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Written by Jamie Troughton
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Tuesday, 06 April 2010 |
By his own admission, Luke Braid could have played better in just his second starting role for the Chiefs on Saturday night.
There were a couple of breaks, he surmised, where he could have linked more effectively with his support.
He could have adjusted his body position a few inches going into a ruck in the second half and if truth be known, his laces weren’t double-bowed when he ran out.
Apart from those trivial issues, the 21-year-old was all class at openside. The fact that he was making bursts through the Highlanders midfield – mostly by running off Sione Lauaki’s ample shoulders – was a source of some satisfaction.
“It was quite easy. I just held my run and timed it because I knew he’d commit a few guys and then stay on his feet – I didn’t need to change direction or anything,” the Tauranga flanker explained.
“I’m pretty happy with how I played, although there are always a few things to look back at and see how I could have done better.”
Coach Ian Foster didn’t think so, singling Bay of Plenty teammates Braid and replacement No 8 Colin Bourke out for the way they helped close out the 27-21 win in front of an 11,000-strong Baypark crowd.
“Colin really tidied up the scrum area when he came on and Luke Braid really stood up and showed he’s a player of class,” Foster said.
It was all familiar territory for Bourke, Braid, halfback Junior Poluleuligaga and first-five Mike Delany as they took the sting out of a late Highlanders comeback.
“The Bay guys would have been pretty gutted if we’d lost but at the end it was just like a couple of tight games we had for the Steamers – Bourkey was controlling things nicely at the back and we were just doing pick-and-goes just to run the clock down.”
Braid, who replaced provincial teammate Tanerau Latimer for the match, had jus his second start for the franchise after his debut against the Lions, putting him on six matches all up.
He’s convinced the Chiefs have a long way to go to reach their peak.
“The Chiefs historically get up at the end of the competition and we’re still not there yet. We played better tonight and got the win but we can still play so much better given the potential we have.”
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