What needs to happen.

[Jeansyjive]

The Cheifs are a worry. I think there back to full strength and coming of a win against the Hurricanes, also there home game.

[jargan83]

This explosive start caused the Force to change our game plan and revert to a kick for field position which failed in its execution.

Change of tactic? The Blues scored their first try off of a poor kick!

The kicking game failed big time against the Blues = the bloke who was doing the kicking was having a poor game.

A high majority of their passes stuck and they ran angles that caused us to miss or fall off tackles.

Did the Blues invent some brand new angles that have never been used by anyone in Rugby before?

Did the Force play poorly

Yes. Yes they did.

How about we get the Force to play that way against all sides next season and see how well we go.

[GIGS20]

The Cheifs are a worry.

not if we beat the Brums

[jargan83]

not if we beat the Brums

If the Chiefs win with a bonus point and we don't we are gone.

[UnionThug]

If the Chiefs win with a bonus point and we don't we are gone.

Are you meaning if we win but dont get a BP? Because in that situation we'd finish 5th or 6th (depending on the CRUvHIG result) with the Canes and Ponies dropping out.

Essentially comes down to:

• Highlanders - We win (or get 2 BP) and they lose to the Crusaders then we go above them;
• Hurricanes - 1 BP we go above them (more wins);
• Brumbies - Need to beat them to go above them;
• Chiefs - At least get get same amount of points & BP to stay above them (more wins).

To make the finals we need to be ahead of 2 of those 4 and an win even without BPs achieves that.

[The InnFORCEr]

Regardless of all of the above, it will depend on who we get as the ref

[jargan83]

Are you meaning if we win but dont get a BP? Because in that situation we'd finish 5th or 6th (depending on the CRUvHIG result) with the Canes and Ponies dropping out.

Yeah that's right. Forgot about the Highlanders game.

As far as I have worked out (posted yesterday in another thread) we can actually still qualify for home final in week 1 of the finals should results assist us.

[UnionThug]

As far as I have worked out (posted yesterday in another thread) we can actually still qualify for home final in week 1 of the finals should results assist us.

Yep we sure can... As long as the Highlanders lose and either we get a BP win or we win and the Chiefs don't get a BP win.

I think best case scenario is Highlanders and Chiefs lose and we win, resulting in the Highlanders making the trip to Force Field

[zimeric]

I dont think the Chiefs played all that well, they made a huge number of blunders and lacked cohesiveness. Against the blues they will struggle with similar game plans, too loose and the blues will find holes everywhere. The Blues scrum is one of the best in the comp (i still rate ours above them though) and this will help them get a good platform in attack.

maybe im just wearing blue shaded glasses...

[Nic]

The Chiefs play the Blues in Auckland, where they haven't lost this season (Positive for us).
Hopefully we can beat the Brumbies on Friday and it won't matter who else wins!

[AndyS]

From a purely rugby standpoint, the Blues should have this on form and with home ground advantage. Doesn't mean I'm holding any breath at all though...

[Tonkar]

Warratahds get caught in Salary cap issuse and ARU Suspend the warratahds
Sorry just had to throw that one in for a laff That's right ARU couldnt suspend themselve forgot about that...

[jargan83]

Warratahds get caught in Salary cap issuse and ARU Suspend the warratahds
Sorry just had to throw that one in for a laff That's right ARU couldnt suspend themselve forgot about that...

Salary cap is an ARU rule now a SANZAR rule so I doubt SANZAR would suspend them if they went over and let's face it all the ARU would do is slap them with wet lettuce leaf

[valzc]

The Brumbies look like they're getting a few players back in time for the match - Toomua, Tomane, McCabe, Rathbone, Carter. Dammit! Hope the boys are really working on making those passes stick!

[UNCLE BOOG]

The reality, is that there is only one thing we can control (the royal we) and that is the game against the Brumbies, if we win, we have a shot at the finals. I assume that's all the boys are worried about, and it's all I'm going to worry about!!