Chiefs left to rue goalkicker omission in shock opening loss
When Brad Weber lined up to take the Chiefs’ first goal kick attempt of the season on Friday, you knew it was going to be a long night for the Waikato men.
An unheard-of slew of injuries to the Chiefs’ first five stocks had thrown young Orbyn Leger into the starting ten jersey on Friday. A slight ankle injury prevented regular first-five Damian McKenzie from taking the field and the next cabs off the ranks, Tiaan Falcon, Jack Debreczeni and Marty McKenzie were also dealing with their own injury situations.
Leger, who has spent next to no time in the key playmaker role in his limited years of professional rugby, was brought in from outside of the main Chiefs squad during the pre-season and was tasked with guiding the team around the park. It was assumed that Leger would also handle the goal-kicking duties while on the field but evidently, this was one string to his bow that the young Counties product did not possess.
Instead, it was experienced halfback Weber who was entrusted with the challenging task of converting the Chief’s hard-earned penalties and tries into further points.
Weber took to the task like a cat to water. You would struggle to find less natural looking shots at goal than what crowds bore witness to on Friday night – thought admittedly he did convert two attempts and another hit the posts.
His worst attempt of the night came in the 50th minute of the game: from the sideline, Weber galloped towards the tee and unleashed a dismal kick that never threatened to come close to the posts – a kick which Weber chastised himself for as he ran past referee Glen Jackson.
Whilst the rest of Weber’s game was excellent, giving the tee to a player not especially known for their goalkicking was somewhat of a cruel move from Chief’s coach Colin Cooper. Prior to this past weekend’s match, Weber had taken only two shots at goal in his professional career – both for Hawke’s Bay in last year’s Mitre 10 Cup (though it’s worth noting that both these attempts were successful).
Shaun Stevenson also offered himself up as a sacrifice in the Chiefs’ losing cause with the most misguided kick of the night – taking over from Weber for a long distance shot that was evidently outside the halfback’s range. Stevenson sprayed the ball comically wide and goalkicking duties were returned to Weber until Stephen Donald took the field for the Chiefs in the final quarter.
Of course, little fault lies with Weber and Stevenson – goalkicking is not part of their trade and they were simply stopgaps due to the fact that there were no other regular goalkickers on the field at the time.
Cooper, however, will be left ruing his decision to send out a team without a recognised goalkicker. Many mistakes were made by the Chiefs on the night – some more critical than others – but when you can predict before the game even starts that you’re unlikely to make many kicks on goal unless they’re relatively close to the posts and then you lose by a mere three points… Well, that would cause even the most resolute coaches to question their original decision.
In Cooper’s defence, he wasn’t left with very many options. He’d already lost the already mentioned quartet of players who met the three criteria he probably wanted from someone trusted with the 10 jersey: a strong combination with the other players, the ability to guide the team around the park, and dependable goalkicking.
Leger meets the former two of those requirements – and he performed reasonably well in his role, given he’s a ‘non-kicking first-five’ who has only limited experience at Super Rugby level and none in the 10 jersey. Although not originally selected in the Chiefs squad, Leger played both preseason matches for the Chiefs (however, he spent neither game at first-five) which gave him at least some knowledge of the team’s systems.
Donald, who has now notched up 105 matches for the Chiefs, took the field late in the game after only being called into the squad earlier in the week. Certainly, Donald is an experienced navigator and a competent goalkicker, but his exceptionally late inclusion in the squad (due to Falcon’s season-ending injury) meant that he was never going to start in the match against the Highlanders.
Indeed, coach Cooper was stuck between a rock and a hard place – and the almost farcical number of injuries to the Chiefs’ first-five stocks seriously hindered the Chiefs’ chances of success on Saturday.
Although the Waikato men almost escaped with a win, were it not for a poor last quarter, Cooper will no doubt be tossing around in his head the fact that seven points were left on the field due to errant goalkicking.
With Damian McKenzie likely to return from injury this weekend against the Brumbies, Cooper will hopefully not have any nightmares about missed kicks over the coming days.
Brumbies Scott Sio & Folau Fainga’a ahead of Chiefs clash:
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments