Getting balance right key for Chiefs
Not getting the ball into the claws of Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie can be as counterproductive as leaving a Lamborghini under balloons and bunting in a showroom.
Speed machines are built to fly into space, but if the Chiefs grow frustrated with referee Ben O’Keeffe and kick often against the Blues in Hamilton tonight the chances of McKenzie launching attacks from his side of halfway may be remote.
Chiefs coach Warren Gatland will hope that isn’t the case. But now that officials have declared open season on men in the breakdowns, and defensive lines, there are no guarantees in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Despite his side conceding 12 penalties in the 28-27 loss to the Highlanders last weekend, Gatland wasn’t prepared to make statements that could potentially bruise the egos of the men with the whistles; instead he continues to be positive about NZ Rugby’s desire to ensure officials maintain their tough attitudes – but with a warning.
‘‘My biggest concern is getting the balance right,’’ Gatland said.
‘‘The balance where we can still play, and we don’t end up with 60 to 70 kicks in a match. That’s a possibility, when it does go too far.’’
A total of 28 penalties were awarded when the Chiefs lost in Dunedin, slowing down the game when it was meant to speed up under the new interpretations.
It goes without saying that the Chiefs will want quicker ball against the Blues.
Like all New Zealand teams they want to play at a rapid pace, and with Aaron Cruden back at first five-eighth they have an old head who knows when to pull the trigger if he sights a sagging defensive line in his vision.
What the Chiefs – and their Blues counterparts, too – will be concerned about is whether O’Keeffe will give the second defender to the ruck near-total rights to the ball. If that becomes a constant theme, and ball carriers and support runners are unable to adjust their game, the ugly images of the ball being kicked away could become a feature.
Gatland noted the Blues were quick learners; after watching the penalties flow in Dunedin, they ensured the ball was kept out of their own half when they beat the Hurricanes 30-20 the following day.
‘‘There’s no doubt there was an adjustment on the Sunday for the way the two teams played,’’ Gatland noted.
‘‘We only kicked the ball 16 times, the Highlanders kicked it 20 which is pretty low for them as well. The Blues kicked it 26 times, so there was an adjustment to the way they played.
Apart from the introduction of Cruden at No 10, Gatland has remained loyal to the backline that started against the Highlanders.
McKenzie, who made nine runs for 50m at Forsyth Barr Stadium, could be the ace card for the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato if quick ball is recycled and he can embark on one of his trademark zig-zag runs.
Defensive lines were clobbered in the opening round, and McKenzie acknowledged it would be frustrating to concede penalties if the assistant refs have reason to report them for creeping too far.
‘‘We just have to be disciplined to take another half-step or a step because obviously giving away penalties is putting us in the wrong end of the field or we concede three points,’’ McKenzie said.