Where the rudderless Blues were severely lacking compared to the Chiefs
As the Blues bumbled their way to their loss to the Chiefs at Eden Park, it became increasingly clear that for all of Aaron Cruden’s coolness and Anton Lienert-Brown’s midfield power which sparked the visitors’ comeback what Leon MacDonald’s men are lacking most of all is leadership.
They have lost a lot of experience in the departures of Sonny Bill Williams (who admittedly played only a dozen games for them over the last two seasons), Ma’a Nonu and even Melani Nanai, but contrast their lack of direction with the way new Crusaders’ players constantly perform with poise and intelligence despite their relative youth.
The Crusaders made their bonus point victory over the Waratahs in Nelson appear so easy at times it was similarly easy to forget they were playing without Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock, Matt Todd, Kieran Read, Jordan Taufua and Ryan Crotty.
The defending champions again looked so enthusiastic with and without the ball that their supporters might again be looking towards the final in June with a good degree of comfort but, perhaps more crucially, they all seem to have the ability to weigh up options and generally execute the right one with a speed and accuracy that few can muster at the Blues, regardless of experience. That comes from good coaching off the pitch but also certain expectations from those on it.
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For the Blues on Friday night, flanker Tony Lamborn had a night to remember before he was replaced and wings Rieko Ioane and Mark Telea and second-five TJ Faiane showed skill on attack but the Blues aren’t lacking for power or pace – they very rarely are. What they desperately need are strong leaders, particularly in the backline, who have the requisite decision-making and influence to help them close out games.
The Blues lost several close matches last season on their way to a 13th-placed finish and on the evidence of round one it doesn’t appear like a lot has changed. It’s clear that Beauden Barrett’s arrival – slated for mid-April – can’t come quickly enough.
This is the last thing the @AllBlacks wing needed after starting to finally find his feet again on the field.https://t.co/yfpDshhZVP #SuperRugby
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“It’s disappointing given the position we played our way into,” MacDonald said afterwards in a masterclass of understatement.
So while there was a Groundhog Day element to it all – a relatively close loss after getting into a promising position, another milestone (Rieko Ioane’s 50th match) marked by a speech on fulltime in front of a rapidly dwindling and mostly glum and resigned crowd, and MacDonald’s attempts to find the positives all over again, it was a very different story for Cruden, the returning 31-year-old first-five, and coach Warren Gatland, last seen in these parts wearing a clown nose.
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It appears that Gatland’s arrival has imbued the Chiefs with a resolve and confidence not seen since the days of Dave Rennie in the championship years of 2012 and 2013. It’s also pretty clear that while Cruden didn’t do anything overly special once he ran on after halftime, he didn’t need to. He simply took the right options and executed well.
So Blues fans will be disappointed but perhaps not to the same extent as supporters of the Hurricanes, whose team failed to fire a shot against the Stormers in Cape Town. Jason Holland’s men didn’t have a clue in the 27-0 defeat and it has highlighted by a lack of discipline which saw Billy Proctor and Vaea Fifita sinbinned in the second half and complaints of foul play around a late tackle on Stormers and Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, after which he left the field with a knee injury.
With no obvious leader in their backline, and Ardie Savea out for another couple of months due to a knee injury, Holland’s men are set to struggle this season. In fact, they may win fewer matches than the Blues.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished wth permission.
Comments on RugbyPass
Hi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
3 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
3 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to comments