Blues Vs Cheetahs: Match Review Super 14

The fifth week of the 2009 Super 14 kicked off tonight between the Blues and Cheetahs.  A milestone in super rugby, it was the 1,000th match in the tournaments history.

Despite losing to the two premier South African teams, one still feels that the Blues will could figure in the top four, having become this year only the second team after Canterbury to notch 100 super rugby wins.

However, history does not win championships.

Against the Sharks last week, one had to admire how the Blues kept their heads up throughout the match, and was not far off a team that has deserved early season favouritism. 

It appears that the Blues have all the key hallmarks of a championship team: exotic attack, punishing defence, and quality players. 

But it is the lack of precision that is hurting them against blue chip teams like the Bulls and Sharks.

As for the Cheetahs, one cannot help but feel sorry for a team that is going to have half of this competition finish before having a home match.

As a province Free State (the main feeder to the Cheetahs franchise) consistently threatens the Currie Cup.  But when it comes to the Super 14, they are close to woeful.

They opened their campaign in promising enough fashion, losing to both the Lions and Force away by only six points, and were in a position to win both matches.

But again the Reds, it all went wrong.  The Queenslanders have said and displayed a mindset to attack at all costs and almost not commit to the “dirty work” in the forward exchanges.

In a 3-22 loss that could have been double that, not once did the powerful pack of the Cheetahs even attempt to draw the twinkle toed Reds into a battle of attrition.

They did look more impressive against the Hurricanes, relying on their formidable set piece, and taking 11 of the Hurricanes lineout throws.  But for all this pressure, their lack of attacking and individual class led to another thumping, losing 12-29.

For the match proper, it wasn’t the ideal start with Tony Woodcock ruled out of the team before kickoff.  This would have given the cellar-dwelling Cheetahs a bit of hope, for while they have been outclassed in general, their pack had been a slight bright point.

However, a powerful start by the Blues, combined with poor play and discipline from the Cheetahs (conceding a yellow in the seventh minute) saw the score 17-0 after just fifteen minutes.

This saw the game over as a contest.

The Cheetahs, upon reviewing the statistics, would be bitterly disappointed.  In ball carries, line outs, rucks, turnovers and penalties; they actually were dominant over the Blues, albeit by the narrowest of margins.

But the effective killer of their game was close to 40 missed tackles.

They are also missing the rub of the green, having over ten “video” calls denied when they have crossed the oppositions try line so far the season.

For the Blues, while they dominated the most important statistic of them all, the score, there are still points which may cost them at the business end of the season.

As stated above, they did not control the game via the basic rugby benchmarks against a team that is arguably the worst in the competition.

Equally, they put scoring blitzkriegs at key periods during the game. 

Seventeen points in 12 minutes early in the first half, 12 points in 3 minutes to open the second half, and 14 points in six minutes close to the end of the match – excellent under normal circumstances. 

But that equates to just 3 minutes in 59 minutes for long periods during each half; unacceptable against a team of the quality of the Cheetahs. 

Against teams that are equal to the Auckland-based side in terms of personal and precision, this may cost them, with the Blues still to play danger teams such as the Chiefs, Waratahs, Hurricanes and Brumbies.

Still, they were without Tony Woodcock, Anthony Boric and Rudi Wulf.  All men test players. 

Indeed, that may be the difference when it counts.  All Blacks Ali Williams, Jerome Kaino, Isaia Toeava and Anthony Tuitavake are stepping up when needed.

The Blues have five home games left and a bye still to come.  Currently fourth on the competition table (withstanding the remaining rounds results), when at full strength, and with added precision, they will be a legitimate top four side.

March 13, 2009, Round five

Blues V Cheetahs

Full time: Blues 46 – 12 Cheetahs (Halftime: Blues 20 – 7 Cheetahs)

Key statistics: Cheetahs - 38 missed tackles, 5 stolen line outs, Blues - 18 line breaks, 14 off loads