Go you good things

[ozbash]

The Chiefs made up for a lack of a pre-season match during the last two weeks before the Super 14 kicks off by having a low-key intra-squad match at Whangamata yesterday.

And coach Ian Foster believes the approach will pay off for his side as they head into their competition opener against the Blues at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday week.
Looking to avoid an avalanche of last-minute injuries and have a fresh team going into that game, Foster has this year opted to play two pre-season games and then go to the beach for a week-long training camp before having a normal buildup back in Hamilton for the series start.
"I wouldn't say it's a gamble," said Foster from Whangamata today. "When you plan your pre-season it's about are you going to have two games or three games.
"It's probably a 50-50 split across all the franchises just how many games they do have pre-season because you want to test your combinations but you also don't want to wear your team out for what's a pretty long campaign."
Foster has now given his players the weekend off to freshen up before they hit the training field at Waikato Stadium on Monday in the buildup to the Blues match.
"I think we're in a good place going into week one, feeling pretty confident with our preparation and now we can just focus on getting into the start of this campaign."
By having their last pre-season hitout earlier than normal they would be straight into full training on Monday rather than having to use it as a recovery day from a Saturday game.
Yesterday's match was played under an unusual format with the Chiefs playing against a side made up of their Wider Training Group and other players from the region.
It was played in 30-minute halves with the team being put through a 10-minute intensive conditioning before kickoff and another as part of a 15-minute half-time break.
Foster described it as a successful exercise where the coaches were able to test specific areas they had worked on at training.
Flanker Liam Messam got his first run of the year following a leg injury and played the whole match.

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[kia ora storm]

Not sure about the Chiefs ??...may not have the depth to win this comp.

 

[ozbash]

They are more than capable of winning it, if they stop getting hurt.

 

[ozbash]

if they stop getting hurt.

:roll: ffs

All Blacks halfback Brendon Leonard will not start for the Chiefs against the Blues this weekend after suffering an ankle injury at training.

Leonard's starting position has gone to former Crusaders No 9 Jamie Nutbrown with coach Ian Foster hoping his All Blacks star would be fit enough to make the bench.

"It is disappointing for Brendon but there is a good chance of him being available on the bench this weekend. A decision on whether he will make the 22 will be made late on game day."
Foster added that Nutbrown has shown good form and confidence in the number 9 jersey in the team’s preseason games.
Foster has meanwhile named lock Kevin O’Neill and midfield back Callum Bruce to make their Chiefs debuts on Saturday night.
O’Neill, 25, is no stranger to the Super 14 having played 13 matches for the Crusaders. The 2.01m lock will team up alongside Chiefs captain Jono Gibbes at Eden Park this weekend in his debut Chiefs match.
In the backs second five-eighth Bruce will enjoy his first Chiefs encounter combining with centre Richard Kahui and Stephen Donald at first-five eighth. Bruce, 24, has 22 previous Super 14 caps to his name – all with the Highlanders.
Foster has chosen a backline packed with pace with Sitiveni Sivivatu and Sosene Anesi on the wings, and Mils Muliaina at fullback. Lelia Masaga is named on the bench.
"It is an exciting time going into our first game," Foster said.
"It was probably the hardest team to pick in terms of having nearly everyone available. In the end we had to pick a team that is best suited to take on the Blues."
"The Chiefs and Blues match is always a clash we look forward to. Last year the Blues were in good form making the semifinals, plus they have some quality personnel.
"We are certainly aware of the size of the challenge ahead of us for Saturday night. It seems clear that the Blues have picked a physical team against us. It will be an exciting start to our campaign."
Lock Toby Lynn was the only Chiefs player not considered for selection this week due to an ankle injury.
The teams are:
CHIEFS: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Sosene Anesi, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Jono Gibbes, 3 Ben Castle, 2 Tom Willis, 1 Simms Davison. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, 17 Ben May, 18 Kristian Ormsby, 19 Hayden Hopgood, 20 Brendon Leonard/David Bason, 21 Dwayne Sweeney, 22 Lelia Masaga.
BLUES: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Lee; 8 Nick Williams, 7 Justin Collins, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Troy Flavell (capt), 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock. Reserves: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Nick White, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a, 20 Taniela Moa, 21 Ben Atiga, 22 Rudi Wulf.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4401267a1823.html

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

When in the last decade have the chiefs not been hammered by injury?

