Fearsome Chiefs within reach of crown
27 Jul 2012
RYAN VREDE reports on a compelling semi-final in which the Chiefs explored new depths in their game to beat the fancied Crusaders 20-17 in Hamilton.
These teams produced an epic three weeks ago at this venue, and, fittingly, considering the magnitude of the occasion, elevated their games to deliver one of the tensest (most tense) semi-finals in Super Rugby history.
It lacked for nothing, not technical skill, tactical intelligence, brutality, breathless passages, breathtaking individual skills. Neither the intangibles, like inspiring resilience and the desperation that accompanies that a deeply-rooted desire for victory, reflected in the pursuit of attacking and defensive inches. Nothing. Ultimately the Chiefs were marginally better, but that’s all they needed to be.
The big name players had their moments, Cruden exhibiting once more that he is fast evolving into a flyhalf of the absolute highest quality, Williams showing his fire-proof temperament and McCaw valiantly attempting to rouse his men through deed and words. But tellingly the Crusaders’ fulcrum, Dan Carter, fell well short of his high standards, making fundamental errors and lacking presence. He can’t be blamed for the defeat, but his struggles undoubtedly contributed to it.
The Chiefs’ line speed, physicality and accuracy in defence rocked the Saders, who uncharacteristically made numerous handling errors and regularly made themselves vulnerable to being turned over by runners isolating themselves. The Saders were never allowed to settle into their pattern and were made to look decidedly ordinary for the bulk of the contest.
By contrast the Chiefs buzzed on attack for much of the first half and then sustained their defensive effort and discipline through the next 40. With regards to the former, their back division profited from the potency of the strike runners in their pack. Cruden and Carter traded penalties to get the scoreboard rolling, but Williams ignited the contest with a scything break in a move that culminated in prolific prop Sona Taumalolo burrowing over from close range. The Chiefs extended their lead in the 25th minute when Robbie Robinson blitzed the defence before Williams sniped around an unguarded ruck fringe to set up Liam Messam. Cruden converted for a comfortable 17-6 lead.
The match situation called for a rebuttal from the seven-time champions and it came just before the break, Ryan Crotty darting through a depleted defensive line to score. Carter missed the conversion but trailing by just six the Saders would have felt confident given their pedigree and superior experience.
The arm-wrestle continued after the restart, with neither side able to impose their will. Carter kicked two penalties to Cruden’s one, taking the match into the final quarter with the hosts ahead by three.
Understandably neither side were prepared to take risks with the stakes as high as they were, pragmatic play marking the closing stages. This of course was not uncharted territory for the Saders, but they were met by an irresistible force that absolutely refused to relinquish the inches the Saders sought, first to breach the tryline, then, in one final act of desperation, to set up Carter for the game-levelling drop-goal.
With every phase you could see the Chiefs’ resolve deepen. Not here. Not now. Smash. Get up. Smash. Get up. There are varying things in sport that inspire people. The determination the Chiefs showed in those dying minutes holds universal appeal. Every tackle drove the Saders further away from their goal until finally the ball was grassed under pressure.
Massive celebration. The kings are culled. The Chiefs now have to ensure they complete their ascent to the throne.
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518 Comments
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28 Jul 2012, 10:11 am
Go Sharkies!
28 Jul 2012, 10:19 am
@Puma-451: Careful Puma. Best not to be seen to be supporting your team on here. Next you will be accused of all manner of things, starting with “arrogance”, “pomposity” and a host of others!
28 Jul 2012, 10:30 am
Go luck to all Sharks and Stormer supporters. May the best team w?n.
The moment of truth has arr?ved.
28 Jul 2012, 10:30 am
@wooden spoon-452:
I never take that seriously Spooner. I will support my team 100% and don’t care who says what. We are all passionate about our teams.
28 Jul 2012, 10:30 am
This website is incredibly quiet on the day of the Stormers’ greatest ever challenge in their history. Do you think the legions of Stompie fans who call this site home are just a little nervous?
28 Jul 2012, 10:33 am
Congrats to Great Britain on a superb opening ceremony to the 2012 Olympic Games. Was spectacular really.
28 Jul 2012, 10:35 am
@Puma-456: seriously Puma, if you want to have a laugh check out what this “Dirty Harry” chap is saying on the preview thread. Seems the guy needs a little bit of professional help!
28 Jul 2012, 10:36 am
@Puma-454:
That’s the spirit.
