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Twitter in awe of 'astonishing' Chiefs defence

The Chiefs held on for a gruelling 19-13 win against the Reds in Hamilton on Friday, thanks to one of the best defensive displays all season.

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Colin Cooper’s side spent the best part of the last 10 minutes camped on their own line, and conceded a string of penalties, but refused to budge. The Reds threw everything at them, particularly with their penalty advantages, but the Chiefs’ forwards and backs held strong.

The Chiefs had to make a staggering 240 tackles in total, bringing the game to an end by holding the Reds up over the line. The final passage of play summed up how good New Zealand side were.

This was the reaction on Twitter after their performance:

https://twitter.com/publicaddress/status/1131854249359314944?s=20
https://twitter.com/Cornf1akesCrib/status/1131854704651096064?s=20
https://twitter.com/justin__kenny/status/1131856021821935616?s=20
https://twitter.com/Daryne_Nicole/status/1131854661852442626?s=20
https://twitter.com/JimmyHapstar/status/1131854230740856835?s=20
https://twitter.com/Dumisani_m/status/1131852271254474754?s=20
https://twitter.com/macgibbons/status/1131853631345455105?s=20
https://twitter.com/chrisdeekay/status/1131854291323506688?s=20

This was a game perhaps where the Reds missed their leader and talisman Samu Kerevi, who was rested for this match. The team really lacked any penetration in the midfield, and that is something that the Wallabies inside centre can provide. He has been in fantastic form in recent weeks, and his absence highlighted what a key player he is for the Reds.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs, who have had a shaky season, will rue not showing such a belligerent defensive performance like this earlier in the season. The two-time champions have been on the end of some tight losses, as well as some heavy ones, this season, which would perhaps not have panned out that way if they showed the grit they did against the Queensland side.

The Chiefs’ performance may have had something to do with the return of Sam Cane, who started his first match since breaking his neck. While he came off on 50 minutes, he put in a very physical performance for someone that has been out with such a serious injury, and may have lifted his team.

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Whatever the cause was of this inspired performance, this was a brilliant defensive display.

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Nickers 24 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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