This one hurt even loading in the review template and the match hadn’t started. All the stats from the season hadn’t helped assuage my feeling of dread either. Reds 2-7, Chiefs 8-1. Chiefs 3+ try bonus points 5, Reds 0. Reds last won in NZ in 2013.
I don’t think the Chiefs missing Cruden will make that much of a difference as Stephen Donald was called in again to counter the still-booed Cooper. All Black players and contenders were once again pitching their case for a selection against the British and Irish Lions which was always going to increase the stakes.
The Match
A very young side for the Reds were faced with an experienced Chiefs side and with Duncan Paia’aua (who is doing better at centre than he ever did at 10 or fullback) not finding touch early with his kicks, the Chiefs took advantaged and pressed their advantage. This didn’t last too long with spilled ball and scrum penalties working against their momentum. The Reds kicked for position and a further penalty later, a lineout try was scored by Stephen Moore. Cooper missed the conversion with the ball hitting the post.
The Chiefs hit back immediately with a try to Kane Hames that came underneath a pile of Reds and Chiefs players, converted by McKenzie.
I could cook a roast in the amount of time it is taking to clear the Reds ball from a ruck.
The Reds clearly played for the win, kicking for touch to gain a lineout 7m out from the Chiefs tryline. Quick crossfield ball and Eto Nabuli’s long reach saw the Reds score again toward the right sideline and Cooper converted to put the Reds up two tries to one. Any advantage they had was minimised when McKenzie kicked a successful penalty and then eroded when George Smith was carded for a head high tackle and McKenzie kicked the penalty.
The Chiefs then looked to capitalise on the one man advantage. Loose tackles and poor decision making from the Reds saw the returning Charlie Ngatai punch his way through the defense and leave players in his wake. After some pinball-like play the penalty was called and the Chiefs restarted play to cross only to be called back for not being back the 5. Sustained play from the Chiefs on the line eventually saw Ngatai slide across with Campbell Magnay hanging off him like a tool belt. Higgers was injured in this passage of play with a suspected dislocated shoulder that he popped back in and kept playing. Clearly the same toughness that made him think he could take on the police.
Discipline, or the lack thereof, is once again punishing the Reds as they are behind on the scoreboard even with two tries apiece.
The Chiefs crossed the line inside 1 minute of returning to the field with lock Dominic Bird crashing over after sustained play. Lowe tore through the field after some non-tackles from the Reds backline. Donald took up the challenge to finish the length of the field and crossed again. The Chiefs had scored 2 tries within 4 minutes. I don’t know what Stiles said at half time, but I bet he wishes he could take it back. Duncan Paia’aua is playing too far into the backline and while his sloppy tackles were minimised because Hunt could clean up the mess, with no Hunt all we are left with is the mess.
Lowe absolutely schooled Cooper in kicking for touch at one point, brilliant cross-field kick finding touch. At this point I will admit I zoned out for a little bit to look at pretty things because the rugby was so bad from the Reds. I looked up to see Stephen Donald crossing again (!) and another conversion from McKenzie.
At this stage the handling errors are fairly even (6 to Chiefs, 7 to Reds) but the missed tackles are so heavily weighted towards the Reds that I don’t think the scales will ever tare again.
A lovely try to Campbell Magnay came off the back of a linebreak by Paia’aua, flick out to Nabuli, and back in to Magnay. Cooper has clearly lost any kicking ability he had as another conversion was missed. Honestly, isn’t Mick Byrne supposed to be based in Queensland?! Straight to the man almost every time.
James Lowe made another beautiful break to cross for his own try and the Chiefs were once again in possession of a 3 tries ahead bonus point.
The Australian team (full of lacklustre Super Rugby players) are in danger of losing to any of the three random touring sides. And I feel ill thinking about the Bledisloe this year.
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The Game Changer
Half time. Whatever happened in the Reds’ shed should not have happened.
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The G&GR MOTM
James Lowe was all over the pitch tonight with a linebreak to set up Donald’s try and one for his own. 172m, 12 carries, 6 defenders beaten, 3 offloads.
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Wallaby watch
Higgers would be a great wildcard against one of the random touring sides. Tuttle should also be named in the extended, extended side to get a taste for it.
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The Details
Crowd:
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]Chiefs: 46
Tries: Hames, Ngatai, Bird, Donald (2), Lowe
Conversions: McKenzie 7/8
Penalties:McKenzie 2/2 [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]Reds: 17
Tries: Moore, Nabuli, Magnay
Conversions: Cooper 1/3
Penalties: [/one_half]
Cards & citings
Yellow: George Smith
