Inconsistent Chiefs left red-faced

TAINE RANDELL COLUMN

BEFORE the Chiefs' unbeaten Super 14 came crashing down around them in Hamilton on Friday night, I was looking a little silly.

After all, I boldly predicted just a few weeks ago that the Chiefs wouldn't go that well this season.

Then they head off to South Africa and sack the Sharks in Durban and the Lions in Johannesburg before heading home via Perth to beat the Force, collecting 14 out of a possible 15 road trip points.

Talk about getting off to a flyer and leaving me with a fair amount of scrambled egg on my face!

So the question after the Chiefs' loss to the Reds is whether that defeat is more reflective of where last season's beaten finalists are in 2010 – or whether it was an unfortunate but temporary slip-up?

There is some evidence to support the latter in Leila Masaga's post-match admission they might have taken the Reds too lightly and could have been complacent after such a great start.

However, such a claim in itself raises some concerns.

Anybody who didn't realise how combative and competitive the Reds would be this season hasn't been doing their homework. After all, they did beat the Crusaders by 21 points in week two.

The Reds turned up to play and the Chiefs let themselves down at crucial times to allow the visitors back into the game – and then the opportunity to steal it.

Personally, I don't think we can read any more into the result than the fact it underlined how good the competition is this year. There has been some fantastic rugby already and I am pleasantly surprised at how many of the games have also been extremely competitive rather than the foregone conclusions of previous years.

Up 15-0 after 20 minutes, I can understand why Masaga and his team-mates must have subconsciously thought this was going to be an easy game.

There wasn't any one defining area that ultimately cost them the game but it was clear the Chiefs did loosen up and veer slightly away from how diligent they had been.

That allowed the Reds to narrow the scoreline, even when they had a player in sin bin. It's often difficult to explain why things like that happen – but they do.

By the second half the Reds had the momentum and if we are to take anything out of this game it's how good Queensland is going to be this year.

They're still inconsistent in terms of cobbling together a string of really good wins but have the ability to beat any team on any given day.

And judging on Daniel Braid's form, it may be that after the Super 14 he's seen as our second best openside flanker.

It's well documented that we still haven't found the ideal back-up No. 7 to Richie McCaw. But if Braid was to come back to New Zealand, he would have to be in contention.

Even if he wants to keep on playing for the Reds, I wonder if that sort of form might force the NZRU to rethink their decision not to select New Zealand players plying their trade for Super 14 teams offshore.I hope they consider a change of heart because if Braid is our best option then the strict rules should be relaxed.

As long as someone's playing Super 14 rugby I don't see a problem in picking people for the All Blacks who are in South African or Australian sides.

Crusaders too goodLast night's encounter was a typical clash of New Zealand's rugby titans we've come to expect over the last decade.

The Crusaders worked with great efficiency and the Blues were left chasing and ultimately were further stretched and punished.

The much-billed battle between first-fives Dan Carter and Stephen Brett turned out to be a bit of a damp squib.

Brett did some good things but was by no means faultless. Carter, on the other hand, simply didn't have much to do.

The Blues will no doubt win games this season but they need to find cohesion to match the well-oiled machine that is the Crusaders.

- © Fairfax NZ News