Chiefs cut down courageous Kings
15 Mar 2013
The Chiefs won in Port Elizabeth but the Kings continue to win respect through courage and conviction.
Super Rugby’s 2012 champions were made to fight for the 35-24 bonus point victory and their decision to twice kick for posts in the last three minutes was acknowledgement of the Kings’ effort.
The Chiefs led 18-13 at half-time and stretched the lead to 32-13 on the hour before the Kings produced an inspired 10 minutes to reduce the deficit to just eight points.
Many predicted humiliation for the Kings pre the season and in the last two weekends the Kings have played last season’s finalists and won huge favour with their commitment.
Home ground advantage and the emotion of playing in front of a passionate crowd has aided the Kings, but they really are struggling for quality players and already they have a handful of frontline players to injury.
It didn’t get any better on Friday when stand-in captain Darron Nell got hurt in the warm-up. Lock Steven Sykes took over the captaincy and he also left the field in the 60th minute. The Kings, in three matches, have had three captains. The attrition rate will only get higher for a team who have already won the hearts of the Kiwis and Australian neutrals because of their passion and refusal to be intimidated.
A week ago the Kings kept the 2012 finalists, the Sharks, tryless but they were always going to be stretched against the more creative Chiefs backs, for whom winger Leila Masaga scored a hat-trick.
Chiefs fullback Gareth Anscombe kicked well and Liam Messam celebrated his 100th Super Rugby appearance with victory. But the greatest roar again belonged to teenage winger Sergeal Pietersen who scored through an intercept.
Demetri Catrikilis also impressed as did No 8 Jacques Engelbrecht.
The Kings leave for New Zealand on Sunday and while they will struggle in the month overseas the side has exceeded expectation in the opening month of tournament in beating the Force and losing to the Sharks (by nine points) and the Chiefs (by 11 points).
By Mark Keohane
481 Comments
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15 Mar 2013, 17:39 pm
Good luck Kings.
Would love to see Kings win this just doubt they will. So if they stop them getting the bonus point that is job well done.
GO KINGS!
15 Mar 2013, 17:45 pm
Should be a very entertaining match between the Kings, who has suddenly become nearly everybody’s second favourite team, and the Chiefs who are arguably the best attacking team in the competition.
Lets hope the Kings give them hell.
I do however expect the Chiefs to win by at least 20- just too much class – specially in the backline where Cruden and co carry too much fire power for the Kings to contain.
15 Mar 2013, 17:46 pm
****’s about to get real for the Kings tonight.
15 Mar 2013, 17:49 pm
@Tacitus-3:
+1
15 Mar 2013, 17:49 pm
@Robzim-2: Howzit Rob, How you doing? Hope well.
How did Carol go in the Argus? Has she gone back to England or still here in the Cape?
15 Mar 2013, 17:53 pm
Heavy clouds moving in. Looking like rain. May keep the score from reaching triple figures.
15 Mar 2013, 18:00 pm
@Puma-5:
Hi Puma, it is very good to see you back here.
Carol is back in England and unfortunately could not do the Argus due to a logistical stuff up re the arrival of the bike she was going to use (my fault ). She enjoyed SA though and also watched the Stormers /Crusaders game with friends.
Good luck to your team tomorrow, i think they will be too strong for the Brumbies. Hopefully they will also soften them up for next weekend when they play at newlands
15 Mar 2013, 18:00 pm
KINGS’ BOW DOWN TO NO-ONE
15 Mar 2013, 18:02 pm
@Robzim-7:
Srormrers/Crusaders should read Stormers/Chiefs
15 Mar 2013, 18:15 pm
@Tacitus-3:
You’re just jealous that the Bulls aren’t everybody’s second favourite team.
15 Mar 2013, 18:20 pm
@Robzim-7: Thanks Rob, good to be back.
Man that must have been a total bummer for her, training and coming here and not to compete. Shame feel for her. At least she must have been super fit because of the training….
Sounds like she had a great time here though. She comes for such a short time needs to come for longer next time.
I also hope my Sharks beat the Brumbies and send them to the Stormers a bit shattered…..hahaha. They will definitely be sent back to Oz shattered and given to the Bulls to whip after our teams have had them here….hehehe and the travel back. Bulls will be waiting that side rubbing their hands for sure…..
15 Mar 2013, 18:32 pm
@Puma-11:
You are right, it was a huge bummer and she is indeed in the shape of her life. Next year hopefully…
Talking about the Argus, I see Joel Stransky did a 2.57 and finished about 350th/31 000. Its an incredible performance for someone who is nearly 50 and has no real background in cycling. Fark knows how he did it?
Poor Brumbies… it will be like taking candy from kids in Canberra for the Bulls after our teams have soffened them up… Bulls should enjoy Canberra, it is after all Australia’s own version of Pretoria, lol.
15 Mar 2013, 19:03 pm
RESULT (Vodacom Cup): The Leopards XV thrashed the Limpopo Blue Bulls 113-3 in Umzimuhle.
Ouch
15 Mar 2013, 19:05 pm
If Chiefs do not get 5 points here, they may as well as kiss their championship chances goodbye.
I am pretty confident though, they will get their 4 tries before half time.
15 Mar 2013, 19:07 pm
Huge game for the Kings and their confidence before they go on tour
15 Mar 2013, 19:07 pm
@nortierd-13: These are Bullies who aren’t touring now?
15 Mar 2013, 19:07 pm
Let’s see how much Peyper pi$s3d off the Chiefs.
