Retallick praises Chiefs’ little men
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS
Coach: Jacques Kallis Captain: Gautam Gambhir NZers: Colin Munro Imports: John Hastings (Aus), Brad Hogg (Aus), Jason Holder (WI), Chris Lynn (Aus), Morne Morkel (SA), Sunil Narine (WI), Andre Russell (WI), Shakib al Hasan (Bang). Key Indians: Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Umesh Yadav. TAB odds: $7.50 Prospects: A decent, well-balanced side who will be hard to beat. A lot of varied bowling options, with Sunil Narine back after having his dodgy action cleared, and the hitting power of Chris Lynn, Andre Russell and Black Cap Colin Munro.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD
Coach: Tom Moody Captain: Shikhar Dhawan NZers: Trent Boult, Kane Williamson Imports: Ben Cutting (Aus), Moises Henriques (Aus), Eoin Morgan (Eng), Mustafizur Rahman (Bang), David Warner (Aus). Key Indians: Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh. TAB odds: $9 Prospects: Trent Boult will be well used and will hope for more swing than we saw in the World T20, while Kane Williamson might struggle for game time as he did near the end of last season. A handy team but unlikely to go too deep into the playoffs. Two All Blacks lingered under Waikato Stadium with contrasting body language on Friday night.
There was big Brodie Retallick, back from a month on the sideline with broken ribs, feeling pretty chuffed after getting through 80 minutes and scoring the definitive try that sealed a bonus point 29-23 win and the Chiefs’ sixth victory from seven attempts this year.
Just down the tunnel Jerome Kaino emerged from the Blues changing room wearing a bucket hat and contemplating a bus trip back to Auckland, where his team would reflect on a chance gone begging.
Retallick takes a seat and begins comparing this year’s Chiefs team to the 2012/2013 championship winning sides he burst onto the scene in.
This year’s outfit is much smaller and doesn’t boast nearly the same level of experience. But there is one similarity – all three teams love to use the ball.
This year the Chiefs’ counter attack, offloading and footwork has set them apart. Their catch-pass and support play skills across the board have been superb.
From the towering Retallick and Dominic Bird, possibly the tallest locking combination in world rugby, to diminutive utility Damian McKenzie and nippy halfback Brad Weber, everyone is expected to embrace the run-andgun approach.
The win over the Blues was more gritty than sparkly compared to previous weeks. For the most part, the Blues refused to kick the ball and give the Chiefs back-three chances to launch.
But it was still that confidence to back themselves from anywhere that got the Chiefs over the line.
‘‘Over the last couple of weeks, the tries some of the backs have scored reminds of you of those couple of [championship] years – they’re pretty exciting,’’ Retallick said.
‘‘They have a crack from anywhere. Sometimes you wonder how they pull it off but it’s good to see when you put your head up from a scrum or lineout and they’re playing the way they are.
‘‘Sometimes it’s quite tough because you’re not too sure where they’re going to go. When you’re trying to defend them at training they’re going one way and then the other the next. It keeps you on your toes.
‘‘Some of those little guys out the back people took for granted at the start of the season and didn’t know how well they would play. There’s a massive range of sizes and that’s contributing to a good team here.’’
The bye comes at a good time for Retallick and Super Rugby’s favourites. Bird, second-five Charlie Ngatai and flanker Sam Henwood, who picked up a serious knee injury, among others will all welcome the chance to rest.
For Kaino and the Blues there were bright spots. A little more composure and finishing ability and they could have pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season, after stealing a 10-point lead in early in the second half. Rieko Ioane’s form on the right wing is captivating, not least because he’s just turned 19. In some ways it’s a shame the Blues will lose him to the sevens team in just over three weeks.
‘‘He’s an exceptional talent and we’ve seen that in the last few weeks,’’ Blues coach Tana Umaga said. ‘‘You don’t have to say much you’ve just got to watch. It’s disappointing we’re going to lose him to sevens soon but that gives another guy an opportunity.’’
For all the positives, Kaino knows the reality of the situation.
‘‘We’re heading in the right direction but time is against us,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve got to start winning. Before we know it it’s going to be deep into the second half of the competition and it’ll be too late. We’ve got to make start making things happen now.’’