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Chiefs pile on the points in bonus point win over Moana Pasifika
The Chiefs have kept their hopes of a top-two finish alive with an emphatic 43-7 win over Moana Pasifika at Auckland’s MT Smart Stadium on Friday evening.
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They may have been without Damian McKenzie but Taranaki-first five Josh Jacomb stepped up in the NO 10 jersey in the All Black’s absence, and captain Luke Jacobson was also solid.
Moana Pasifika fought valiantly but it wasn’t too close in the end as the Hamilton-based side rallied from a slow start to pile on the points.
By securing the bonus point, the Chiefs have stayed within touching distance of the top two. With the Hurricanes playing the Blues this weekend, this was a result they desperately needed.
The first passage of the match somewhat set the tone for the next 30 minutes. All Blacks and Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i dropped the ball off the kick-off which gave Moana Pasifika the first opportunity to play with the ball.
Moana Pasifika seemed to throw everything at their more-favoured opponents, but the Chiefs’ defence stood tall in defence. For the most part, Moana were going backwards in attack for two minutes before eventually knocking the ball on.
Looking to break the deadlock relatively early, the Chiefs took the ball down the other end of the field and looked to make their mark.
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From a lineout, Samisoni Taukei’aho found Tupou Vaa’i, with the hooker then looping around to bind at the back of the maul. The Chiefs came close, very close, but Taukei’aho was pulled down nothing more than a metre or two short of the try line.
The Chiefs spread the ball wide right, and then back to the left, as they continued to test the Moana defensive line. But the Chiefs, who had been playing with a penalty advantage, were ultimately held up in the in-goal.
Then, after opting to take the scrum, NO 8 Wallace Sititi dropped the ball cold.
Another opportunity missed for the Chiefs.
It was a bit of back-and-forth for both teams from there. Moana Pasifika enjoyed a period where they looked the more threatening of the two before the Chiefs regained some composure and momentum in the contest.
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Quinn Tupaea would end up scoring the opening point of the night in the 23rd minute after beating one defender with an inside step, running over another, and then beating another two covering tacklers with a reach for the try line.
With the scores still close, Moana were dealt a couple of significant blows with Irie Papuni and Aisea Halo both sent to the sin bin within a seven minute period.
Chiefs playmaker Jacomb made the most of the visitor’s one-player advantage. Jacomb beat one defender with a right-foot step before then slicing through the defensive line.
The Chiefs led 12-nil with about 35 minutes up on the clock.
Moana had their best opportunity to strike late in the half with Kyren Taumoefolau going for an ambitious one-handed dive into the corner. But unfortunately for the hosts, the fullback couldn’t quite hang onto the ball.
The Chiefs seemed to have scored one more about two minutes later only for the TMO to rule the try out. But still, they had the lead and were playing with confidence as the two teams made their way into the sheds.
But what happened next was not only a statement – it was quite stunning.
Fullback Etene Nanai-Seturo regathered his own chip-and-chase before dotting the ball down just 32 seconds into the half.
Chiefs’ added another two tries to their advantage soon after with centre Anton Lienert-Brown and flanker Simon Parker scoring within a six minute period.
Almost suddenly, an error-riddled opening 30 minutes felt like a long time ago. The Chiefs had raced out to a 31-nil lead but Moana refused to give up as they offered some promising attacking phases of their own in response.
Moana were rewarded for their efforts with Anzelo Tuitavuki scoring his team’s first points of the night in the 71st minute. Tuitavuki danced around Tyrone Thompson to run in untouched for the hard-earned score.
