This was an exciting week for the Rugby community having the live game return for the first time since it was halted by the virus. There were two games and both of the them had something to get excited about.
Highlanders vs Chiefs:
This was the first game and if you read my preview you would know that I was not that excited about this game. I thought the teams would be a bit rusty. The teams aren’t at their free flowing best yet, but it was better than I expected.
The Chiefs seemed like they had no direction in the first half. The played allot of one off runners and it just didn’t look like they were going to break through the defensive line of the Highlanders. In the second half of the game, Cruden came on and gave them a bit better go forward with some attacking flair. I still believe that their coach made a mistake by starting him on the bench since he is the best attacking player on their team.
The Highlanders played to their strengths, they disrupted the set piece of the Chiefs and made sure that they didn’t get clean ball. Even though they had 2 yellow cards in the game they still came up trumps and they managed the end of the game very well. They were able to keep the ball in hand when they needed to and their kicks from hand were placed well with a good chase to make sure that players like D. McKenzie never got allot of space to start a counter attacking move. Then I also have to mention that it was the son of the Chiefs coach B. Gatland that slotted over the final drop goal to give the Highlanders the win.
Blues vs Hurricanes:
This game was more like what I predicted and in the end it almost seemed as is one of the teams were just not as fit and prepared for the game.
The home team, the Blues came to this game as fit as I have ever seen a super rugby team be after a pre-season. They had a great set piece and were able to disrupt the ball of the Canes. They were also very strong in defence and their captain leading the charge in making dominant tackles and making the Canes track backwards. One thing I believe the Blues could have done better is bring Barrett into the game more. I know that O. Black had a good game but if you have the best player in the world on your team why play him out of position and not give him the ball to do what he does best. I believe that they will try and bring him into the game even more in the up and coming games.
The Canes seamed as if they weren’t ready for this game. I think they were more motivated to rope Barrett into their celebration than to win the game. They have a good team and a good backline but they never played to their strengths. If the Canes are at their best their big backs get the ball in a bit of space and make the other team pay. I can’t even remember Laumape or Lam receiving the ball that often to try and make the Blues pay. I think that they tried a new game plan with one of runners running of nine, but they would just run into Tuipulotu that would hit them back or force a knock . The Canes are going to have to go back to their strengths and give the ball to their backs as they progress in the comp.
Wrap up week 1:
I believe that some of the new laws and changes that they tried to speed up the game with did just the opposite. I know the same rules have been applied at breakdown but it was applied more strictly. This slowed the game down a lot. In both the games the penalty count was 30 making it a penalty every 2 min 40 sec. It almost seemed as if you were watching an American football match. There was a stop at every down; in this case a penalty at almost every ruck. This slowed the game down allot and it made sure that there is not going to be a spectacular try from your own half because as you were building, a penalty is awarded. I think the referees should be stric,t but they should first issue a warning and tell the player to roll away or release the ball before just giving the penalty; I think that would speed up the game a bit more.
This was an exciting week for the Rugby community having the live game return for the first time since it was halted by the virus. There was two games and both of the games had something to get excited about.
Highlanders vs Chiefs:
This was the first game and if you read my preview you would know that I was not that excited about this game because I thought that the teams would be a bit rusty. The teams aren’t at there free flowing best yet but it was better than I expected.
The Chiefs in the first half seamed like they had no direction. The played allot of one of runners and it just did not look like they were going to break through the defensive line of the Highlanders. In the second half of the game Cruden came on and gave them a bit better go forward with some attacking flair. I still believe that Their coach made a mistake by starting him on the bench since he is the best attacking player on their team.
The Highlanders played to their strengths they disrupted the set piece of the Chiefs and made sure that they don’t get clean ball. Even though they had 2 yellow cards in the game they still came up trumps and they managed the end of the game very well. They were able to keep the ball in hand when they needed to and their kicks from hand was placed well with a good chase to make sure that players like D. McKenzie never get allot of space to start a counter attacking move. Then I also have to mention that it was the son of the Chiefs coach B. Gatland that slotted over the final drop goal to give the Highlanders the win.
Blues vs Hurricanes:
This game was more like what I predicted and at the end it almost seamed that one team just was not prepared and fit enough for the game.
The Home team the Blues came to this game as fit as I have ever seen a super rugby team be after a pre-season. They had a great set piece and was able to disrupt the ball of the Canes. They were also very strong in defense and their captain leading the charge in making dominant tackles and making the Canes track backwards. One thing I believe the Blues could have done better is bring Barrett into the game more I know that O. Black had a good game but if you have the best player in the world in your team why play him out of position and not give him the ball to do what he does best. I believe that they will try and bring him into the game even more in the up and coming games.
The Canes seamed that they weren’t ready for this game it seamed and I think they were more motivated to rope Barrett into their celebration than to win the game. They have a good team and a good backline but they never played to their strengths. If the Canes are at their best their big backs get the ball in a bit of space and makes the other team pay. I can’t even remember Laumape or Lam receiving the ball that often to try and make the Blues pay. I think that they tried a new game plan with one of runners running of nine, but they would just run into Tuipulotu that would hit them back or force a knock on. The Canes going forward are going to have to go back to their strengths and give the ball to their backs.
Wrap up week 1:
I believe that some of the new laws and changes that they tried to sped up the game with did just the opposite. I know the same rules have been applied at breakdown but it was just more strictly. That slowed the game down a lot in both the games the penalty count was 30 making it a penalty every 2 min 40 sec. It almost seamed that you were watching a american football match where there is a stop at every down in this case a penalty at almost every ruck slowed the game down allot and it made sure that there is not going to be spectacular try from your own half because as you were building a penalty is awarded. I think the referees should be strict but they should first issue a warning and tell the player to roll away of release the ball firts before just giving the penalty I think that would speed up the game a bit more.
Rugby dissect 
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