Goodness me, that heavyweight bout between the Crusaders and Chiefs was a game of almost absurd quality last night.
Where to start? The sensational back play. The blistering line speed. The brutal collisions. The wonderfully raucous Suva crowd. The no-nonsense refereeing. The lead constantly changing hands. The ambition. The desire. The skills. The speed. Scotty Stevenson’s halftime Fijian fashion show.
It bloody well had it all – including a monstrous hit by Crusaders blindside Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, albeit on his own fullback.
That the Crusaders got the points to preserve their remarkable unbeaten run was almost shaded by the contest. Almost.
Are there spots up for grabs against the touring Lions or something? Virtually everyone on the park put their hand up, except maybe Crusaders half back Bryn Hall and Chiefs replacement hooker Hika Elliot – the latter’s two duffed lineout throws at the death cost his team any chance of an emphatic final say.
This was a see-saw on a roller coaster, as hectic as that sounds. I could bang on about virtually every individual performance, but you’d end up shrieking at the surfeit of superlatives, so I’m going to zone in on just three.
Firstly, Aaron Cruden. What a blinder from the little All Black pivot, and what a reminder that he is anything but yesterday’s man. He stamped his authority on this game from the outset, taking the line on time and again with jinking bursts for a team-high 72 running metres.
Drilling the ball into the corners from both feet, always finding grass and tackling everything that came his way around the boot laces, the angle he ran to set up Tim Nanai-Williams’ try with that peach of a long ball and the other he ran to score himself, from a scrum no less, just added to the sadness – sadness that he won’t be doing those things in this part of the world for at least a few years after he jets off to Montpellier in Spring.
Like everything else he did – except kick for goal – Cruden’s timing was immaculate given the context of Beauden Barrett’s rather muted display against the same opposition last weekend.
But here’s the thing: Cruden’s opposite, Richie Mo’unga, was arguably better!
(Image: AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
The Crusaders ten put on an attacking masterclass, instigating two of his team’s tries on his way to a game-high 88 run metres. But it was in the kicking of virtually every point on offer – four penalties and two from three conversions – that was a stark departure from his counterpart and ultimately what won the game.
His kicks for touch were something to behold – they were booming things that carved off half the length of the pitch in some instances.
Fittingly it was Cruden’s kick over the defence that Mo’unga latched onto to find space on the outside to set up the play that ultimately led to David Havili’s belting try that regained the lead for the ‘visitors’.
He was at it again when he sliced through the Chiefs defence before having the smarts to find blockbusting crowd favourite Manasa Mataele. A quick recycle from the ruck had substitute hooker Ben Funnell burrowing over in the corner. Mo’unga added the flourish with a sideline conversion.
Mo’unga’s performance in such a white-hot cauldron is the sort that can shift the dial on a player in selectors’ minds. Hansen and co will continue to watch him with forensic interest.
Lastly, but not least, I can’t not touch on Damian McKenzie. As is usual, the Chiefs diminutive dynamo just couldn’t stay out of this game. He was typically brilliant under the high ball. There were scything counters through broken play. He had great presence of mind to not die with the ball putting others into space while he was at it. Plus the penetrating wipers kicks. It was another vintage effort.
It was all summed up by one passage of play in the 16th minute. Fielding a high ball eight metres on the Crusaders side of halfway, McKenzie scampered on a run in which he stepped, dummied and swerved in seamless succession before offloading in the tackle to a flying James Lowe.
Then as first receiver at the next ruck he threw a no-look inside ball to Anton Anton Lienert-Brown before being the first to clean out the ensuing ruck, albeit ineffectively. But he’s excused for that, being a back and all, and a rather small one at that.
I could go on and on about how good Goodhue, Luke Romano, Nathan Harris and Kane Hames were or how epic the battle between Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallic was, but I’m sensing you’re getting the picture, so I’ll just leave it at that.
The bloke whose idea it was to stage this annual fixture in Fiji deserves an extra slurp from the kava bowl. The packed house was in splendid, passionate voice and gave this encounter the atmosphere it deserved.
Suffice to say, it wasn’t a bad game, and it was one that, despite the loss, would have had my mate and staunch Chiefs man John ‘JT’ Taylor, who passed away this week, smiling down from above. Rest in peace, JT.
Kaizer
Roar Rookie
I sat down to watch the game with a staunch league (Broncos) supporter, my brother in law. He was converted after that game and I sadly had to let him know that it is only available across the ditch. That was a great game of rugby and had that been free to air here in Australia, the thought of that... Sigh.
Katipo
Guest
Fiji were in the South Pacific Championship, from 1986-1990 and Super 6 in 1993. Samoa were in the Super 10, from 1993 -1995. That was the predecessor of Super Rugby, which launched in 1996 , when rugby turned professional and Sanzaar was formed to manage the $555m in new broadcast irevenue. Fiji and Samoa could not be included in Super rugby once rugby turned professional. It seems 'there is no money in the Islands". Ahem. Cough. Fiji and Samoa are not included because Sanzaar choose not to share the broadcast spoils with the Island nations; much to the chagrin of News Corp, who have repeatedly asked Sanzaar to include PI teams, as have the fans. Shame on you Sanzaar.
Bob
Guest
Oh dear, that's why the Lions are going to cream the SR franchises. An average game at best and the ending was appalling! Whitelock looks past it and Cruden showed why TJP should be the AB's starter. Saracens Cleremont was on a whole different level last weekend.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
A very well written piece about a fantastic game of rugby. Great wordsmithery there Matt. I watched the whole game, and thought that the Chiefs had the Saders measure throughout. Until the end. It had everything - two fantastic teams playing flat out attack, good refereeing, a wild passionate crowd, and a pakeha in a skirt. It looked like a party. This piece compliments the fun.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Fijians like Aussies? It's not a universal sentiment.