15 Mar 2013, 19:10 pm
@polaris-16:
Lol
Not sure who they are
This Vodacom Cup confuses me
Limpopo is far from Pretoria, but they call themselves Blue Bulls?
Then the Valke lost by 60 odd against the Pumas last week, but beat the Lions tonight
I have no idea what is going on in that tournament:-D
15 Mar 2013, 19:13 pm
@nortierd-18: I have given up trying to understand what VC is. I thought it’s like 2nd division of CC but they already have their own 2nd div.
15 Mar 2013, 19:19 pm
It’s just a marvel to watch the Chiefs create space on the outside for their speedsters. A combination of good defence by the Kings and unforced errors are keeping them out so far.
15 Mar 2013, 19:21 pm
@polaris-19:
It was started during the S12 to give rugby players not involved competition
It pitted the senior players of the smaller non franchise unions like Griquas against the remaining players of the franchises, mostly youngsters and third string players
15 Mar 2013, 19:22 pm
@nama1-20:
I was wondering how long the Kings will manage to hold on
Chiefs doing the same as Sharks last week, almost a combination of white line fever and the first gap is to easy, then they blow the try
15 Mar 2013, 19:23 pm
Bad call by the TMO.
15 Mar 2013, 19:24 pm
@nama1-20: Yes Nama, they can surely spread the ball !! A joy to watch ala the late Bill McClaren!
15 Mar 2013, 19:25 pm
@nortierd-22:
That’s the thing, isn’t it? How long will they be able to keep them out because the Chiefs will keep coming at them all night long.
Here’s hoping for the best for the Kings.
15 Mar 2013, 19:26 pm
@CharlesM-24:
The Kings doing some running of their own now. Good break by the Greek.
15 Mar 2013, 19:27 pm
@nama1-25:
Yep
But the flip side is the game will allow for the Kings to also throw the ball around
Should be nice to watch, already is
15 Mar 2013, 19:29 pm
Got this feeling that the Kings defense just won’t be able to hold on, but…
Go KINGS!
How great would it be if they could knock over the defending champions. Slim chance but would make my whole week again.
15 Mar 2013, 19:29 pm
@victoriabok-21: Thanks bud for clarification. So winning VC has no reflection on participation in CC, as they are entirely different tournaments?
15 Mar 2013, 19:30 pm
Kings players too slow to the break down. Always are outnumbered there. No wonder they can’t get their back line away. The ball is always coming out too slow.
15 Mar 2013, 19:33 pm
Had to come
15 Mar 2013, 19:34 pm
I must say I ridiculed Kings since day one but promised myself never again when I watched their first game vs Force. They certainly aren’t worse than Lions at all, even if Chiefs will thrash them today.
15 Mar 2013, 19:34 pm
Kings defending wayyy too deep there. Cruden ran about 30m without a Kings player in sight.
Should try and shut them down in their own half and not wait for them to get into their 22m area before they make their tackles.
Good try Chiefs.
15 Mar 2013, 19:36 pm
@mamma_lou-8:
Haven’t you read the Magna Carta? Kings must not upset Cjiefs (Barons). lol
15 Mar 2013, 19:36 pm
@Robzim-12: Rob, Had no idea Stransky done the Argus. A very good feat for sure for someone of that age, especially that it is not his sport.
Yip Brumbies will be there for the taking by the Bulls. Two very tough games against Sharks and then Stormers and the travel back. Expect the Bulls to beat them there.
15 Mar 2013, 19:37 pm
@AiDoc-34:
15 Mar 2013, 19:37 pm
@polaris-29:
No it’s just an opportunity for the smaller unions to play while the Super rugby is on otherwise they have to pay players just to train
It’s a good way to expose young players to a higher level as well as the youngsters of the Super franchises must play against senior players and established CC and CC First Division teams, it’s like gladiator school for them
15 Mar 2013, 19:37 pm
@nortierd-31:
Jip, it was inevitable.
Watch Samson, the no. 11, trying to take on the big guys from the Chiefs because he is isolated every time he receives the ball. I can’t see him coming out as the winner.
15 Mar 2013, 19:37 pm
With the injuries starting, the Kings are really going to battle! With no real depth they are going to be in serious trouble
15 Mar 2013, 19:37 pm
Come on Kings!
15 Mar 2013, 19:38 pm
Yepp thats how you dish it out!!! felt THE GREEK’S hit on Williams from up here@!!
BOOM!! baby!!
15 Mar 2013, 19:39 pm
Nearly Kings!!! So close.
15 Mar 2013, 19:41 pm
@Puma-35: As far as I can recall Joel has done the Cape Epic – anybody completing the Epic has to be more than a “weekend cycler”!!
15 Mar 2013, 19:41 pm
The Kiwis are a little more physical this week. I hope this is good as it is 0340 here and bed beckons.
15 Mar 2013, 19:42 pm
@victoriabok-37: Thanks again, now I see the light.
15 Mar 2013, 19:43 pm
@victoriabok-37:
VB
It may have been initially, but the Varsity Cup has a much higher standard than the VCR
Maybe I’m being unfair just because the TV games so far has been really pathetic, but from what I’ve seen so far it’s not worth watching
15 Mar 2013, 19:43 pm
The umpteenth time that I see a Chiefs tackler playing towards the ball without releasing the tackled player completely ie no daylight before he goes for the ball.
15 Mar 2013, 19:43 pm
Very brave heads up head on rugby by Kings playing way above all the naysayers premature predictions
15 Mar 2013, 19:45 pm
Given the ref’s explanation why is it a penalty?
15 Mar 2013, 19:46 pm
A forward pass somewhere there from where I’m sitting.
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