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Sam Cane pinpoints the breaking point for the Chiefs against the Crusaders
The Chiefs battled to keep themselves in the game against the Crusaders, who were in front from the opening score, but the home side ultimately fell short as the visitors continued to strike back.
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A scintillating Sevu Reece try scored from past halfway followed by another to centre Leicester Fainga’anuku in the 62nd minute blew the game open for the Crusaders, who went into the sheds up 15-12.
The Fainga’anuku try looked to have put the game beyond doubt at 29-12 but the Chiefs mustered a try through reserve halfback Cortez Ratima after a break from Alex Nankivell to close the gap to 29-19.
The Chiefs were able to rally from a similar position just weeks ago stun the Crusaders in Christchurch with two tries in the final ten minutes of the game to steal it.
Captain Sam Cane pinpointed the moments after Ratima’s try after fielding the kick-off as the moment the game imploded for the home side.
“I thought when Cortez scored, we had about nine or 10 minutes to go there and there was only 10 points in the game, but then we exited really poorly from then. So it’s
something that we can control but a basic that we didn’t do well,” he said.
After botching the kick chase, the Crusaders were able to put the final nail in the coffin with a driving maul try to hooker Codie Taylor, the first maul try the Chiefs have conceded all year.
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“We got penalised for being in the 10, they kicked for the corner and drove and got a try. It’s something we haven’t conceded all year so like I said, a couple of areas of our game that this season we’ve been priding ourselves on and going really well but unfortunately tonight it was a real step back in some of those areas.
“We’ll look at ourselves first and foremost but there has to be a lot of credit given to the Crusaders for the way that they attacked those areas in their game … better than us.”
Stand-in head coach Warren Gatland explained the challenges the Chiefs faced as the squad dealt with a Covid outbreak. He said it was ‘noticeable’ on the pitch the players that had been out of training all week.
“We had about 60 per cent of the players last week and we just managed to put a team on and we had a few guys that didn’t come back until later this week and it was noticeable for us in the coaches box that those players had been out for a week,” he said.
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“Obviously, with Covid, some of them struggled tonight. But you just gotta put up with that.
“And then we lost some coaches, we lost some medical team and some strength and conditioners were out this week but every team has been facing the same sort of problems and
you just kind of be fluid and flexible in terms of the way you plan and prepare for the week.
“Changes happen – you see Clayton isn’t here, he hasn’t been here this week and we put plans and training things in place and later in the week he said could you step in and do the media stuff tonight.
“It’s been tough on all teams and hopefully over the next couple of weeks when things get a little bit back to normal and everyone’s back on board, it won’t be so much of a
challenge.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets 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?
10 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.
9 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.
10 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.
22 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.
9 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.
14 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 commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments