Blues v Chiefs
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There are several players with minor injuries who are not available for the opening round including James Parsons (back), Otere Black (rib), Finlay Christie (neck), Gerard Cowley-Tuioti (shoulder), Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Jared Page, Tanielu Tele’a while James Tucker is waiting on scan results on an injured knee..
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With rookie hookers and a 6 in the locks (Robinson) I expect the Chiefs to really target the lineout
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@Duluth said in Blues v Chiefs:
Lamborn is the biggest surprise. I guess he went well in the pre-season?
Looking forward to see how the hookers go. Eklund is a good solid player and then hopefully Niuia can have a similar impact he had at the RWC
As a Chiefs fan, I'm gonna miss Parsons...
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@mariner4life said in Blues v Chiefs:
@Duluth said in Blues v Chiefs:
Lamborn is the biggest surprise. I guess he went well in the pre-season?
Looking forward to see how the hookers go. Eklund is a good solid player and then hopefully Niuia can have a similar impact he had at the RWC
As a Chiefs fan, I'm gonna miss Parsons...
I was going to say - this is a big opportunity for Eklund and Nuia. Blues desperately need some new options at hooker.
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As a Chiefs fan I'm glad that Akira isn't even on the bench, glad that the Ginga is starting at lock, and quite glad that Lamborn is starting at 7 as he's never really seemed like Super level and he's really a 6.5 up against Cane on the openside, ah crap, scratch that.
I don't know much about Marchant, hopefully, he's not good at feeding Reiko on the wing.
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interesting move putting Robinson at lock, I know he started out there, but I think he is suited to a wider game that the blues used him for last year, he can play tight, but whether he will be as effective is another matter.
Akira not in the 23 is huge though, but maybe he just hasnt been ticking the boxes?
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@Stargazer said in Blues v Chiefs:
Is Allardice injured? I can see that as the only reason for Ardron starting at lock, instead of 8.
Unavailable for selection:
Laghlan McWhannell, Luke Jacobson, Michael Allardice, Nathan Harris, Reuben O’Neill and Tumua Manu.With 2 specialist locks out there isn't much choice. I'm not a fan of Brown at lock but he will do a job. I also prefer Ardron at lock over no.8 myself.
I like 11-13, 15.
Yeah, I am surprised Wainui is still getting selected on the right wing. He'll be good defensively but lacks speed for a winger.
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Harris is gone for the season.
Conversely, the Chiefs announced on Wednesday that hooker Nathan Harris had been ruled out of the 2020 season. The former All Black had been recovering from a fractured ankle sustained during the Mitre 10 Cup with Bay of Plenty last year but following shoulder pain, underwent surgery this month to repair his rotator cuff. The rehabilitation period for that is six months, so the 27-year-old has been replaced in the squad by Counties Manukau's Donald Maka, who has been training with the Chiefs as a replacement player during the pre-season.
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@DrivingMaul said in Blues v Chiefs:
With rookie hookers and a 6 in the locks (Robinson) I expect the Chiefs to really target the lineout
Same could be said of the chiefs
Ardon and Brown are converted Loose forwards
Chiefs Bench hooker is a relative Rookie -
@mariner4life said in Blues v Chiefs:
Any team that can bring the best back in World Rugby off the bench is nailed on favourites...
Not a bad side. Karpik looked out of his depth at this level last year, so hopefully he's got another gear to go to. I still can't believe Wainui gets starts.
Who the hell is the 10?
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Gibson should have been the one to drop off the bench I feel as he's either a starter or he doesn't make the side imo. Papali'i can also cover 7 so I'm not sure why Akira wouldn't be on the bench at the very least.
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@African-Monkey totally...!
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@DrivingMaul said in Blues v Chiefs:
With rookie hookers and a 6 in the locks (Robinson) I expect the Chiefs to really target the lineout
With Cane at 8, two smallish locks and a diminutive 7, the Chiefs won't be able to disturb a much taller Blues pack.
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