Blues 32 (4 try bonus point)
Chiefs 14

 

[ozbash]

dont let the score fool you, once jonno and the boys learn to tackle (32 missed tonight) the mighty chiefs will be holding that trophy.

next week we get some points !!

 

[AuckMel]

The period of play before Flavell's try was excellent.

 

[skeepe]

I thought the Chiefs were all over the Blues in the first half. The less said about their second half performance the better...

 

[ozbash]

The Chiefs haven't won in Canberra since 1999 but first five-eighths Stephen Donald says they have to go there with confidence this Friday night and "put a stake in the ground" against the Brumbies.


The Hamilton-based Super 14 side moved up to sixth equal (seventh on points differential) with their 39-24 bonus-point victory over the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium on Saturday night.

To continue their push up the table towards a challenge for a semifinal berth, the Chiefs need to beat the ninth-placed Brumbies, who have a game in hand, before taking their bye in the ninth round.

"I think the best I've ever done over there (in Canberra) is one draw and two two-point losses," said Donald.

"Usually (Stirling) Mortlock's killed us on the buzzer."

There is talk Mortlock might be back from injury to take his place in his 100th game for the Brumbies against the Chiefs and fellow Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper might also return to the injury-torn backline.

But Donald said the Chiefs had to go to the Australian capital and produce a match-winning performance if they were serious about making this year's playoffs.

"They're a team that's pushing for the top four and so are we. If we want to be serious about this comp, it's non-negotiable, we've got the confidence now and we've just got to go over there and play well.

"There's no (George) Gregan and (Stephen) Larkham anymore, so I think we can take some confidence from that and it's just a game we've just got to go and front up in."

Donald said the Chiefs would not be changing the tactics that had been working for them in the past couple of games. "There's no rocket science to our game. Everyone knows what it's about and we'll go in (to this game) with the same tactics I'd imagine.

"We just want to be a bit more accurate and also tidy up a few defensive errors."

The Highlanders match was the Chiefs' second in a row where they've scored six tries and Donald gauged the latest success as a further step-up in performance.

"The forwards are the strength of the Highlanders and I thought the boys took another step there, and it's good that a lot of our inter-passing is coming off now," he said.

"Maybe a couple of weeks ago the balls would have gone down when we started to throw the odd ball but things are going well and it's pretty fun to be part of it."

Donald is also now confident in his own game and thriving on an improved forward platform.

 

[ozbash]

The Chiefs broke a nine-match Super 14 rugby winless streak against the ACT Brumbies in stunning fashion tonight, winning 42-28 in Canberra.

The Chiefs raced in six converted tries to four and secured the bonus point by the 33rd minute as they cantered to the halftime break 28-7 up.
A second half rally from the Brumbies narrowed the lead to 35-21 with 15 minutes left before the Chiefs sealed it with the try of the match, a length of the field effort finished by reserve halfback Jamie Nutbrown.
First five-eighth Stephen Donald bagged a double in his 20-point haul.
It was the Chiefs' third consecutive victory, all with maximum points, and put them firmly into playoff reckoning.
Not since 1999 had the Chiefs tasted success against the Brumbies.
It appeared set for a tight tussle at Canberra Stadium, with the hosts welcoming back Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock and test teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper from injury.
But the Brumbies' defence and ball retention was ordinary as the Chiefs outmuscled them at the breakdown and scored two remarkable tries to Donald and Viliame Waqaseduadua -- both from simple one-on-one turnovers deep in their own territory.
They'd scored 12 tries in their previous two wins against the Bulls and Highlanders and their speedsters continued where they left off.
All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu sparked the onslaught as they led 14-0 inside the first 12 minutes.
From a ruck 15m out, he eyed a gap and chased his own grubber kick for a simple try.
Then from a lineout 40m from the Brumbies' line he carved through a gaping midfield hole and set second five-eighth Callum Bruce away under the posts.
Bruce's opposite number Tyrone Smith replied for the hosts soon afterwards, scoring from a pop pass from his brother George Smith who did his best to spark a flat Brumbies side.
The loss of captain Mils Muliaina, who limped off with a hamstring tweak after 20 minutes, did little to slow the Chiefs.
Donald then scored two tries in eight minutes, the first when he stripped a stunned Tyrone Smith of possession 65m out and raced away.
Then a break from halfback Brendon Leonard set up another Chiefs raid which saw Donald dash 30m to score.
Four Donald conversions from as many tries gave them a handy 21-point lead at the break.
The Chiefs were eyeing a half-century five minutes into the second half when Waqaseduadua ripped the ball from halfback Josh Holmes at a ruck and raced 75m to score unopposed, making it 35-7.
Bruce's sin-binning by referee Jonathan Kaplan for a professional foul just before the break didn't cost the visitors any points as the Chiefs' defence stayed solid.
Mortlock and standout flanker Smith did their best to lift the hosts and they fought back with two tries in three minutes to Holmes and winger Peter Playford to narrow the deficit to 14.
But Lelia Masaga sparked their 95m special to clinch the match, with five Chiefs handling before Nutbrown dived over nine minutes from fulltime.
Holmes bagged his second try on the hooter to secure a Brumbies bonus point.
Muliaina hailed his team's effort after a nightmare journey marred by travel delays between Hamilton and Canberra.
"We knew we were up for a big one tonight -- we had a horrible travel itinerary so we're pretty stoked to take five points and next week with the bye we can rest up," he told Fox Sports.
"I've tweaked my hamstring so the bye's come at the right time, there's a couple of other guys nursing bruises."
He said his team's strength at the breakdown was crucial.
"It's something we've worked on the past couple of weeks is to get hungry on the ball and try to turn some of it over, and we scored some good points from it."

