be banned faster than Kim.com could do the 100 metres.
End of. Fact.
But hey, keo.comedy is very liberal. (un-policed)
8)
5 May 2012, 14:37 pm
Most kiwis are not sitting in front of the pc at this hour,they have social lives.m
Do you okes even have real friends?
As you were
5 May 2012, 14:38 pm
Guffaw.
Chortle.
Belly wobble.
5 May 2012, 14:38 pm
Most kiwis are not sitting in front of the pc at this hour,they have social lives.
Do you okes even have real friends?
As you were
5 May 2012, 14:38 pm
there was a crooked man,
who walked a crooked mile,
he found a crooked sixpence,
upon a crooked style,
he had a crooked cat,
who caught a crooked mouse,
and they all lived together,
in a little crooked country called new zealand where they were rugby referees
5 May 2012, 14:39 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-205:
Much as I would have expected.
So, in terms of freedom of speech, on the freedom of speech rankings chart, we’re well ahead of NZ!!!
We tolerate poppa and his ilk by allowing them to remain and continue their trash talk, they summarily flick us form their site, ban us.
And then get all holier-than-thou and, as you say, play the victime card.
5 May 2012, 14:42 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-210:
Most are mindlessly blotto at this hour, incapable of pronouncing their names let alone posting on a blog.
5 May 2012, 14:43 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-208: attack is the best form of defense…
all because you guys cant handle the fact that NZ dominates you guys in rugby, the one bastion of white SA male “supremacvy” left..
pity you guys havent been supreme at that for the last 20 odd years..
I know, I know, its because NZ cheat and Saffas are the poor VICTIMS of conspiracy..
talk about playing the victim indeed..
chortle
belly wobble
guffaw
5 May 2012, 14:43 pm
Even if you were sober why be on the interwebs?mingle with friends ffs.
5 May 2012, 14:44 pm
Personally I love NZ. Best holiday destination I have visited yet (and I have been fortunate to have seen a lot of this world). One of the most beautiful countries in the world and the people are very friendly. Travelling around the country we were invited in to stay with locals in their houses twice, for free, of course and fed well. Literally opened their doors to us. This has never happened in any other country. Great outdoor activities too. People who live there are very blessed.
5 May 2012, 14:44 pm
Not too bad played the Lions, just not the same league.
5 May 2012, 14:45 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-214:
hey joe,
I’m all for arseholes like me getting banned.
As long as the playing field is level,
No problems.
5 May 2012, 14:45 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-216:
playing the race card, poppa, the white supremacist stuff?
I suppose you have stats to back this statement, too?
5 May 2012, 14:46 pm
Only negative is the sand fly!
5 May 2012, 14:46 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-221: poppa has proven himself to be a racist before. Nothing new. Yawn.
5 May 2012, 14:47 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-221: says the man who went the alcohol abuse route..
hypocrisy, thy name is Joe..
feeling like a victim Joe? why is that? touch a nerve did I?
5 May 2012, 14:47 pm
I saw the race card too Joe
Exactly WS,why are the couple on here so obnoxious?
5 May 2012, 14:48 pm
Whatever
Prick and Pops don’t even live in New Zealand.
What’s the big fuss.
5 May 2012, 14:48 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-217:
Perhaps we could fake our own deaths Fernly!
5 May 2012, 14:49 pm
Poppers69…
On his jihad against all things Saffa…
Only thing is he’s a coward…
A big fat maori baby…
A matter of time until he spits his dummy again… has a breakdown… and runs away…
Again…
5 May 2012, 14:49 pm
and round and round the houses poopy goes… still… returning serve…. bringing up all the same stereotypes as he brought up last year…. his coc.ks bigger than your coc.k…. will be measuring up for life it seems…
juvenile. small things amuse small minds….
5 May 2012, 14:50 pm
Pooper don’t,you have something better to do with your time?
Seriously,what are your other present options?
5 May 2012, 14:50 pm
“Prick and Pops”
Damn I’m good.
5 May 2012, 14:52 pm
Ayatollah Poppers69…
Pronouncing Fat Maori Jihad…
From a guarded carpark near you…
The hunt is on.
5 May 2012, 14:52 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-229: and with a thing that small wooden spoon youd be hard put to please anything…
5 May 2012, 14:52 pm
@cane(cane)-220:
Disagree.
What did French philosopher Voltaire say, something along the lines of “I disagree strongly with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”?
I think it was Voltaire (memory a bit scratchy) and I agree with it. Poppa and his ilk, you too, even in arsehole mode, have as much right to be on this site and have your say as the next person.
A great shame silver fern prefers to ban freedom of speech.
Ewelyn Beatrice Hall
5 May 2012, 14:54 pm
Poopy are you drunk? Sounds it. Should you be drunk on the night shift security detail?
5 May 2012, 14:54 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-234:
nice post joe.
8)
5 May 2012, 14:55 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-224:
Don’t get me started on hypocrisy, poppa.
Nothing hypocritical about pointing out that alcohol abuse is a blot on NZ landscape. You and your countrymen have conceded as much tonight.
I’m more interested in the white supremacist stats you have to back up your statement of fact.
5 May 2012, 14:57 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-237: and then theres nothing hypocritical about me pointing out that rape is a blot on the SA landscape?
but continue…
5 May 2012, 14:59 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-238: actually not a blot, more like a tsunami..
5 May 2012, 15:00 pm
round and round “returning serve” Poopy continues…
5 May 2012, 15:00 pm
Wooden spoon @218 Thanks for your attempt to defuse tiresome
situation.
Hello dawn @ 226.Why so verbose.? second and third sentences
superfuous(spelling)
5 May 2012, 15:01 pm
Superfluous.
5 May 2012, 15:03 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-239:
Nothing at all, South Africa has many blots but it also has many positives.
I repeat myself, I’m more interested in your ‘white supremacist’ statement of fact. Tell me more about this, your empirical research and findings.
I supect it’s a cheap racist jibe from a supremely immature and racist individual.
5 May 2012, 15:04 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-232:
Got a problem with Maori’s.?
5 May 2012, 15:04 pm
We are very honoured to have an esteemed rugby writer as one of own on Keo… our very own transformation has written his debut piece for another forum where he is conducts business as “Megatron”.
Coincidentally it’s a Sharks forum where he is known as the resident anti-Sharks troll but his piece seems reasonably balanced… perhaps transie is a closet shark under his smoke and mirrors blogging character…
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2012/05/04/sharks-need-to-be-switched-on-for-the-full-80/
5 May 2012, 15:05 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-243: like your retort about us being too drunk to say our names was the response of a mature individual, dont make me laugh Joe..
5 May 2012, 15:05 pm
I am off to Goodwood RFC for beers.
Pooper do you have nothing else to do?
5 May 2012, 15:06 pm
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-244: funny aye, they all get up in arms about my perceived “racism”, yet let comments like that slip on by without nary a mention..
hypocrisy, thy name is Saffa..
5 May 2012, 15:06 pm
Identikit…
5ft1
125kgs
Wears Glasses
Finds reading difficult
Eats lots of Whalemeat pies
Has a penchant for Incest
Supports the shittest team in Super rugby
Guards a Car Park and patrols a seedy GayCinema, looking after the patrons zealously, in Kings Cross Sydney…
I give you Poppers69
5 May 2012, 15:06 pm
@ryecatcher(ryecatcher)-241: hmmm I was just thinking about the hangi I had there. Delicious and unusual method of cooking. I had an umu in the Cooks too. Making me hungry just thinking about it.
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.