|
Quarter-Finals here we come. |
|
Written by The Optimistic Fan in the Stand
|
|
Thursday, 25 September 2008 |
The Fan has been busy with the abacus this week and after many hours of intense effort I have concluded that the mighty Bay Steamers will definitely be playing in the quarter-finals - unless Tasman can take the Ranfurly Shield from Wellington.
Starting the season with five wins from five has increased expectations but let’s recognise that making the quarters looked a difficult assignment after last year’s 13th place finish. Now we play Southland for a home quarter-final. This is such a critical game for the Bay to give us the best chance to reach the semi-finals and a likely away day to Christchurch or Wellington. Lose and we may face a trip to Invercargill – what better incentive is there to win?
Southland has plotted a similar course to the Bay this season. They are an efficient unit and have seen off the lesser lights of the competition with ease. Like us, they have lost to Auckland and Wellington and have scraped to an away win over Tasman in a low-scoring game. The stage is set for a very tight and tense game so we need Delany to pack his kicking boots.
It wasn’t a barrel of laughs watching the boys play Canterbury last week. Despite a brief period of hope at the beginning, we were soon leaking tries at a rapid rate. The Fan became briefly irate when Canterbury’s first try followed a clear knock-on and the try awarded by the TMO was bizarre to say the least. However it was only Brett’s poor kicking that kept us in the game as our turnovers led to their tries with regularity.
It was the same story as the Wellington game and it appears that these top teams target rucks after a few phases to force turnovers when our attack is bunched. We have lost some of our attacking structure in recent games as good defences don’t allow us the easy metres that Counties and Harbour did.
It was with great joy that I saw the news of Ian Foster’s reappointment as Chiefs coach through to 2010. I rather like the fact that the Chiefs start every season playing like clueless chooks, rise to a peak of brilliance to beat a top New Zealand franchise and then throw it all away when a place in the semi-finals is there for the taking. I appreciate two more seasons of this comforting routine in an uncertain world. I’d like to say in my best Stephen Fleming voice “Thank YOU Mr Foster”.
Another Thursday night game for us this week. Whose stupid idea was it to schedule rugby at 7pm on a working night? Don’t answer that, we all know it is the same stupid people who created a 14 team division and are now deciding which two teams to cull. Get down to Baypark and show that we will support our boys – even if they schedule games for Tuesdays at 3am.
|
News and Opinion 
