@Stargazer really? I can't see it as an issue at all. You've got to beat the team put in front of you still - plus, was it a requirement for the Lions to name their team first anyway?

@Nogusta Well that's fucked for the young bloke. He was starting to really show some form too at fullback.

@cgrant good point, almost like a Cane lite.

I was impressed by Luke Jacobson. His tackling was ferocious, hit the rucks with efficiency and ran hard. He is one to watch this year IMO. Incredible game from Alex Nankivell too. I hope he will keep playing like that. A combo with ALB could be interesting in the next weeks to come.

Weber looks well off the pace to me. Hesitant at the breakdown and his passing is erratic at best.

Switching DMac back to his best position is the best news out of Hamilton so far this season, let's hope they try it.

@shark said in Crusaders v Chiefs: I need to qualify what I meant... It's the internet. There really is no need.

@Duluth Missed that.

@Nepia Coaches, as well - Leon, KK, Andrew Goodman, Hammer....Toddy is away seeking global domination!

@Duluth lucky nobody on here got on their high horse insisting that they knew the laws and it was a straight red. #nobody knows the fucken law interpretations with any certainty

@Stargazer Thanks. My office IP address is blocked today for some reason.

The French should feel mortified they lost to a team that had that as a first five-eighth. Exactly the sort of game that gives me All Black RWC nightmares.

@stargazer said in Chiefs v Hurricanes: @crucial Yep. Blackadder signed him; he hardly got game time for the Crusaders because others were considered better; and Robbertson led him go. The few times he did play for us I actually thought he went okay. Provided some impact off the bench.

@taniwharugby said in Chiefs vs Brumbies: Rasta has an interesting interpretation on the game... Very diplomatic of you.

@bones said in Highlanders vs Chiefs: Not a lot being said about DMac. Thought he was the pick of the 10s this weekend. Led his team brilliantly. Not surprising. DMac is usually only mentioned in a positive light, just so the writer can then point out the other reasons why they don't like him and don't want him near the AB's.

@gt12 I concur. I've always said DMac is way better at FB than as a 10. I can see why Shag may want him at half back also. But there is a world of difference between BB, Mo'unga and daylight - then DMac. If we could get (and keep) Black fit and somehow get JGB's and Perofeta's confidence levels up we would be humming.

P.S. Expect Chefs forwards will be gunning for Canes pack in last pool game.

Chiefs put up a decent account for themselves all things considered.

@pakman said in Stormers vs Chiefs: @crucial said in Stormers vs Chiefs: @rebound said in Stormers vs Chiefs: @shadowtrooper TMO didn't want to embarras the referee there. Referee rules no try knock on. TMO answers no clear evidence of knock on, stay with on filed decision (which he then makes up) forward pass. Could he just not have said, no knock on but a forward pass. But clearly there neither was clear evidence of that as well. Just a f up and worrying trend. I was pissed off at that one. Basically the ref said 'on field decision try' then changed to 'on field is no try' because the AR was insistent that there was an obvious knock on by Ngatai. As the pictures showed it wasn't clear and obvious at all. There was no proof of any knock on or forward pass and the grounding was clean, yet no try awarded. Ref appeared to me to go with 'on field decision no try' purely out of solidarity with AR. Based on TMO AR was wrong, so no reason why try couldn't be awarded, which ought to have been the question. Problem is that the TMO can only change on field decision if he has proof of difference. If the on-field was 'try unless you can prove a knock on' then the try would have been awarded as the TMO had no proof of a k.o. Instead it was 'No Try unless you can prove there wasn't a k.o.'. TMO can't prove there was no k.o. therefore no try. I kind of get why Fraser sided with his AR yet is seems inconsistent with how they deal with 'foot in touch'. Usually if the AR says there was a f.i.t they check the replay for that unless the AR says it was clear and obvious. There is no way that potential touch by Ngatai was C and O. And yet the Stormers are the ones crying about the ref and laying a complaint to SANZAAR. Go figure.