The Chiefs did hit back, though, with captain Jacobson burrowing his way over with five minutes left before winger Liam Coombes-Fabling ran in untouched to have the final say of the night.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The guy had just beasted himself in a scrum and the blood hadn't yet returned to his head when he was pushed into a team mate. He took his weight off his left foot precisely at the moment he was shoved and dropped to the floor when seemingly trying to avoid stepping on Hyron Andrews’ foot. I don't think he was trying to milk a penalty, I think he was knackered but still switched on enough to avoid planting 120kgs on the dorsum of his second row’s foot. To effectively “police” such incidents with a (noble) view to eradicating play acting in rugby, yet more video would need to be reviewed in real time, which is not in the interest of the game as a sporting spectacle. I would far rather see Farrell penalised for interfering with the refereeing of the game. Perhaps he was right to be frustrated, he was much closer to the action than the only camera angle I've seen, however his vocal objection to Rodd’s falling over doesn't legitimately fall into the captain's role as the mouthpiece of his team - he should have kept his frustration to himself, that's one of the pillars of rugby union. I appreciate that he was within his rights to communicate with the referee as captain but he didn't do this, he moaned and attempted to sway the decision by directing his complaint to the player rather than the ref. Rugby needs to look closely at the message it wants to send to young players and amateur grassroots rugby. The best way to do this would be to apply the laws as they are written and edit them where the written laws no longer apply. If this means deleting laws such as ‘the put in to the scrum must be straight”, so be it. Likewise, if it is no longer necessary to respect the referee’s decision without questioning it or pre-emptively attempting to sway it (including by diving or by shouting and gesticulating) then this behaviour should be embraced (and commercialised). Otherwise any reference to respecting the referee should be deleted from the laws. You have to start somewhere to maintain the values of rugby and the best place to start would be giving a penalty and a warning against the offending player, followed by a yellow card the next time. People like Farrell would rapidly learn to keep quiet and let their skills do the talking.
1 Go to commentsThe name “Kwagga” came to mind while I was reading this. And there’s another Sevens convert roaming the wide open kant at the Lions now - JC Pretorius. Keep an eye on him.
3 Go to comments2024 Rugby Championship: Sat, 10 Aug 2024 – Sat, 28 Sept 2024. Looking forward to watching the All Blacks coached by Scott Robertson, with or without the ‘dynamic’ qualities of Shannon Michael Frizell - see his display against South Africa at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium on July 15.
1 Go to commentsI agree about 8 being too many The English premiership has top four only Top 14 has six URC has 8 I think 6 would be fine It gives those other two teams an incentive But rewarding a team in perhaps 8th with three wins is atrocious If they get in they know they only need one big game
7 Go to commentsInteresting article. I think the answer lies in a comment Kwagga Smith made during the World Cup. Asked whether it bothers him that the Bok team doesn’t get more credit he said: “We don’t play for people to respect us: we play for each other and we play for South Africa.” The Springbok team is a brotherhood - an incredibly tight unit, most of whom are good friends off the pitch as well. Not only do they not want to let South Africa down, but they fight like crazy not to let their teammates down. Not saying they don’t care about their club teammates, but I think the bond shared in the Boks is just much, much deeper. Tough to forge the same sort of bond at a club over a handful of years. That must translate into superior performances for country over club.
31 Go to commentsThere is very little creativity in the 9-10 axis for SA. 10 needs to be solid, put the work in and kick the points. the SA counter is almost always via the edge or a kick through for a winger. When was the last offensive backline score from SA against a top team? Perhaps the ultra physical nature of the SA teams means players they get to hit more stats in those games. Maybe the SA pleyers are perfectly suited to the SA system. In other Words they are not club players gathered to play SA Internationals. They are SA International players adapting to play club.
31 Go to commentsJust what you want your prop doing 😂
1 Go to commentsEveryone needs to have a bit of ball player in them Nick and second phase but forwards and backs are still different coz of where you stick your head most of the time. Pocock and tizzano were 12s right up to the edge of seniors. Pocock was 12 to quades 10 then pocock was at the force At 17 year’s old or so. Hamish Stewart was apparently was a junior 7. Don’t know when he switched but apparently he was crons 10 in the Oz 20s. A mistake too often made is playing a guy like taquele nairavuro at wing instead of as a power 8. On rugby tours we often had a spare 7 playing crash 12 coz the regular 12 stayed home. Often had a spare 7 playing on a wing too.
3 Go to commentsyikes - what a load of crap Gallan. Interesting until after your 1st paragraph, but then again not worth anyone’s time responding to such pointless analysis and of course your dumbass opinions.
31 Go to commentsOutside of their national camp, club teams seem to take a tighter stance on doping. Think that explains it really.
