Field Theory: All Misty-Eyed
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To be fair, according to Twitter he may be on a plane to Vanuatu with me and Megan and Jo. I'm just sayin'.
I'm sure he'll play even better after that!
I didn't know he read Rosemary McLeod...
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When the crunch came he was starting games for the Hurricanes at 9. He was the best player the 'canes had at that position, or at least that's what they thought. It's obvious the chiefs didn't think that about Messam at 8
Yes, but from the Chiefs point of view, that might be like having a decent #7 turn up at the Crusaders. You ain't going to bump McCaw no matter how good he is, so maybe he shifts.
Lauaki tends to be bloody good (if very up and down) at Super level, despite never getting to that level in the black jersey. If putting Messam at #6 gives the Chiefs the best team on the day, that's what they'll be doing.
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Er, I mean, I didn't know he read Rosemary McLeod
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@Kyle
My thought is that if the Chiefs really rated him they would have him start the game at 8 and then shift to 6 when Lauaki comes on as an impact player. Or, if he was a better 8 than Lauaki start them both but with Lauaki playing 6. -
I am a bit worried about the form of both Brad Thorn and Rodney So'oialo.
In the case of Rodney, the canes missed Thomas (the Tank Engine) coming off the bench and also starting the odd game to give Rodney a decent break.
he looks/plays like he is tired
No excuses mind :-)
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Nonu/Smith combination was weak, their rushing two man chase ahead of the defensive line allowed the Sivivatu break and the winning try.
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Jo S,
@Stuart
My thought is that if the Chiefs really rated him they would have him start the game at 8 and then shift to 6 when Lauaki comes on as an impact player. Or, if he was a better 8 than Lauaki start them both but with Lauaki playing 6.
but that wouldn't work if him being a better 8 than Lauaki didn't make up for Lauaki being a much worse 6 than Messam ....
Just my 5c
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Or the day when someone gives her a F1 car and she gets to kick Jenson Button in the nuts
Yeah, I'm not sure about that, she's not all that great away from oval tracks. Her best finishes are 4th at Long Beach this year, and 5th a couple of years ago at Mid-Ohio.
Pity about Scott Dixon though, he looked really good until late in the race.
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but that wouldn't work if him being a better 8 than Lauaki didn't make up for Lauaki being a much worse 6 than Messam
This.
Laukai is a handy 8 at times, and as mentioned often does well at a Super-14 level. He's not mobile enough to make enough impact on the blindside, imo. He does round out the Latimer/Messam trio quite nicely however.
Of course, Henry has tended to play a more aggressive 6 (Collins, Kaino, Read) and have his 8 do a bit more of the scavenging to take some pressure of Ritchie - Messam fits this role nicely. Lauaki, not so much.
As for the final... Drop-goals from half-way make the game difficult to win. The Chiefs can't rush Steyn expecting him to drop-goal every time because it opens up the defensive line. But it seems that, on half the pitch at least, you can't afford not to rush him or you'll give up three points. Sure it's easy to spot when he's dropping into a pocket to take the kick, but that defensive line is going to have to be quick and accurate all night to shut him down. Here's hoping Kahui makes it back or the Chiefs will really struggle.
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Or the day when someone gives her a F1 car and she gets to kick Jenson Button in the nuts
Yeah, I'm not sure about that, she's not all that great away from oval tracks.
I was meaning literately, but whatever works.
Drop-goals from half-way make the game difficult to win. The Chiefs can't rush Steyn expecting him to drop-goal every time because it opens up the defensive line. But it seems that, on half the pitch at least, you can't afford not to rush him or you'll give up three points.
I think they need to assign a single person to mark him the whole time and to rush him almost every time (at least in the second half when he's more likely to go for a dropgoal).
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Or the day when someone gives her a F1 car and she gets to kick Jenson Button in the nuts
A pair of steel-toed boots would be cheaper, surely.
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I think they need to assign a single person to mark him the whole time and to rush him almost every time (at least in the second half when he's more likely to go for a dropgoal).
That leaves a) a hole in the defense or b) a gap on the wing (move a player to the midfield to do the rushing).
Plus it's going to wear someone out quick. I know these guys are professional athletes, but sprint-training (fartlek) is tough for a reason, y'know?
I just don't think it's a strategy that they can keep up all game.
If I were of a more malicious mind, I would say that Butch James knows how to deal with problems like these (And little else)
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The Chiefs deserved to win alright, the Hurricanes had the wrong strategy for the game & for their team. Ripia's kicking game was just not up to it, and it took away from the opportunity to have Nonu & Vito smash into Bruce & Sweeney all night. Think this ought to be Cooper's last year now, time to steal back from Otago the mighty Hawke's Bay's coach. Oh, and the Hurricanes ought to try to sign a first five, like, a good one.
As for the Lauaki / Messam thing - I think its partly that Lauaki is an average 6, but also because after Latimer the Chiefs loosies are a bit unproven. Im guessing for the ABs it'll be Richie & Rodney certainties, then Thomson. Other than those 3 I just don't know. Would be awesome to have both Waldrom's in to backup those three.
As for the no upsets when its the finals; I respectfully disagree. The Bulls were better than all other teams by quite a way; and the Chiefs have to travel to the Republic, and have lost a key player. They're definately massive underdogs in my books, i'll be super surprised & terribly excited if they get up & make it.
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