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Same old story for sorry Blues as Chiefs' spark-plugs make an impressive impact

By Online Editors
(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Patrick McKendry/NZ Herald

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The Blues have contrived to do the near impossible and lose games they should never have many times over the past decade or so and, at the start of a new one at a very warm and expectant Eden Park, they have done so once again.

This one to the Chiefs was an extraordinary effort, and while Warren Gatland’s men were bolstered significantly by the second-half interventions of reserves Aaron Cruden, Anton Lienert-Brown, Brad Weber and Pita Gus Sowakula, the home side’s 19-5 halftime lead should have been defended far more stoutly than it was.

“We were obviously pretty optimistic at halftime – we played well, we dominated possession and I thought our defence looked pretty rugged at halftime so there was a lot to smile about going into the sheds,” Blues coach Leon MacDonald said afterwards.

“I thought they played particularly well (in second half) – the impact off the bench, Cruden in particular, was outstanding,” he said of the Chiefs. “You could see the old wise head take control and on the flip side of that our error rate was too high which kept feeding them opportunities.”

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The Blues appeared completely in control at the break. Rieko Ioane scored two typically blockbusting tries on the occasion of his 50th game, the Blues’ scrum was dominant, defensively they were excellent and the Chiefs, expected to be competition front-runners this season, were strangely absent on attack and defence – they missed 20 tackles in the first half alone.

And yet, the visitors’ comeback was quick and brutal, a true turnaround which reaped a total of 32 second-half points, and it was helped immensely by the introduction of their returning first-five Cruden who coolly organised their attack, dropped a goal in the final moments to extend his team’s margin to seven points and kicked a penalty after the siren to deny the Blues a losing bonus point.

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“I thought he was really good,” Gatland said of former All Black Cruden, “but I thought [No10] Kaleb Trask did a really good job for us. He played well but didn’t get a huge amount of opportunities because we were shooting ourselves in the foot in the first half with mistakes and turnovers, and the Blues were pretty good.

“The message at halftime was to be more decisive, carry well, and be more accurate with the ball. We were much better in the second half.”

Ioane, his milestone recognised on the field afterwards, said: “Our first half was awesome. The point of difference was their bench. They had a lot of experience to come on and really give it to us. With Cruds and Anton leading the charge they had some cool, calm heads and were able to get there.”

The Blues’ lead was quickly wiped out after the break as their previously near impenetrable defence sprang leaks all over the place and their belief went in the same direction. Those home fans wishing for a new narrative from their side this year would have gone home sorely disappointed.

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The Chiefs were hamstrung by the departure after 20 minutes of tighthead prop Nepo Laulala, the All Black down three times due to a knee injury and his final act was to give up a penalty.

Unfortunately for the Blues, Alex Hodgman who also gave Laulala’s replacement Angus Ta’avao a torrid time in the first half, left the field with his own knee problem which MacDonald thought could be serious.

Ioane, replaced after 55 minutes, try-scoring flanker Tony Lamborn, wing Mark Telea and No 8 Hoskins Sotutu enjoyed bright moments for the Blues which may please MacDonald but unfortunately for him and his team there were not enough, especially during what for them was a dark second half. New season, same old story.

“It’s disappointing given the position we played our way into,” MacDonald said.

Chiefs 37 (Samisoni Taukeiaho 2, Pita Gus Sowakula, Aidan Ross, Solomon Alaimalo tries; Aaron Cruden 3 cons, dropped goal, pen)
Blues 29 (Rieko Ioane 2, Tony Lamborn, Karl Tu’inukuafe tries; Stephen Perofeta 3 cons, Harry Plummer pen)
Halftime: 5-19

This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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