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'They panicked': Former All Blacks on why the Chiefs were caught off guard
By Ben Smith
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.
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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.
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“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.
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“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.”
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“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.”
The Saders game and this were eerily familiar...then I realised. They reminded one of the ABs vs Ireland and France...They mightnt be that entertaining but the Blues and Saders are applying the Euro Tour lesson and the Chiefs are not.
Barrett was sensational