31 Go to commentsThanks Nick Ive always thought that there should be a few more innovative attempts at players moving from backs to forwards and vice versa. Samu was one, as was Jim Williams last century. Cole certainly could run like a back, as can Lonergan from the Brumbies. I think that it’s going to become hard again for hookers though as front rowers seem to be getting bigger and bigger, and the guys have to look after their spines as well as (in Australia) their achilles! I always thought that Folau should have been tried in the lineout…. I think the same for Vunavalu…if he lasts any longer. Movement between positions is much more common in League, mainly because the size requirements between backs and forwards are not as pronounced. Hookers and halfbacks interchanging and second rowers and centres as well. The great Cameron Smith was effectively a hybrid hooker/halfback, being able to play both positions…sometimes it seemed simultaneously! For now, it seems like McReith and before him Hooper are the standouts, though Cale could be anything. John Eals did a few “back” type things mind you, including running and kicking. As for Jones, I don't credit him as anything (in an Australian context) other than a speaker of a million throw away lines, with the occasional one being picked up! Sorry
3 Go to commentsHe's Big in Japan
2 Go to comments“England are set to lose some of their best ever players at the end of the season with the mass departure to France”… Really? Best ever? What a joke of an opening line. The england players leaving for France are… Sinckler, Ludlum, Tuilagi… that’s the list of players England are losing at the end of this season to France. All 3 are fringe players at best these days. Manu is the only one you could fathom debating being one of “their best ever players” and even that debate would be shut down pretty quickly. Pathetic excuse for journalism this. Not grounded in reality.
2 Go to commentsYep. The insanity of the decision of trying to outspend RL for outside backs just looks more and more stupid as time goes on and talented players either bully us into paying overs to keep them (Jorgensen) or simply leave as Uncle Nick comes calling (Nawaqanitawase).
20 Go to commentsInteresting that you pick Amatosero, John. I would agree with your choice. He could well be capped this year at some point. At only 21 years of age, he has a lot of experience at a high level from his time at Clermont. I’m surprised he did not remain there for longer, as last year he was really starting to move, with 14 games, six starts, well up from the previous year, 7 games, only 2 starts. Have liked what is doing with the Waratahs this year. Not an easy situation for any player there, with the poor results.
3 Go to commentsNed me old shinwah, it’s probably not a bad idea to learn how to spell the last names of great All Blacks wingers. (Otherwise we will demean our memories of Grant Bitty, Jonah Lima, Joe Rococo and Doug Howler.)
4 Go to commentsNo longer able to except the excuses offered up for Rob. The red jersey has lost it’s mana and become a joke. I do not wish Mr Penny any wrong but it is time to go. Do the right thing Rob and retire, PLEASE.
31 Go to commentsIt is a travesty that 8/12 teams play in the finals, and that 4 wins out of 14 might be enough to get you there, but every competition has this to some degree. If it was only the top 4 going through, then this season would have been over for 6 of the teams 4 weeks ago. Super Rugby is simply a feeder competition for the All Blacks and Wallabies. There are low stakes and no consequences because so few people care who wins Super Rugby. In football, winning the Champions League is the pinnacle for any player or fan. The fate of national teams in the world cup or Euros is a complete second fiddle to The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Bundelsliga etc… Same with the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB. Players and fans care deeply about their team winning NBA title, but don’t care at all about USA winning gold at the Olympics. Or more locally with Rugby League, the Hierarchy is probably NRL > State of Origin > International. For some maybe State of Origin is the top. Super Rugby is low consequence and low stakes because no one cares enough about the outcome. Players ultimately want to play for the ABs, not the Hurricanes or Blues. Casual fans aren’t talking about SR selections but everyone has an opinion on Sam Cane or Ian Foster. Super Rugby is a means to an end. The only context it has is how it effects who is selected for the ABs.
7 Go to commentsPlayoffs featuring 4 or 6 teams would mean the other teams playing meaningless games for longer and a further drop of interest in Australia. But yes a 12 team competition with 8 teams making finals is ridiculous.
7 Go to commentsJoe's picks will be more interesting than Razors. The dumping of Dave Rennie for Jones has to be one of the worst exec decisions of all time. Joe and Dave have similar styles and personalities, the players should like that. Predicting some success for Aus this year. Well more than last year!
3 Go to comments