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Semi finals, finals, international friendlies, England playing in Japan, Wales playing 'home' in Twickenham. A Barbarians match, we've got it all today folks!
Predictions in the thread before. Reactions after appreciated also
Yaaasss, go on Glasgow! Anyone catch that? Bulls looked blunt as playdough
Given you've said reactions appreciated hopefully nobody is going to be sad if they get spoiled by the Super Rugby final thoughts i'm about to share! :)
It wasn't a close match so for neutrals (and Chiefs fans) in some ways it might not have been that good to watch. But as a Rugby fan sometimes you just have to appreciate it when a team is so on song, with the right game plan for the situation executed perfectly. The Blues were simply incredible last night the most dominant performance i've watched in a long time in a match against teams that ought to be fairly evenly matched.
This was a 2015 All Blacks vs France quarter final level demolition of the Chiefs who tried mightily and defended massively but just couldn't find a way to get into, then stay in the game at all. The Blues forward pack, 1-8 and then the reserves were just relentlessly physical and didn't let up for the whole 80 minutes. Tuipulotu was deserving MotM; but Akira Ioane was also massive in his last game for the club. Hoskins Sotutu was a bit quieter, Darry played well, Tu'ungafasi was great until he left early in the 2nd half and Riccitelli for an otherwise unheralded #2 in NZ really put his hand up to be Cody Taylor's understudy with Taukeiaho under an injury cloud.
Some of the stats are actually kinda mind boggling. The Blues dominated possession 67%-33%, which is insane to start with, but they had 39% possession in the Chiefs 22m. Ie, the Blues had more possession attacking the Chiefs line, than the Chiefs had across the whole field. Blues only had to make 82 tackles to the Chiefs 215, and made 513 metres off 153 carries to the Chiefs 256 off 78.
The score would suggest its not worth watching but if you've got the time its a clinic in how to play wet weather rugby .
Watching the replay now. Chiefs forgetting everything about rugby it seems. Blues completely dominant up front, and Plummer with a fantastic boot. Some good prep for when yous come north end of the year¦
As a match its a lesson in the value of possession in the right parts of the field. They just choked the life out of the Chiefs; who were guilty of making errors at the times when they might have got themselves into the game.
England, but close, Japan at home is so rare to see
Blues - home advantage
South Africa - Wales are just terrible at the moment
No idea about English women, won't embarrass myself
Glasgow! Probably not, but my highlight of the day
Fijji - Barbarians haven't had any real prep time
Stade - home advantage is massive in top14