The Chiefs have beaten the brave Brumbies 24–19 in Hamilton in a bizarre game that had periods of huge frustration as the error count rose and rose but then periods of incredible excitement as both sides battled hard for the win.
Ahead of the game there was a lot of talk about the momentum that the Brumbies were bringing into this game and how their great win over the Canes last week should be seen as a clear indication that they were a team that couldn’t be underestimated.
For about 60 minutes or so though the Brumbies were their own worst enemy. About 19 errors in the first half alone was understandably a big issue and the visitors found it hard to turn any sort of possession into genuine pressure.
At the same time the Chiefs were looking slick – they were able to handle what the Brumbies did throw at them with relative ease and then Damian McKenzie was in some great form and seemed eager to have a great night.
His pace has always been hard to deal with but this season he’s added some new qualities and better decision making as he’s taken on the full time No.10 role.
His try was a great example of his value to the team. The Chiefs had already scored once and had started a nice attack from deep inside their own half.
A nice offload from Sam Cane gave McKenzie some space and he screamed through a gap and into the Brumbies back field.
He was tackled but not only did the move keep on going, he then got himself up and chased down the play 20m ahead of him and got into position to take the key pass and score the try.
It was rugby at its simplest in many ways – always support the play – but it demonstrated how crucial McKenzie is as he creates and finishes for the Chiefs.
At half time the Chiefs were out to a 17-0 lead and the Brumbies really hadn’t fired a shot in anger.
Even though the Brumbies were able to score relatively early in the second half, they still looked a bit wayward and when the Chiefs turned a great attacking opportunity into an intercept, 80m run and eventual try, the game and the season looked all over for the Canberra side.
The key turning point was a rush of blood to the head for Jesse Parete in the 65th minute – he put in a late and high hit on Lucas as the No.9 passed away from a lineout and the ref’s decision to give the young Chief a yellow card was an easy one. It was totally unnecessary and almost cost his team the match.
The Brumbies came to life and scored two tries in this 10 minute period and got themselves right back into the game.
They needed just five points in the final minutes and a game that had been bumbling along to a predictable easy win for the Chiefs was suddenly all up for grabs.
Unfortunately the Brumbies just couldn’t close the game out and while they will feel aggrieved with a referee decision that gave possession to the Chiefs and the chance to end the game, the reality is that they left too much to do til too late.
Brumbies fans will be both pleased and so frustrated. In the past few weeks the Brumbies have shown real grit and talent and have demonstrated the type of rugby that had many experts predicting they would win the Aussie conference. Why have they left it so late many will be screaming!
The Chiefs got the win and that’s important but they would have wanted that to be an easier win for sure.
The good news is that key players are looking good – McKenzie, Charlie Ngatai, Cane and Brad Weber had good games and there is still the hugely important Brodie Retallick to come back.
The Chiefs play the Canes next week in what should be a great clash while the Brumbies could still have a say in the finals if they can upset the Tahs next week.
Final score
Chiefs 24
Brumbies 19
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Yea, Geoff covers that in his wrap which I liked, the inconsistency of the criticising for inconsistency. Both of the knocks were missed and should have been picked up. Along with a few more from the game. I get frustrated when single misses are singled out and focused on. Even just one miss effectively changes the course of all future events that occur after it, so a miss in the 2nd minute is as important as a miss in the 80th. It’s an easy trap to fall into to say if that last call had been made it could have been a different result, but equally if any of the calls were made that should have been it could have been a different result.
Old Bugger
Guest
Paulo Your last example was the lineout before they scored a try. Arnold drops the ball cold during a pick-n-go right in front of the ref who signals for play to continue. Everyone says the ref missed the knock-on in the 80th minute (which he did....) but conveniently forget, Arnold's drop. One miss led to a try while the other, led to the final whistle. As I said before, consistency is what we on the sidelines are missing and I'm not talking about, the players.
Ridzenieks
Guest
Got tackled - gently - by JPR in a charity match well back in the 20th century. It was a time when Wales was aburst with great rugby players.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I think he knocks it back so it is ok. If it went forward then yea, yellow card. Would have to rewatch to confirm. Brumbies did get away with a few really obvious knock ons though. There was one on the lead up to the knock on they did over the try line when they bombed one try. And another, I think around the 53rd min? From an attacking line out, really obvious one that one.