 

[ozbash]

You could almost hear the celebratory cheers reverberating around from Cape Town to Dunedin last night.

The Crusaders' 5-18 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton not only had the petrol heads and cow cockies slapping their thighs with delight, it had Super 14 fans from around the southern hemisphere raising their fists triumphantly to the heavens.
The defeat that ended the Crusaders' eight-match winning streak proved they are human and are no longer a certainty to win another Super title.
It was an uncharacteristic performance that was littered with poor handling, clumsy execution and unsuccessful goal kicking.
The question everyone will now be asking is just how much the Crusaders will miss the injured Dan Carter -- who is rumoured to be mulling a move to French clubs Toulon or Toulouse when his New Zealand contact expires at the end of the season - in its final four regular season matches.
Carter's absence could not be blamed for the loss but it is the calibre of such players that can calm nerves when they are frayed and use their skills to get their teams back on the front foot.
While the Crusaders were off the boil, the Chiefs, buoyed by 25,000 fans, were bubbling over and rewarded for their hunger to capture turnover ball, and desire to punch their way over the advantage line.
First five-eighths Stephen Donald was the dominant figure in their backline, directing it around the park and he was confident enough to use his chip to get in behind the Crusaders' backline.
It was Donald's kick and re-gather that extended the Chiefs advantage to 13-0 when loosehead prop Simms Davison gathered his pass to rumble 25m to the line after fending off covering tackler Caleb Ralph.
There were also concerns for the Crusaders when form centre Casey Laulala was knocked out after a nasty head clash with Dwayne Sweeney in the final minutes.
Laulala, who along with second-five Tim Bateman, was again one of the Crusaders' best was carted from the ground and will be in doubt for next weekend's match against the Blues at AMI Stadium.
Crusaders fans knew they were in for a worrying night when their men could not cash in on Chiefs lock Toby Lynn being yellow carded for not rolling away at a ruck in the 28th minute.
Usually the Crusaders would rip apart a 14-man opponent like a pitbull terrier ripping into a rag doll, but instead the Chiefs did not only prevail, they prospered through Davison's try.
Earlier, left wing Sitiveni Sivivatu blasted down the short side for the first try, the movement starting from a Chiefs scrum and a strike-play that sucked the Crusaders defenders in from the touchline.
The bright moments for the Crusaders were limited to a try by halfback Andy Ellis when he latched onto a pass from University club mate Stephen Brett, who had picked up the ball following a Brendon Leonard fumble.
Brett, in his first start since injuring his shoulder last month, missed an easy conversion and penalty shot at goal and was often under pressure by the Chiefs forwards.
It was just not to be the Crusaders' night.
Replacement loosie Nasi Manu looked to have scored when he dived over the line with 13 minutes remaining, but television match official Glenn Newman ruled he had lost the ball.
SCORERS
Chiefs 18 (Sitiveni Sivivatu; Simms Davison tries; Stephen Donald conv, pen) Crusaders 5 (Andy Ellis try). HT: 18-0


finals, here we come