Robert
Guest
Thanks that explains everything
Machooka
Roar Guru
Pffttt... ;)
moaman
Guest
Neutral; It's only low compared to one or two exceptions.Carter kicked a heckofalot of conversions....a disproportionately lower number of penalty-goals and a hatful of 'droppies' ( even though he was the first modern kiwi 1st 5 to embrace the field-goal). The 'Big 3' of Carter, Mehrtens and Fox are head, shoulders and torso ahead of the chasing pack when it comes to points per match. DC 14.27 GF 14.02 AM 13.81 are miles ahead of Carlos Spencer 8.5 and the likes of Cruden (6.85) and Barrett ( 6.06) as already mentioned by Pinetree. Of the current crop available, I rate Lima Sopoaga as the most reliable kicker and the one most capable of achieving a mid-80s %. I have opined elsewhere that I reckon Farrell is the best going at international level at present....and Morne Steyn the best I have seen .Carter the best of the AB kickers; he nailed sooo many sideline goals it was amazing! He was more fallible when the ball was closer to the sticks I reckon.....
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Hi Pinetree Some amazing stats here. Give great insights (but of course we not only look at stats but they do give away some good leads). And yes, BBBBB stats is not really comparable. Too many games of the bench and too many games as fullback (with no kicking duties). What really blows me away when reading these stats is just how devastating Dan Carter was (and maybe still is). Carter did all those things a flair Kiwi flyhallf should do (and defended like a tiger), but he was also a better goal kicker than most (all?) kickers up north and int he republic also.
Andy
Guest
Can someone from the ARU get Peter Samu back in Oz rugby? We badly need a consistent 6 with a running game. He fits the bill
Pinetree
Guest
Hi Neutral - Yes that is including tries with Cruden (5 tries). Even though Spencer had a greater average, he scored 14 tries in 35 caps which helped the average a lot. Spencer was a similar kicker to Cruden, wobbly at times but reasonably reliable. Barrett has an average of 6.06 with 18 tries in 49 matches (a good number of those would of been from the bench). Cruden is about on average for most 10's in NZ, just shows how many points the boot can give you and why a really good kicker can make a difference. NH certainly has plenty of talent for place kickers and kick better than NZ currently by a fair way. SA has an endless supply of awesome place kickers as well.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Me personally loves Samoa and Tonga also. The difference is that Fiji have a one million plus population and way better infrastructure than Samoa and Tonga. For me that really makes a difference at the moment. Bringing onboard Fiji would probably be take some investing from Sanzaar, but not even close what would be needed in Samoa and especially Tonga (they are not even allowed to play the Test against Wales at home later this tear due to por infrastructure). My hope and dream for the future is that if Fiji could be included first in SR (and maybe TRC later) and if it works out just fine, then it would be more logical and easy to see if Samoa and Tonga can be taken onboard also. I have spoken with enough people from Samoa, Fiji and Tonga to understand that they don't really want a combined PI side, they are much to proud about their own small nations.
Zero Gain
Guest
The game was pretty good but I have seen many higher quality rugby matches. Keep some perspective.
Robert
Guest
Serious question, what's the obsession with fiji, specifically from the aru, just asking because no one ever suggests a team from Samoa or Tonga
mace22
Guest
I watched a couple of european finals after this game. All though being good games I was thinking don't they teach these players to pass in front of the man, nearly every pass was at the man which slowed the forward momentum. Southern hemisphere backs pass in front of the player who is usually running at 3/4 pace. Which New Zealand backs in particular have mastered.
mace22
Guest
I've heard this goal kicking is a problem theory since carter retired or maybe before, that is until the RWC where carter was sensational. It's only come to haunt them once in 11 tests since the RWC , which is a pretty good strike rate. So goal kicking isn't a concern if you score plenty of tries. Anyway barrett was on fire in the EOYT.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Kirky SA Lions played all NZ teams last year. All of them. And they beat several of them.
Matt Porter
Guest
Hi all Thanks for all the positive comments and constructive critiques. Am in transit today so will have to make do with this general response. Cheers
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Dan Fan! It could very well happen mate as, if the Lions get up and win the thing it'll be an absolute repeat of last years farcical situation of the said Lions not playing a New Zealand team on the way through! I'm not scared to go 'there' in this case because the Lions have been favoured once again and it is whatever way you look at it, a jack up no less, ~ I suggest someone suggest otherwise! I don't think it will happen though as wherever they may play in South Africa or New Zealand, if it so happens, the Lions wouldn't on the current form of both Teams, beat the Crusaders, ~ they're on a mission mate! The Lions have played few teams of playoff quality to be where they are so, Crusaders for me!!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
O/B ~ Tenakoe Ehoa ! hell mate I haven't heard that phrase you mention her in the Native lingo since I was at School in Ohakune when the Teacher rocked up to me and said my Arithmetic was rubbish and quoted that wicked old phrase, and I was then promptly marched up the front and got 'two each side' for getting all my Sums wrong 'again'. Actually I was apprehensive when I noticed Fraser was going to be the Ref', but I thought he wasn't too bad, but in saying that it really doesn't matter who the Ref' is these days because as you know the Mickey and Donald way in which they're required to keep to the 'new guidelines' in the dubious arts of the modern 'Refereeing as dictated by Paddy' and none of them interpret any one rule/law the same way, means you never ever know what you're going to get!