28 Jul 2012, 10:37 am
@Puma-454: Good man.
28 Jul 2012, 10:38 am
@wooden spoon-457: Okay. Hardly ever go back and read any posts. Only the last few that were posted as probably those posters are still online.
How was that ceremony? It was awesome I thought so anyway.
28 Jul 2012, 10:39 am
@Puma-460: I thought it was an interesting and entertaining opening ceremony.
Britain is a remarkable little island nation.
28 Jul 2012, 10:41 am
GO SHARKS!
28 Jul 2012, 10:43 am
Morning all… Well the big day is finally here… Hell this week has dragged on…!!
Good luck to the Sharks and their supporters…
but
GO STORMERS…!!!
Must repeat that I just hope the game is controversy free and may the best team win…!!
Stuff to do and then off to Newlands later… It’s gonna rock..!!!
28 Jul 2012, 10:44 am
The bounce of the ball, a ref decision, an injury to a key player, a yellow card, a missed kick, a moment of brilliance by any player on the field (it can even be Bosman or brock Harris) — anything is possible.
At least the sharks will have an excuse if they lose this match as they probably will
28 Jul 2012, 10:45 am
@wooden spoon-457: Had to stop reading after the first paragraph. Jeez it is too long that post…hehe. I normally just zip past such long posts. Like I do with most articles, only read the first paragraph…hahaha.
@wooden spoon-461: Everytime I go to Scotland always stop off in London for a few days. Love the city. Anyhow I persoanlly enjoyed that ceremony.
28 Jul 2012, 10:46 am
@ufo-463:
You must enjoy!…. and keep an eye open for Tim Swiel who is on the bench for the curtainraiser
28 Jul 2012, 10:46 am
@Robzim-458: Howzit Rob,
You going to the game today?
28 Jul 2012, 10:48 am
@ufo-463: Enjoy the game bud. Should be a cracker. Hope that Walsh has a good game too!
Go Sharks….
28 Jul 2012, 10:50 am
@Puma-467:
Hi puma,
No, not going- have too much stuff to do today and also want to watch some of the olympic cycling road race- will only watch the rugby on TV.
Lets hope for a great match and no controversies.
28 Jul 2012, 10:50 am
@Puma-460:
Re yesterdays theory of the Sharks ending 4th if they’d beaten the Lions. You’d have had a harder run in. 3 Reds play 6 Bulls in Brisbane. 4 Sharks play 5 Saders at KP.
Winner of first playoff meet Stormers at Newlands in Semi. Other winner plays Chiefs away.
28 Jul 2012, 10:51 am
@Robzim-469: :Yeah must say you see better on tv than at the game. When I go to the tank I always have to come home to watch the game again to see what I missed….hehe.
Yeah me too, will be watching some of the cycling today too. Though I am not big into that.
28 Jul 2012, 10:52 am
@Robzim-466:
what time do that start rob… ? but will do thanks…!
are you going…?
@Puma-468:
cheers thanks bud… and you enjoy it too…
yeah… this is the big one… gonna be awesome to be there too…
cheers all… outta here…
to nervous to sit still…!!
28 Jul 2012, 10:55 am
Alright chaps, I have been thinking about this for a while. I have been posting less and less this year. I am going to cash in my Keo dollars and retire from this site. I have been reading this site since 2003 when it started from its humble beginnings and commenting since 2005. It has been a great experience and not to mention really fun to wind up the whack jobs who deserve a winding up. So farewell to you all.
To the Magnificent Sharks crew on here – keep up the good work in keeping the howling, baying, unwashed, uncouth Stormer barbarians from the city walls.
Adios
[However if the Sharks win later I may just return for a final swansong with some hot humble pie, who knows?]
28 Jul 2012, 10:59 am
@wooden spoon-455:
I would have thought stormers greatest challenge was that final in 2010. the one they lost to the bulls.
if they win today, they get to contest another final. this is stormers 4th semi. “greatest ever challenge” is a bit of hyperbole. that bulls team was better than this sharks team.
28 Jul 2012, 11:03 am
@David-470: Howzit David,
Yes but we would have had LESS travel. If Sharks ended 4th we would have played Saders at KP then being the lowest play-off team still alive we would still have had to play Stormers today. Think Sharks would have beaten the Saders at the Tank and Reds would have beaten the Bulls. Reds would have had to play Chiefs in Hamilton. Only because of the conference system. Them ending on 3rd. So by this time Sharks would not have had to travel yet only if we make the final. Would only have had to travel once.