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
Bintang today bro...loving life
Jacko
Guest
Tom Banks didnt even get penalised for knocking down Webbers pass back to Dmac after the intercept
Jacko
Guest
Nah he is a Lager man surely...not bitter
Jacko
Guest
No where near as clear as Banks stopping the Dmac intercept try with a deliberate knock-down from the Webber pass...that was very clear and yet no one saw it...including the ref and TMO.....And no I am not whinging, I am just trying to point out other incidents which refs can miss in the heat of the moment....I thought the Ref was very good in the way he let some scrums collapse without pulling up play and also how he warned players not to do something, then when they stopped doing it he didnt penalise....I get sick of Refs telling a player to let the ball go when over the ruck and they do it but then the Ref penalises them anyway...He missed a few things but he also contributed to a very fast open game which was great
Jacko
Guest
Paulo can you tell me what the laws are re the knock-down by the chaser from the Dmac intercept? When Webber try's to pass it back to Dmac the chaser deliberately knocked it down and it was in a try scoring opportunity with the line wide open.....In a normal situation that is minimum yellow but just like the other incident it was not looked at.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Be keen to know when it happened too. The only really solid hit I saw was Messam which was a hard hit but ok. Sat him down for a bit. Watched the game twice to go through and get the timings for some the illegal stuff the Brumbies did as I figured there would be a lot of ref whinging after this one too. Happy accept that Cane got him, keen to see it, so time would be appreciated if anyone else actually saw it?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I think for some refs once they give a warning and then the attacking team score a try, it ‘resets’ the warning. Justin Marshall was commenting on that last night that if it’s a warning and they infringe again, regardless of the other team scoring, it should still be a binning. I can see why the refs would reset it, but can also see why they shouldn’t. Maybe some standardisation needs to come into it, like 3 penalties within the 22 is team warning, next one in the 22 is carded. Resets the count, but you get the warning off one penalty, then a card. Might help open the game up and stop all teams deliberately slowing the ball down and other technical stuff, which all teams do.
Jacko
Guest
Baggies thanks for pointing out which minute for me.....cheers...much appreciated
PeterK
Roar Guru
Jerry - Oh I agree, and as discussed before the foul play law is far too wide and provides the tmo to go back until a set piece has occurred. The use of the TMO and when he can interject should be tightened up. How do you prescribe allowed interjection for when the ref makes howlers? Mind you in the case at point there was already a break in play with the scrum so if they rewrote the protocols the tmo could tell the ref he probably has it wrong and should look at a replay.
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
Clearly not eh
Jerry
Guest
Yeah, I know that provision Peter - but it does seem to use that to include other offences that are outside of Law 9 is skirting the law. Seems to me that provision is basically a catch all to cover intentional offences that aren't covered elsewhere - eg something like the Harlequins blood capsule scandal for instance. Using it to include an offence that is specifically not contained in Law 9 seems to be against the spirit of the TMO protocol that provided express limits on what could or couldn't be ruled on. That said, it does happen fairly often so it wouldn't be inconsistent. I'm just not sure it should be used that way and considering the debate on how intrusive the TMO can be, the fact that it's basically being used to cover things that probably weren't envisaged as being covered seems interesting.
Yenda Ad Enthusiast
Guest
Got Nothing against Hawera, but Aus rugby needs Aussie rugby players if we want to be stronger.Give younger guys a go, he's never going to be a wallaby and so investing more into him ,when all he was only really there due to CL's illness and shore up the 10 depth, is futile and time wasting. Lack of 10's is our crux right now, and it starts at NRC and Super Rugby Level. On that what ever happened to Sam Greene? And replacements for Hawera are Hansen and Jackson-Hope are they not? How have they gone playing 10? Maybe bring Mack Mason across given he might be unhappy at the tahs? Just thinking over here.
PeterK
Roar Guru
agree the ref missed a lot on both sides, and imo that wasn't the worst part of his reffing. A lot like Briant last week the ref gives a warning for constant infringing yet when they infringe again (3 times in the 22 and another mid field not rolling away) still doesn't follow through and yc.
Cynical Play
Guest
Not my team MAPU you goon. Quite simply a knock on by Chiefs and Brumbies should have got the scrum 20-15m out for a great attacking opportunity. They had all the momentum, so would have been a good change to score the winning try. But no....Ref made an error and would not listen to the players who saw what actially happened. MAPU you strike me as bitter type.
Old Bugger
Guest
The ref, his ARs and the TMO did tho'......but, what else is new??? It seems some refs get over-zealous with their decision making while some even forget, they have a whistle at all......last night was no different.
Bakkies
Guest
Yes they can Jack McGrath got a yellow for doing that in the 2nd test.