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Disappointed that we managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of a probable victory in the last 10 minutes.
Pleased that we didn't let the score potentially blow out in the first half and we gave the running game a go despite the weather. Still need players to get into better positions for offloads - why are we so crap at it?
How is the Illustrious Leader?
Any idea of the attendance tonight?
If you've been watching any of the NZ games you will see there is an inherent difference in their rugby DNA which just cannot be learnt. Body position, the ability to jink, dive, sidestep, spin, draw and pass.....we just can't do it. Its learnt in the back yard and on playgrounds throwing the ball round with your mates growing up. You attempt the impossible pass the show pass, the side step to embarrass your mate and it works. You do it again and again weekend after weekend down the park and then as you grow up it becomes second nature.
We have guys with text books, diagrams and video tape trying to teach it. That's the difference!
Damn and blast! How many penalties were given away by the Blues when ever we were in there 22?
As for the last 5 mins wasn't that a case for another yellow 30 seconds after the first and maybe another a few seconds later?
Ref seemed consistent with his offside calls but penalties in the 22 should be handled better.
Well I suppose the good news is we only have one more home game this season and that's against the Stormers and I won't be padding out Sportsbet pocket on that one.
May the FORCE be with you!
Yeah we may have significantly won the penalty count and they had 2 yellow cards but that still wasn't enough, it was still worth them killing it everything a try was likely. Should have been a definite penalty try on the rolling mail at the end of the first half, I have never seen anything more blatant!
Anyway that doesn't excuse the lack of creativity in attack
Our lack of ability to get across the line is the killer. May not have the basic skills and you can't fault their heart they put them selves in position and then seem to a completely run out of ideas. Can't say we didn't have the chances and by now we should know that we can't rely on refs to help us over the line.
May the FORCE be with you!
At the end of each half there were runs of 5 or so penalties in a couple of minutes against the Blues. Both resulted in yellow cards, but that just seemed to re-set the penalty count in the ref's mind, as both times the Blues were penalised for identical offenses at least one more time immediately after. The ref didn't want to reduce the Blues to 13.
Reading the blog on the Roar after the game, all the Kiwis are claiming the ref was only reffing one side which accounted for the 15-3 penalty count. Actually, I thought he had an awful game as we had 3-4 try chances chalked off when we tried quick tap penalties and he called us back. And although Brache did run interference for Godwin's try, the Blues were doing that all night with impunity.
I'm not sure if that 15-3 penalty count is even accurate; does it include all the penalties committed which were subsequently wiped out by a later penalty (new advantage)?
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
Correct me if im wrong but did he formally play for Auckland for a few seasons before the going to the Chiefs? Regardless we maybe should be teaching our lads some maths and some urgency when 15 against 14.
Very disappointed we didn't close that out when we had several very good opportunities from 5 -10m out. We could expect a professional team should be able to do that given the chances we had. Yes our defence was solid for much of the game but we should have won that match last night, God knows we needed it - left feeling very, very flat leaving the ground.
DHP should of had a try in the first half, called tackled when he wasn't.
Still don't know what happened with the maul at the end of the second half as there was no replays. Was the ball dropped? Would of loved to see how they stopped the maul. Looked like they would have to have entered illegally to do it then penalty try.
We spent tout about 15 minutes of that half going backwards and sideways with possession.
At the end after the first yellow one of the next phases a blues player jumped straight of his feet to kill the ball. That's another yellow.
The last line out mistake pretty much summed up the whole season.
How unjust does a uncontested scrum because of a yellow card seem.
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Were they the ones singing at the end of the match? Did they try any of their Gallic Charm on you Allison ?