Anyhow we still in it and anything can still happen. We can still make the final tired or not Sharks have come to play to win bud. This will be a tough game make no mistake.
28 Jul 2012, 11:05 am
@wooden spoon-473: No need to leave Spooner. I blog less here too with all the trouble makers but really just give em a body swerve while on here…lol.
Go over to RT bro, no trolls there at all. The reason I do enjoy it there. Only a few of us I know but it is a really cool site especially during live games.
28 Jul 2012, 11:11 am
Okay I am out of here too.
Catch up later.
GO SHARKS GO
We can do it. Yes we can.
28 Jul 2012, 11:14 am
@Puma-475:
should have beaten the lions then.
28 Jul 2012, 11:16 am
@Puma-475:
It would depend on whether the Bulls beat the Reds.
28 Jul 2012, 11:34 am
What is RT?
28 Jul 2012, 11:52 am
At least for the second straight year there will be a brand new champion, not bad at all.
Good luck to both teams, hope weather will be fine and game played ferociously but in good spirit. Slightly more preferring Sharks win as their playing style I enjoy better, anyway, may the best team win.
Sheesh, this week’s heatwave is starting to kill even thoughts about ice cold beer ain’t so encouraging when head is about to blow up.
28 Jul 2012, 12:05 pm
The calm before the Storm…by 3.
28 Jul 2012, 12:18 pm
@goyougoodthing2-480:
Rugby-Talk. A site started by GBS (an ex Keo blogger) and his broeders, when some of Keos bloggers views on rugby weren’t politically acceptable to them.
To be honest, there’s a number of unbiased bloggers like Sharks Lover and Puma who post on both sites. Keo’s a bit more rough and tumble though and less sanitized.
28 Jul 2012, 12:23 pm
@David-483: I actually hate keo, bloggers like skop ruined it years back
28 Jul 2012, 12:40 pm
@goyougoodthing2-484:
Why let one voice put you off? If you hate it, why’re you here?
28 Jul 2012, 12:48 pm
The day of reckoning finally with us.! I fully expect the Sharks with their eight current Boks to win today.A Stormers victory will be a great surprise.
28 Jul 2012, 12:56 pm
@stormerforlife1-486:
Hate to admit it, but I agree. However well we’ve done this year, I reckon it’s too big an ask for such a makeshift loose trio and young forwards in their first year of Super rugby to take this one. I’m still hoping though.
28 Jul 2012, 12:57 pm
@David-485: No alternative really… but yeah, y9u are correct.
@stormerforlife1-486: Don’t be humble now
I feel sorry for the jerseys of the front row, they gonna wish they were never born when those mental heads get stuck into each other
28 Jul 2012, 13:09 pm
Lol nice to some Stormer supporters realizing the SHARKSSSSSSSSS are a superior team, then they will understand if we should lose it will be an aberration and not because the Stormers were better
28 Jul 2012, 13:17 pm
@Treehugger-489:
Like it was an aberration that you finished 5th on the log and 7 points back in the conference?
28 Jul 2012, 13:21 pm
Lol @David your post 487
28 Jul 2012, 13:26 pm
I will always talk up my team in a big way before an important knockout game, am starting to feel a bit itchscraty, keep looking at the time.
28 Jul 2012, 13:26 pm
The Sharks are the overwhelming favourites to take the super 15 title.
28 Jul 2012, 13:28 pm
@stormerforlife1-493: Willhear the BOOM !!!! All the from Hamilton
28 Jul 2012, 13:29 pm
Good luck Sharkies,
Good luck Storm Boys.
May fortune favour the bold.
May the lossers take it on the chin,
and the winners be gracious.
After all, it’s only a game ………………….right.
Yeah Right.
28 Jul 2012, 13:31 pm
@trupisero-494: Hmmmmm….I AM typing too quickly.
28 Jul 2012, 13:33 pm
@wooden spoon-473:
If you go Spooner.
THEY win.
And we can’t have that now,
can we.
28 Jul 2012, 13:33 pm
An inferior front-row,two injury prone locks and a number two at eight are no match to a super sharks pack of forwards.Despite these shortcomings i will still hope that the boys pull off a miracle win.
28 Jul 2012, 13:35 pm
@stormerforlife1-498: Not to forget the two 21-year-olds on the flanks.
28 Jul 2012, 13:35 pm
@trupisero-496:
One of your many Superpowers
You are to fast for the Internet.
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