Blues v Chiefs

Crucial

@Dice Thursdays are accepted Team Naming Days!

By us yes. Warren has different ideas. Thursdays are his Lions planning days and he waits until Fridays to think about the Chiefs

Snowy

@Crucial said in Blues v Chiefs:

he waits until Fridays to think about the Chiefs

Not sure that he thinks about the Chiefs.

Machpants

@Snowy said in Blues v Chiefs:

@Crucial said in Blues v Chiefs:

he waits until Fridays to think about the Chiefs

Not sure that he thinks about the Chiefs.

Sure he does think about the chiefs...

Who's going to be the chief lion, Mario or AWJ

Who's going to be chief backline coordinator...

KiwiMurph

27k tickets sold for this one so far.

nzzp

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

27k tickets sold for this one so far.

Blues must be dominating crowd figures this year - it's been super impressive (and great to be there!)

Dice

Jonathan Ruru and Marcel Renata are playing for University this week, which probably means that Nock and Karl T are back for this game.

nzzp

@Dice wish I could like that twice Two important cogs for us when firing

Crucial

@nzzp said in Blues v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

27k tickets sold for this one so far.

Blues must be dominating crowd figures this year - it's been super impressive (and great to be there!)

You would hope so though. Biggest population centre and all that. Big reason why NZR came in to sort your shit out.

Bovidae

There might be a few Warriors fans who have decided live rugby is better than no live sport to watch.

nzzp

@Crucial said in Blues v Chiefs:

@nzzp said in Blues v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

27k tickets sold for this one so far.

Blues must be dominating crowd figures this year - it's been super impressive (and great to be there!)

You would hope so though. Biggest population centre and all that. Big reason why NZR came in to sort your shit out.

it's about bloody time frankly. If we get the local population interested, we actually generate revenue we can use to either hold on to great players, or distribute to the unions. It's just being so bad for so long turns people off. Kind of like being too good - people lose interest.

That said, Auckland has massive competition for eyeballs - multiple professional sports teams, heaps of other stuff to do, and traffic that doesn't make going out easy most of the time

KiwiMurph

Beaudy to 10.

15 Matt Duffie, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Blake Gibson, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu ©, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman.

Reserves: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18. Sione Mafileo, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Otere Black or Emoni Narawa, 23 Harry Plummer.

https://blues.rugby/key-roles-for-gibson-and-barrett/

Black came off after a bump to his neck last week, and while he passed the HIA, there is stiffness with neck movement. If he does not play, then Harry Plummer will cover first-five.

“We have always said that we have brought Beauden to the Blues to run the cutter but after the season-ending injury to Stephen Perofeta, it forced a rethink. He was our best option for fullback with the luxury have having another outstanding No 10 in Otere Black,” said Blues coach Leon MacDonald.

“With Otere carrying a slight injury, then we’ve moved Beauden to 10 and I am sure he is looking forward to that challenge, while Matt Duffie was good when he came on at fullback.

“We are pleased to have Blake back on the field. He is key part to our loose forward mix both defensively and with ball in hand and I am sure the team want him to enjoy his 50th game with a strong performance.

“Overall we want a much more focussed and energetic effort this week, particularly from the pack so we can supply some front-foot ball to set our backline into action.

“Defence has been a key but we missed 30 tackles last week which is not going to enable us to win many games. With that issue and a platform that was not as stable as it has been, then to be honest we did well to have our noses Infront inside the last 10 minutes.

“There were lots of good things with our lineout, mauls and some good carries. We know the Chiefs are much better than their results and will bring everything to this match as they always do. There’s everything to play for and we are excited to be home at Eden Park in front of a big crowd of fans on Sunday.”

Players not considered with injury: Jared Page (hamstring), Stephen Perofeta (fractured foot), Tom Robinson (knee), James Parsons (concussion), Hoskins Sotutu (knee), Jared Page (hamstring), Dan Carter (calf). Season ending: Ray Niuia, James Tucker, Tanielu Tele’a.

Crucial

Chiefs

Furlong
George
Sinckler
Itoje
.......

Oh, hang on

Duluth

The Carroll as a blindside selection didn't work out last week. Thats a much more mobile trio (plus Lamborn on the bench)

TJ should make a few better decisions in the midfield. Plummer is going to take a while to become a specialist 12

Stargazer

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

https://blues.rugby/key-roles-for-gibson-and-barrett/

“We have always said that we have brought Beauden to the Blues to run the cutter but after the **season-ending injury to Stephen Perofeta**, it forced a rethink. He was our best option for fullback with the luxury have having another outstanding No 10 in Otere Black,” said Blues coach Leon MacDonald.

This is the first time I'm reading in a Blues' media release that Perofeta's injury is season-ending. Bit of mixed messaging, too, as at the bottom, they don't list him among the players with a season-ending injury.

ACT Crusader

@KiwiMurph Rangi got my email 😉

Best Blues starting backline in my view.

KiwiMurph

@ACT-Crusader said in Blues v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph Rangi got my email 😉

Best Blues starting backline in my view.

Nock is better than Christie.

ACT Crusader

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

@ACT-Crusader said in Blues v Chiefs:

@KiwiMurph Rangi got my email 😉

Best Blues starting backline in my view.

Nock is better than Christie.

Crap, I thought with Nock available he would automatically be starting. So from 10-15 it is the right choice.

Another email this week to Rangi

Bovidae

@Stargazer said in Blues v Chiefs:

This is the first time I'm reading in a Blues' media release that Perofeta's injury is season-ending. Bit of mixed messaging, too, as at the bottom, they don't list him among the players with a season-ending injury.

"Season-ending" could just be for SRA, and that season is quickly coming to a conclusion so their definition has changed. It's hard to know as none of the teams are forthcoming with specific details. Are some of these injured players also out for the NPC? Who knows.

Machpants

@KiwiMurph said in Blues v Chiefs:

then Harry Plummer will cover first-five.

Oh dear,

Yeetyaah

Gallagher Chiefs:

Reuben O’Neill (8)
Bradley Slater (12)
Nepo Laulala (38)
Tupou Vaa’i (4)
Mitchell Brown (42)
Lachlan Boshier (54)
Pita Gus Sowakula (25)
Brad Weber (82)
Kaleb Trask (6)
Solomon Alaimalo (46)
Alex Nankivell (29)
Anton Lienert-Brown (78)
Sean Wainui (35)
Damian McKenzie (81)

Reserves:
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (33)
17. Ollie Norris (1)
18. Ross Geldenhuys (10)
19. Adam Thomson (4) ***
20. Mitchell Karpik (27)
21. Lisati Milo-Harris (3)
22. Aaron Cruden (98)
23. Quinn Tupaea (9)

Adam Thomson will play his 100th super game.

The Silver Fern

Blues v Chiefs