Nah - that was on the surface what won it. LAnders stuck to their kicking strategy all night, and for some reason the Chiefs got sucked into kicking back too often, they also didn't practice defusing bombs enouh mid week. Which is a coaching issue. The Chiefs strategy for handling the bomb seemed to be leave it to their number 15. There needed to be people running lines to thwart the chasers without getting penalised.
The thing is the Chiefs imo were winning the kicking game early on, it was weird why they didn't persist. Chiefs need to be more patient. I don't recall them holding onto the ball much at all in the first. Barely built any phases. You can't expect to run and score tries against every team.
Teams need to have a specific anti highlanders strategy. The Canes showed HOW NOT TO DO IT in last year's final. If you run everything they will screw you. The Chiefs tried playing around with kicks and that didn't work either. Teams need to have a wee think about it. I will have a think about it myself and post shortly my theory.
Yeah I'm interested, the Highlander's were heavily underrated going into this one. I have and still believe they're the best NZ team - had the Chiefs not had injury troubles this season they would have been. Canes need to be careful when we meet them again in Welly and/ or in the playoffs. NZ wise, any team apart from the Blues could win the comp and you wouldn't surprised. Canes are meeting my expectations atm/ exceeding others (everyone thought we'd flop losing Nonu, Smith, Thrush, Franks etc.) Still a vwry solid team now (even with NMS out). Just the Landers are an all-round good team both on attack and defence.
Just worked out my profits, won just over $150 from that game and have multis still in play another good weekend!
Can't see the Canes winning this now. Proctor being out just prior to the game was a big blow but now Barrett out, Sharks should have this you'd think.
Think that's the kick up the ass we needed. Sharks tired towards the end there but scored enough just after half to have it in the bag easily. Very impressive from the Sharks - finally meeting their potential. If they continue to play like that they could be a threat in the back end if they haven't left their surge too late. I think 1/2 I'll take from SA but I really wish we didn't smash the Lions, first truly poor game we've played since like round 2. Proctor out was huge but it was our lineout and scrum (which ironically has been our best weapon) that cost us. First half we were dangerous but didn't get the points in reward. Reds next week should be an easier battle.
I think there is some humble pie waiting for you Rego. Something about the chiefs being off the boil for only winning by two points against the Sharks. I would have bet on them had the odds been kinder, Lost both my bets, but only lost $8 I never felt comfortable about this weeks bets and should have stuck to $1 efforts. Bring on next week.
Had the Sharks played like that against the Chiefs they'd have easily won. By far the best game they've played all season. That's what the home factor and especially SA factor can do. Canes have a pretty shit record against the Sharks in SA but a good one at home for example. Was a very solid week with me correctly tipping all but that Canes one. Most coming from that Highlanders ($2.80 odds, handicaps, $4 odds on Landers double result and multis) game. Tbf you're betting purely for entertainment rather than value so that's all good. There was no value in the Chiefs bet for example but they're your team so that's what it's all about. There was value in the margins though but I've never been one for margins and just stick to handicaps. Next week sees the Landers v Crusaders which will be another thriller and good value for sure.
I knew the Sharks at home would be stronger than what we saw in Taranaki, however, I still maintain you didn't evaluate the Chiefs victory accurately in New Plymouth. The Sharks played well that day AND if memory serves me correctly they had a stronger team in terms of personnel. Some of their key guys were injured for last night's match.
Sharks played terribly imo, so did the Chiefs. Their defence was good though but as a whole it was a terrible game with plenty of nothing kicks and general mistakes. The difference this morning is they scored 4 tries - just about more tries than they've scored all season (haha). They attacked and attacked and attacked and found holes in our defence.
Lions tbh. I know we smashed them last week but apart from that they've been a very good side. Blues were very average against the Kings over the weekend and if it wasn't for a try after time was up to flatter the score a lil more, the Blues would have only won by 11. If the Blues were at home I'd say them however just. Not too sure what the odds will be but I'd say the Lions will be the favourites. If by a large extent the Blues handicap could be a goer
I won't be betting on the match as I don't feel the result in my gut. But I have to tip it for my pool. I don't rate the Lions. They are a team that is greater than the sum of its parts. They remind me of many south african teams over the past 5 years who have just gotten on a roll. E.g. the cheetahs a few years ago. Who do the Lions even have that are world class players? They just seem like the Rebels of South Africa. A bunch of hard working, well coached, well drilled lads who go into the coal mine each week and dig deep. The Blues are more talented than them by miles. But the blues are a bit of bits and pieces team. This is Ihiaia West's make it or break it year but someone forgot to tell him. If he doesn't push through his cieling this year than Tana can and will replace him with a marquee off season signing. I know, I know, every year the Blues talk about landing a marquee number 10, with Tana it is possible. I could see Barrett even moving up there. Barrett needs to go the next level and he needs a coach that can teach him about International rugby. But where was I, yes the Blues are more talented and have the better players, you can bank on the Blues having better penetration from 3rd and 4th phase ball, where as I doubt very much the Lions will get more than two tries all night and both of them will be down to the forwards doing the work in tight. I am sorely tempted to tip the Blues. Wait what the TAB say? The Blues are at $2.85 Will definitely be betting on those odds, just unsure about tipping them. Ahh sometimes I am so spineless at tipping.
Yep I probably will too, just had a look some places have them at $2.30 opening, them being slight underdogs was expected. Mass value there. It's going to be an epic game that could go either way but you have to feel the fact the Saders' have only played easy teams as of late, they haven't properly been tested. Landers are at home too. I'm going for a Landers' win pre lineups at this stage. From a competition point of view, the Landers winning is probably better too - keeps 1st place in the NZ conference up in the air. Chiefs schedule: Rebels, Tahs, Crusaders, Reds, Landers Crusaders schedule: Landers, Tahs, Blues, Chiefs, Rebels, Hurricanes Highlanders schedule: Crusaders, Canes, Kings, Jaguares, Chiefs Hurricanes schedule: Reds, Landers, Blues, Tahs, Crusaders Chiefs/ Canes probably have the easiest schedule left as a whole (I would say Landers too but they have to go to SA/ arg). Crusaders have the hardest having to play all NZ teams left (which will be worth the points/ seperate teams in the NZ conference). Basically whoever comes out top of these NZ derby matches will probably top the conference. Saders have 1 game in hand and are at the top so definitely favourites for now but gee that ain't an easy finish. It could go anyway. Much prefer this kind of scenario late in the season than having one clear 1st like last year (Canes). I'm going to the Canes v Reds game this Saturday - not quite the calibre of the Canes v Landers game a few weeks after but I and others probably won't be able to hit that one so hitting the Reds game up with a group of us as a compromise. Expecting nothing more than the Canes to easily win.
