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Chiefs face cost of referee's call: 'I've made some comments in the past about us being a bit unlucky and then I've been accused of being a whinger'
Anton Lienert-Brown could not conceal his frustration as the Chiefs fell to a franchise-record seventh straight defeat following their 21-17 loss to the Blues at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon.
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The All Blacks and Chiefs midfielder was adamant No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula scored under a heap of bodies during a late surge for the line and made his feelings clear about Brendon Pickerill opting not to consult his officials to check a possible match-winning try.
“In big moments, we’ve got the TMO for a reason,” Lienert-Brown told Newstalk ZB’s Alex Chapman immediately after the final whistle. “We’ve been on the wrong side of a lot of calls this whole year and when it counted, when we needed it, why not go upstairs? I was a little bit frustrated. In a massive moment I think we’ve got to use the TMO.
“We are proud, we dug deep, but we didn’t get the win. That’s the frustrating thing. We need to be better in crucial moments. We had 10 minutes there when we needed to score a try and we didn’t. We’ll go away and work on that but I can’t fault the effort.
“These are like test matches and you’ve got to win big moments and we’re on the wrong side of them at the moment.”
The frustration from Lienert-Brown is understandable when ya see this…. pic.twitter.com/fWjm8wdp5K
— Sam Casey (@Sam_Casey4) July 26, 2020
On reflection the Chiefs will rue other telling moments after recovering from an early 14-0 deficit such as taking a tap rather than the scrum five metres out from the Blues line with time almost up, and Aaron Cruden’s crossfield kick that fell inches short of Adam Thomson’s grasp.
Last week in their second half capitulation against the Highlanders in Hamilton the Chiefs were on the wrong side of another call when Damian McKenzie had his try ruled out after the television match official went back further than the specified two phases to find a knock on.
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Warren Gatland’s desperate team sure can’t catch a break – their seven losses in succession, which dates back to their defeat to the Hurricanes in Hamilton prior to lockdown, the worst run in their history.
“The referee was very confident he’d made the right call so there’s no point in us dwelling on that we’ve got to accept those decisions at the moment,” Gatland said. “We’re disappointed but I was proud of the effort.
“I’ve made some comments in the past about us being a bit unlucky and then I’ve been accused of being a whinger so I promise you I’m not going to whinge about that, I’ve just got to take that on the chin and start thinking about the Crusaders next week.
“When you’ve been around coaching a long time it’s not the first time you’ve been in a situation where you’ve dropped a few games. It’s how you respond to that. We’re training well and preparing well. For me it’s about embracing the challenge and making sure I question myself each week about are we doing the right things.”
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Gatland indicated Chiefs captain Sam Cane should recover from his knock after finishing the match but wing Solomon Alaimalo is expected to be out for an extended period after popping his shoulder in the process of scoring one of his side’s two tries.
“His shoulder doesn’t look great. He scored the try and Caleb Clarke has come in and tackled him – I don’t think there’s anything in that but it looks like he’s popped his shoulder from that.”
Blues coach Leon MacDonald lamented his side’s ill-discipline – conceding a 15-6 penalty count to continually invite the Chiefs back into the contest – but was thankful to rebound from two defeats and remain in the title hunt.
“If you offered up four wins and two losses at the start of the year to give us an opportunity to still be alive in the competition we’d take that,” MacDonald said. “We’re happy with where we’re sitting. We’ve got two massive games ahead of us. It starts with the Highlanders in Dunedin which is going to be a massive battle for us. Tonight we’ll sit back, have a drink, and take a deep breath.
“The margins are ridiculously small. Without being unkind to the Crusaders they could easily have dropped a couple and we could’ve too. Results could be different for everyone.
“That’s why people are turning up to watch because it’s really interesting rugby.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Leinster are going to win the world cup.
11 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
41 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
41 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
41 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
11 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
41 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
11 Go to commentsWowee!
11 Go to comments