Chiefs charge into play-offs
29 Jun 2012
JON CARDINELLI watched the Chiefs beat the Highlanders 27-21 in Dunedin to book their place in the Super Rugby knockout rounds.
This victory, as so many of the Chiefs’ results in 2012, was built on a robust and accurate performance at the breakdown.
Their option taking and tactical kicking wasn’t always good, but they maintained their intensity at the tackle throughout the game. This allowed them to resist the Highlanders in the first 40, and then secure the result in the second stanza.
The Highlanders had the best of both territory and possession in the first half, but were undone by the determined Chiefs defence. They enjoyed frequent surges into the Chiefs’ 22 but surrendered the ball when the visitors loaded the rucks and pressured scrumhalf Aaron Smith. The All Blacks No 9 was forced to rush his pass or drop the ball as the rabid Chiefs forwards piled into the ruck with unstoppable momentum.
The Chiefs showcased their counter-attacking threat during this period, using a breakdown turnover to create a try for wing Tim Nanai-Williams. However, they were fortunate that they didn’t concede more points in the first half. Their tactical kicking was poor, and several wayward kicks by Aaron Cruden prevented them from escaping their own territory.
The Highlanders weren’t good enough to use this territorial advantage to edge ahead on the scoreboard. In fact, a late lapse allowed the Chiefs to score eight points right before half-time, a purple patch of scoring that effectively won the game for the visitors.
Cruden extended the Chiefs lead to 21-9 right after the break, and from there the Highlanders were chasing the game. Given their impotency on attack during the early stages and the manner in which they were losing the collisions, it appeared an impossible task.
They enjoyed some good fortune when the TMO awarded a controversial try. The Chiefs had done well to contest a lineout and tip the ball back on their side, but the Highlanders reacted quickly to put the visitors under pressure.
It seemed as if Tawera Kerr-Barlow had the ball on the ground before Andrew Hore ripped it away and planted it beyond the tryline. It seemed a clear case of hands in the ruck, although between the officials it was decided that Hore’s steal was legal and that the try would stand.
Chris Noakes missed the subsequent conversion but the Highlanders were suddenly just seven points behind. The Chiefs enjoyed more territory in the period that followed, and although Cruden would miss a shot at goal, the pressure applied by his forwards created another opportunity. The three points stretched the Chiefs’ lead to 10 with only 15 minutes remaining.
The Highlanders grew more desperate and this impacted on their discipline. They infringed right in front of their own poles and Cruden banked another penalty.
Hosea Gear managed to power over from close range in the 77th minute to set up a frantic finish. But in the end it was the Chiefs defence that had the final say.
The result sees the Chiefs consolidating their position at the top of the log. Their next two matches will determine whether they host a play-off or not, but it will be a comfort to know that they’ve already booked their place in the final six.
The defeat is a blow to the Highlanders’ play-off ambitions. They have just one match remaining before a bye in the final round. Even if they win next week, they will need a few other results to go their way in order to make the final cut.
408 Comments
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30 Jun 2012, 10:54 am
@The Donkeys Egg(The Donkeys Egg)-397:
hehehe
work those stats… massage them every which way you can…
well with all the dosh your “equivalent crowd” of 210,525 per game must be bringing in NZ rugby must be one of the richest rugby unions in the world…
or maybe your equivalent crowd is as relevant as the money they pay for their equivalent seats…?
sniiiiiifffff…
mmmm… how i love the smell of desperation in the morning…
30 Jun 2012, 12:31 pm
@ufo(ufo)-401: and yet none of you Saffas complained when NZ’s whinge at the World cup has now brought you guys a windfall from the IRB huh? you all moaned at NZ’s whinge, but quite rightly shut up now you benefit from the extra money each WC year…
says it all really..
30 Jun 2012, 14:13 pm
Transformation@365.Well said
30 Jun 2012, 14:35 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-402:
hehehe…
poppa… told you before… i speak for me and me alone… and am responsible alone for what i say…
find me specific comments i made around these issues that vex you so… and perhaps i may respond to those…
i responded to a specific poster who made a specific comment which made little sense…
why no comment about my specific comment about his specific comment…? agree or disagree with me or donkeykong about his specific statistical manipulations…
“none of you saffas” “you all moaned”…? *sigh* generalisation upon generalisation… won’t crack it and are not worthy of a dignified response
told you before… save your trolling for people who are interested or actually care… you may find some of them here… but i ain’t one of ‘em…
otherwise… trust you’re well…?
enjoying super 15 again…?
how about those hurricanes hey…?
30 Jun 2012, 16:29 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-399:
which as if to say 5m white South Africans are the only fans of rugby. Which is, clearly, rubbish.
in NZ, mostly of the 4m population are still divided in rival, successful, codes such as R.League (World Champions, and non-existent in SA), basketball (Champions of Aus pro comp), soccer (unbeaten at World Cup, highly competitive at all youth grades), sailing (best in World) and a host of other minor, albeit popular, sports.
And in Aus, R.Union is about the 5th/6th major Winter code.
Simplistic enough for you ?
30 Jun 2012, 16:32 pm
@snivelling little kiwi pricks(snivelling little kiwi pricks)-400:
Thanks for reminding us of the major rival code in SA.
30 Jun 2012, 16:33 pm
@ufo(ufo)-401:
No, not the richest.
Merely the best.
SA, unfortunately for you, is neither.
30 Jun 2012, 16:38 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-402:
and the moral lectures that went with it, with only 2 of the SANZAR partners with enough balls to make what was a major call and great risk.
and yet the Caster partner can win Gold without any. The eunuch nation should hand it all back.
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