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Chiefs player ratings vs Waratahs | Super Rugby Pacific

Jonah Lowe. (Photo by AAP Image/James Ross)

The Chiefs and Waratahs converged on AAMI Park in Melbourne for the opening game of the Super Rugby Pacific Super Round on Friday night.

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While the Waratahs would have gone into the match confident they could keep the scoreline close, a red card to prop Angus Bell in the opening five minutes followed by a yellow to Jamie Roberts curtailed those thoughts and the Chiefs eventually raced out to a 22-3 lead.

The Waratahs did fight their way back into the game, getting themselves to within three points after 50 minutes of action, but the Chiefs’ regained their composure late in the piece and bagged the final three tries – all to winger Jonah Lowe – to finish the game 51-27.

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What the All Blacks squad could look like halfway through Super Rugby Pacific.

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What the All Blacks squad could look like halfway through Super Rugby Pacific.

Who were the Chiefs’ top performers on the night?

1. Aidan Ross – 7/10
Busy throughout the Chiefs’ first possession, whether carrying or in the breakdown. A huge effort on defence, making 12 tackles – the second-most of any Chief.

2. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 8
Once again accurate at lineout time, hitting 10 out of 10 deliveries. Was the final driver in the Chiefs earning a quality turnover from a kick-and-chase early on. Scored the Chiefs’ first try of the evening from a relatively simple lineout maul. Penalised for not rolling away early in the second half. Was the busiest carrier on the night. Off in 62nd minute.

3. Angus Ta’avao – 6
Scored his side a penalty at the second scrum of the match and the Chiefs scored from the ensuing lineout. Bumped clean by Charlie Gamble for the Waratahs’ second score of the evening. Off in 51st minute.

4. Josh Lord – 6
The key lineout man for the Chiefs. Made one brilliantly athletic one-handed take in the set-piece but was otherwise fairly quiet. Off in 51st minute.

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5. Tupou Vaa’i – 7.5
3/3 lineout. Carried the ball with vigour, particularly so in the second spell. Churned through 11 tackles on defence and 29 metres with the ball in hand. Pinged for clumsily running into Jake Gordon during the Waratahs’ first attacking skirmish, costing the Chiefs three points.

6. Luke Jacobson – 7
1 lineout steal. Did a little bit of everything. Topped the tackle count for the Chiefs, threw three offloads and nabbed one steal at the breakdown. Popped up regularly in the wider channels. Put in two massive hits on Waratahs players immediately before halftime and then started putting real pressure on the Waratahs lineout in the last 20 minutes of the match once prop Harry Johnson-Holmes was throwing the ball in.

 

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7. Sam Cane – 6
A bit of a mixed bag for the Chiefs captain – busy, but also inaccurate at times. A side-entry early on scuppered the Chiefs’ penalty advantage – but maybe he was feeling a bit loopy after being dropped on his head by Angus Bell. Made a great run off the shoulder of Alex Nankivell near the 10-minute mark but couldn’t hold the ball once he went to ground. Also copped a penalty early in the second quarter for interference at the breakdown – although it looked like it was actually a Waratahs hand that knocked the ball out of the ruck. Missed a tackle on Jed Holloway as the lock steamed into a gap – but the tackle wasn’t hit to make. Straightened well and timed his last pass perfectly for Quinn Tupaea’s second try of the evening. Nabbed a turnover early in the fourth quarter.

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8. Pita Gus Sowakula – 6.5
Relatively contained this week, ‘only’ making 36 metres with the pill – the most of any forward on the field. Pinged for some lazy breakdown work, entering from about as offside a position as is possible, then was caught out on defence from the Waratahs’ next set of possession which handed the Waratahs’ the space they needed for their first try. Knocked the ball on at the base of the ruck when the Chiefs were hot on attack. Off in 66th minute.

9. Cortez Ratima – 7
Great speed to the breakdown ensured the Chiefs attack was fizzing whenever they were in possession. Passing was generally accurate while he was also strong with the ball in hand. Off in 62nd minute.

10. Bryn Gatland – 7
Attacked the line well and was generally accurate with his kicking (7 out of 9 on posts) and passing. Did throw one pass directly to the lurking Jake Gordon, with the Waratahs halfback scampering away for a crucial try, but also created a couple of the Chiefs’.

11. Quinn Tupaea – 8
Combined well with Jonah Lowe in the outer channels early in the game. Left his wing to make a big number of carries on the offence. Chased a chip kick well and won his team a penalty at the breakdown from the ensuing tackle. Was unlucky to cop a yellow card late in the game for what looked like a perfectly legal steal after a Waratahs breakout.

12. Rameka Poihipi – 7.5
His strongest and most composed game at this level so far. Had a couple of nice carries and touches early in the game, including throwing the last pass for Jonah Lowe’s first try. Gave up the ball too easily in the second half when Gamble got hands on the ball from the kick-off. Hasn’t done his starting chances any harm.

13. Alex Nankivell – 8
Looked incisive with every carry and caused plenty of problems when he got the ball in hand – but it probably didn’t happen enough. Made a great half break with his first carry off the ball and was able to get the offload to captain Cane.  Dropped the ball once with the line begging.

14. Jonah Lowe – 8.5
Scored four tries – only one fewer than Sean Wainui’s effort in the same fixture last year – and chalked up 80 metres with the ball in hand. Didn’t put a foot wrong and wasn’t afraid to come off his wing to help out.

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15. Chase Tiatia – 6
Strong in contact and error-free but outshone by some of his backline teammates. Off in 62nd minute.

Reserves:

16. Bradley Slater
On in 62nd minute. Maintained the lineout accuracy and was handy as a link carrier.

17. Atunaisa Moli – N/A
On in 70th minute.

18. George Dyer – 5
On in 51st minute. Combined with Jacobson in the 72nd minute to force a breakdown penalty. With uncontested scrums, didn’t get the chance to show off his talents in the set-piece.

19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi – 6
On in 51st minute. Was a great support runner and helped maintain quick ball late in the game. Incurred one penalty for offside play near the breakdown.

20. Samipeni Finau – 7
On in 66th minute. Made one excellent carry in the build-up to the Chiefs’ sixth try – and two or three thereafter.

21. Xavier Roe – 7
On in 62nd minute. Tidy – a very competent return from injury. Put in two great kicks, the first when he was under pressure down the sideline and the second to create the final try of the game.

22. Rivez Reihana – 7.5
On in 62nd minute. Showed great acceleration to turn, chase and make a tackle on Dylan Pietsch to shut down a certain try then shut down the next Waratahs attack with a great leg tackle.

23. Inga Finau – N/A
On in 77th minute.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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