'They panicked': Former All Blacks on why the Chiefs were caught off guard
Three former All Blacks have identified what went wrong for the Chiefs in their first ever scoreless match in Super Rugby against the Blues on Saturday night.
Clayton McMillan’s side went down 25-0 despite having multiple periods against reduced numbers as the Blues were issued three yellow cards throughout the game.
All Blacks great Jeff Wilson said on Sky Sport‘s The Breakdown that they “panicked” and that their attack suffered from an inability to be patient with the ball.
“The Chiefs did exactly what they did against the Crusaders, they panicked,” Wilson told The Breakdown panel.
“They had opportunities, they had plenty of possession, plenty of ball but they weren’t able to go that extra phase.
“One step further, one more reset, then go again. They kept looking for it too quickly.
The Chiefs had arguably the form No 8 in the competition in Pita Gus Sowakula, whose carrying last week was instrumental in toppling the Hurricanes at home.
However, according to Wilson, Sowakula couldn’t reproduce the same level of impact as the Blues defence “targeted” him and made sure he couldn’t lay the same platform for the Chiefs.
“The Blues focused heavily on stopping the carrying. Pita Gus Sowakula, who had been doing that so well for the Chiefs, they focused on it and targeted it,” Wilson said.
“It’s not like he didn’t have an impact on the game, but he didn’t get them the same momentum and finish like they had been earlier on in the season.”
“Clearly the two best teams defensively in this competition are now for me the Blues and the Crusaders, they are doing it and doing it well.
“The Blues, bar 10 minutes against the Hurricanes, could quite easily be undefeated so far this season.”
“This is where this team is at, it’s the depth that they have built. I’m incredibly impressed with the talent they have got on show, but also performing on a consistent basis.”
All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina added that the Chiefs were targeted at the breakdown and were “caught off guard” by the intensity of the Blues’ pressure at ruck time.
He believed it was one of the strategic plans the Blues had put in place that on the night went exactly the way they wanted it too.
“One area that I thought they were really good at, and they targeted it from the get go, was the breakdown,” Muliaina, who played for both the Blues and Chiefs, told The Breakdown.
“They were so aggressive, they almost caught the Chiefs off guard. They were counter rucking, getting up off their feet when there was someone there, so they obviously analysed that aspect of the Chiefs game.
“Someone would be isolated, and they would really attack that. It caught the Chiefs off guard and made them frantic.
“Game tactics were on point, and I guess that’s what Leon MacDonald was saying, how it was the best game he’s had from a coaching point-of-view.”
One of the stars of the match was Blues first-five Beauden Barrett, who returned to action for the first time since his concussion against the Highlanders a fortnight ago.
Barrett was instrumental in two of the Blues’ second half tries, firstly setting up Tom Robinson with a cross-field kick and then firing a long ball over the top to set AJ Lam up in the same corner.
All Blacks legend and former Blues coach Sir John Kirwan said the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year’s influence over the game was brilliant for the Auckland-based franchise.
“He was just really, really calm,” Kirwan said of Barrett’s performance on The Breakdown.
“We see his brilliance, the offload, kicking game, but actually, when they were down to 13 men, he’s just out there kicking it, taking control of the game.”
Wilson also praised Barrett’s performance, adding that having Stephen Perofeta kick the goals from fullback takes some of the weight off his shoulders.
“Off the back of 20 minutes of rugby, he comes out and delivers this performance. We always talk about leadership, they’ve got some of that in their forward pack, you’ve got to like the way they are tracking,” he said.
“I think Beauden is the x-factor. He’s the guy that is going to come in and drive them forward towards a championship, if they are going to get there.
“It allows them to play Stephen Perofeta at fullback. I think that is critical for them. That’s his best position. It allows them to have two guys who can control the game.
“The other side of it is, Beauden isn’t have to goal kick. There is no pressure on him in regards to that.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments