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'Bulls*** call' - Chiefs fans livid after another loss comes down to final play
The luckless Chiefs slumped to 0-6 with a tight 21-17 loss to the Blues at Eden Park, keeping the side winless through Super Rugby Aotearoa.
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Again a controversial moment decided the game, with the Chiefs pounding the Blues goal line in the final stanza before losing possession for a holding on.
The referee’s decision to award the penalty was arguably a 50-50 one with lock Josh Goodhue making the tackle but failing to release the ball carrier.
The decision was labelled ‘bulls***’ and ‘guess work’ by fans not impressed with such a flakey call deciding the outcome of the match.
Massive play there at the end to win the game for the @BluesRugbyTeam (by the referee). #BLUvCHI @Sportsfreakconz @sumostevenson
— Anand Reddy (@AnandSReddy) July 26, 2020
Bullshit call, you really think in the 79th minute a Chiefs player would not release the ball on the oppositions goal line whilst behind by 4 points, pure guess work from the official #BLUvCHI
— Jonesy (@dougierydal) July 26, 2020
Hard to understand how Josh Goodhue could both make that goal line tackle and still be up in time to contest the breakdown while also releasing the tackled player… But couldn't see it on the broadcast and the referee was right there ?????
— Tom Vinicombe (@TomVinicombe) July 26, 2020
Feel for the Chiefs. Especially that last pen for holding on. Couldn't quite understand how the ref made that call after seeing the replay
Anyway stoked for the Blues for closing it out it's always a tough game against Chiefs. ??????
— Tino Junior Poluleuligaga (@JIP2EZY) July 26, 2020
Ha the chiefs blowing up about a penalty?? #ironic
— Kyle Smith (@K_Smith_NZ) July 26, 2020
One wrongly disallowed try one week, and another two wrong calls the next week….. #BLUvCHI
— ryanator109?? (@ryanator109) July 26, 2020
3 penalties but not one considered a penalty try?? Tough #BLUvCHI
— Benjamin Wong (@Garoo97) July 26, 2020
Not the same quality as last night but equally thrilling. Blues lucky with the last penalty – Goodhue was the tackler, needs to release and be on his feet but didn't look eitherway #BLUvCHI
— Dezzy10 (@Dezzy106) July 26, 2020
Haha should have been penalty other way. Goodhue's knee on the ground. Plus he didn't release as he was also tackler.
— Dezzy10 (@Dezzy106) July 26, 2020
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The Chiefs senior players were visibly upset with the ref following the call, with Anton Lienert-Brown pleading after the match for technology to be used to review such critical calls.
ALB on @newstalkzbsport pleading for technology to be used when available. #BLUvCHI
— Elliott Smith (@elliottnz) July 26, 2020
#Chiefs couldn't buy a win this season with all the gold in the world. The final 10 minutes summed up their season. Clearly frustrated. Questions must be asked of Gatland.#BLUvCHI had plenty of handling errors/ball not going to hand. Fairly scrappy. #SuperRugbyAotearoa
— Sports Guru (@G_Skev) July 26, 2020
Warren Gatland was less animated in his post-match interview with Sky Sport NZ following the match, saying that his side is showing enormous character. He explained that a side not turning up would get beaten by a score.
“I thought we showed great character. A lesser team that goes through that is getting beaten by 30 or 40 points.
When asked about the final call, Gatland was diplomatic about the issue applauding the Blues for winning the game and praising the quality of the spectacle.
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“I think that’s 4 or 5 games we have been there right at the end.
“The referee has made the call, it’s his decision. Well done the Blues, they’ve won the game.”
“I thought it was a good game on rugby.”
The sixth straight loss in Super Rugby Aotearoa won’t do much to help Gatland’s reputation with some corners of New Zealand, with growing concern over his side’s form slump.
Gatland doesn’t have Australian teams to redeem himself against so he he’ll keep getting embarrassed by the Aotearoa teams. #BLUCHI
— Mohubedu (@Ralphium) July 26, 2020
Gatland a myth? #BLUvCHI
— Rugby Report Card (@rugby_podcast) July 26, 2020
Gatland can take his Welsh style all the way back up his valley I reckon.
Clearly he’s coached the Chiefs running play out of them and the defence is a joke.
Thank fuck he won’t get the All Blacks job. Not that it matters in the ongoing Covid world.
— Sam (@sdn79nz) July 26, 2020
Actually think they both would be better playing more like the other. Blues could do with being a bit more conservative and play X’s and O’s. Chiefs looks like they’re playing in a straight jacket (cough Gatland) #BLUvCHI
— Super Linebreaks (@SuperLinebreaks) July 26, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments