Fearsome Chiefs within reach of crown

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.

Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter


518 Comments

Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 » Show All

  • 51.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:43 am

    great defence from chiefs, saders on attack in cheifs 22 won penalty

  • 52.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:43 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-35: i listened to matfield yesterday, i had a laugh when he pronounced pressure and it came out sounding like pleasure :razz:

  • 53.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:45 am

    Chiefs and Saders throwing the handbags already :lol: , no love lost between these 2 teams

  • 54.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:45 am

    @Skeppie-49: Ok, what about “The humble and honest” Sharks? :)

    @BuckT-50: :)

    There is so much love on this field….Taumololo is rocking it. Eye of the tiger on a Dale Steyn level this.

  • 55.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:46 am

    poor play by Chiefs

  • 56.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:47 am

    @Transformation-52: Yes!!! Prezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzure or Plezzzzzzure.

  • 57.Skeppie: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:48 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-54: Hmmm it’s stating the obvious…and it doesn’t have the Grrr manly element to it…but I’ll take it!

  • 58.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:48 am

    Poor discipline from the Chiefs. Richie McCaw a sacred cow to referees all over the world.

  • 59.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:48 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-54:

    Are you raising Arizona?

  • 60.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:49 am

    posting to farking fast!! saders on attack in chief’s 22, scrum saders, chip through from carter, chiefs ather and break, sonny taken late and dives off the ball into touch

  • 61.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:49 am

    linkin park golden circle tickets sold out in 10 minutes on computicket

  • 62.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:50 am

    @Skeppie-57: Ok, what about, “The Tigrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Sharks”?

  • 63.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:50 am

    saders still on attack, just outside 22, penalty to them inside 22, carter steps up, massages his groin and lines up the kick

  • 64.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:52 am

    3-3

  • 65.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:52 am

    Saders lose Romano

  • 66.wpjoulekkading: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:53 am

    Saders going of their feet to protect their own ball, just watch

  • 67.simorf: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:53 am

    Anyone got a link to watch the game online?

  • 68.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:54 am

    @Golden Boy-36: I’m using sop stream dot tv but it is stopping and starting a little

    And Pencil above posted this link
    http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/132346/1/watch-chiefs-vs-crusaders.html

  • 69.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:54 am

    Skeppie? its a pity we cant post pictures on here, i got the perfect one re sharks n stormers

  • 70.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:55 am

    penalty chiefs, eminem lines up from outside his hal, hits post! kick cleared to 22, chiefs line out

  • 71.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:55 am

    Hobbits tucking into each other.

    Bootifull

  • 72.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:56 am

    @simorf-67: http://www.coolsport.tv/stream1.php

  • 73.Skeppie: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:56 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-62: Tiger….GGGRRRRRR…..I like it!

  • 74.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:56 am

    @WP Till I Die-59: I’m raising Alisona :)

  • 75.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:57 am

    The biggest problem with this Chiefs team is that there are just too many of them. If they really want to improve, they need to sign a few Govenders, Pattels and Naidoos.

  • 76.Skeppie: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:57 am

    @sharks_lover-69: HAHAHA I think I know the one you mean!

  • 77.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:58 am

    @sharks_lover-69: Post a link.

  • 78.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:59 am

    @sharks_lover-69: I haven’t seem many this week, must be honest. I’ve got one of Habana in a wetsuit walking out of the sea with a dead Great White on his shoulder, but my Sharks mates haven’t sent me any pics this week in the way they usually do.

  • 79.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:59 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-74: cage fighting?

  • 80.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 09:59 am

    Eggs and Bacon.

    Maevis must want another unsecured zero interest loan.

    Go chiefs.

    Bury these carnts.

  • 81.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:00 am

    where are the tries? :shock:

  • 82.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:01 am

    Shouldn’t you be supporting the team that thumped the cavemen.

  • 83.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:01 am

    chiefs on attack, almost got through the defence, but saders held on, 2 meters out, cruden doing some impressive running, breaking lines, then loses ball and saders clear, penalty against reechee, looks bewilded, 2 m in from halfway line, cruden going for poles

  • 84.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:01 am

    ritchie must be disoriented as I have never seen him offside before.

  • 85.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:02 am

    Craig isn’t afraid to penalize Reetchie all of a sudden.

  • 86.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:03 am

    Hahah take that McCheat.

  • 87.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:03 am

    just pushes it wide, 3-3 25 mins gone
    chiefs break, suspect forward pass, tmo call from joubert

  • 88.viewer: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:04 am

    Cruden 46 running metres within the first 20 minutes!

  • 89.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:05 am

    Tryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

  • 90.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:05 am

    Try awarded!

  • 91.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:05 am

    @viewer-88: more than MSteyn has ran the whole season!

  • 92.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:06 am

    chiefs beak, tmo call from joubert, try given! 10-3

  • 93.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:06 am

    Cannonball scores.

  • 94.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:06 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-78: this one is a Stormer oke Surfing with a massive sharks right behind him in the wave

  • 95.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:07 am

    @gonzo-68:

    Thanks Gonzo

    Vipbox is working again. Try:

    http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/63246/2/super-rugby—play-offs-:-chiefs-vs-crusaders-live-stream-online.html

  • 96.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:07 am

    Chiefs starting to look too good for the Saders.

  • 97.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:08 am

    Hasn’t lived up to the usual Kiwi derbie standard so far. Finals pressure.

  • 98.viewer: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:09 am

    Real arm wrestle, this

  • 99.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:10 am

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-86: Did you see my earlier post RE: Taumololo and ‘eye of the tiger’ on a Dale Steyn level – and then he went and scored. My magic still works.@sharks_lover-94: Haven’t seen that one. :) There are usually some damn good ones doing the rounds before a game like this.

  • 100.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:12 am

    dodgy call from Joubert!! chiefs scrum on their 22, crocketts elbow touches the ground, he rules Tameifuna collapsed the scrum, hmmm! 10-6

Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 » Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.