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.

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518 Comments

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  • 201.wait for it, wait for it...: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:58 am

    bullsitt

    angling in on the scrum

    should not go to the cheats

    chiefs penalty

  • 202.BreakdownBoy: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:58 am

    Ellis be a punk or was that the nobody sub?

  • 203.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:58 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-195: no, normal explorer

  • 204.David: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:59 am

    @Transformation-192:
    Doesn’t always work. They had the same problem a few years back when they upgraded WordPress. This also started at the same time as the removal of double nics, so I guess they’ve upgraded again.

  • 205.Skeppie: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 10:59 am

    @kaksioek-199: Saders are gonna take this one…..eff it……Oh well I suppose the Sharks would have to go back to NZ either way.

  • 206.Michael: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:00 am

    Stormers will beat these Chiefs, after we tin the sardinetjies. It is the Saders I worry about.

  • 207.Captain Sam Vimes: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:00 am

    How was that not offside? explanation please!! eeps Craig doing a BryceBarnes

  • 208.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:01 am

    @David-204: i know, atleast it’s better than getting that kak msg all the time…,hit & miss

  • 209.BreakdownBoy: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:01 am

    THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKSTHIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS THIS SITE SUCKS

  • 210.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:02 am

    @kaksioek-166: What did he do?

  • 211.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:02 am

    @Skeppie-205: Nah, Chiefs are going to win.

  • 212.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:02 am

    Joubert blowing a shocker here.

  • 213.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:03 am

    Ok, my 4th attempt to say this. (I’m still posting too quickly it seems)

    DIG DEEP LITTLE CHIEFS, DIG DEEP!

  • 214.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:03 am

    another 10 conspiracy theories will be added to the book tonight

  • 215.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:04 am

    @Sasuke-210: He kicked a penalty for touch too long and the ball went dead.

  • 216.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:05 am

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-212: The view from deep inside Richie’s small bowel is obviously worth the effort.

  • 217.Skeppie: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:05 am

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-212: They don’t see him at Beefcakes all the time for nothing.

  • 218.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:05 am

    212 – when in Rome.

  • 219.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:06 am

    by the end of this game both cruden & carter will have kak kicking percentages…

  • 220.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:07 am

    @>^..^< katman-218: lol

  • 221.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:08 am

    @Transformation-219: Who cares? One of them will be in the final.

  • 222.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:09 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-195: Forgot to tell you re those links/

    Link 1 has 3 or 4 photos

    Link3 has 93, so just a single click on the pic will bring up the next, unless you have already figured that one out

  • 223.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:11 am

    Crusaders could level the score here.

  • 224.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:11 am

    @kaksioek-221: the kiwis care, rugby championship is coming and their premier 5/8ths are kicking rubbish like our morne

  • 225.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:11 am

    Ritchie interferes with the player right in front of Joubert.

    Who looks on indulgently.

    Like someone whose new puppy has just shat on the carpet.

  • 226.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:12 am

    another game like this and crotty could replace smith in the world champs

  • 227.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:12 am

    Too short!

  • 228.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:14 am

    Cmon Chiefs do it for Bru and for Stormers!

  • 229.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:16 am

    Crusaders in penalty range watch Joubert now.

    Extra time calling.

  • 230.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:17 am

    Knock on!

    Chiefs take it!

  • 231.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:18 am

    Well done Chiefs!

  • 232.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:18 am

    Flair wins the day!

  • 233.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:19 am

    Hopefully it will be the same tomorrow.

  • 234.Biscuit: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:19 am

    Ok Final in Hamilton ;-)

  • 235.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:20 am

    Well done to the Chiefs.

    One can say Carter cost the Saders, but Cruden also missed kicks,

    Carter for me was not very good today

  • 236.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:21 am

    Yesssshhhh Go Chiefs! Well Done indeed. My superbru is smiling!

  • 237.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:23 am

    bye bye cheatie mccheat and your band of cheats.

    bye bye.

    suck on that capesaders i hope you cry all night long.

  • 238.chch: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:25 am

    Congrats to the Chiefs. A great season for them

  • 239.BreakdownBoy: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:26 am

    My SuperBru is looking pretty now!!!!!!

    Lesson of the day, cheating does not gaurentee victory…even if gutless Jubo on the park!

  • 240.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:27 am

    Good officiating too,

  • 241.chch: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:28 am

    @BreakdownBoy-209:
    Agree

    Always performance bollocks and the worst mobile version of any site ever

  • 242.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:28 am

    @chch-238: oops, when a good oke like you shows up i feel bad chch.

    sorry man, hope you have a good weekend further.

  • 243.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:30 am

    I have no doubt there are many Sad Cape CRusaders todaay, Half of Cape Town will be in mourning :lol:

  • 244.Skeppie: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:30 am

    @Biscuit-234: Yup we have to travel now after a nice long weekend in Cape Town

  • 245.chch: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:31 am

    @rangerman-200:

    Because the number 8 detached. Read a ******* en rule book :)

  • 246.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:32 am

    Cape Crusaders will probably support the Sharks rather than cheer for the Stormers tomorrow :lol:

  • 247.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:33 am

    @chch-241: Tough luck there CHCH, Saders according to Campese looked tied? must say that does not bode well for my Sharks then as the Saders did not even have to travel.

    Ignore the Negatives mate, it aint worth even responding too

  • 248.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:33 am

    Well, Joubert delivered it again as expected, I’ll read the Kwis media with a great interest to see if they have seen something too
    Walsh will do the same tomorrow to deliver it for the Stormers
    McCaw knows just too well how did he become the RWC winner, he won’t complain ;)

  • 249.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:34 am

    well done to the chiefs…now the wait.

  • 250.David: Reply to this comment
    27 Jul 2012, 11:38 am

    Justice is done when the 2nd finishing team makes the final, as will happen tomorrow when the Stormers qualify. The whole system is rubbish when a team has 14 games to compete for the number 1 or 2 spot, and then gets a second chance when they don’t make it.

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