Highlanders v Chiefs

[Dice]

@Duluth I can't quite remember him. I do remember thinking that the Canterbury wingers were not that good last year though.

[Stargazer]

Chiefs:
1 Aidan Ross (31)
2 Samisoni Taukei’aho (28)
3 Nepo Laulala (33)
4 Mitchell Brown (38)
5 Tupou Vaa’i**
6 Luke Jacobson (22)
7 Lachlan Boshier (49)
8 Pita Gus Sowakula (20)
9 Brad Weber (77) (c)
10 Kaleb Trask (4)
11 Sean Wainui (30)
12 Anton Lienert-Brown (74)
13 Quinn Tupaea (4)
14 Shaun Stevenson (48)
15 Damian McKenzie (76)

Reserves:
16 Bradley Slater (7)
17 Ryan Coxon (5)
18 Ross Geldenhuys (5)
19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi (6)
20 Dylan Nel (1)
21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (36)
22 Aaron Cruden (94)
23 Etene Nanai-Seturo (11)

() = Gallagher Chiefs caps in brackets
*denotes Gallagher Chiefs debut
**denotes Investec Super Rugby debut

Unavailable for selection:
Atu Moli (hips), Angus Ta’avao (quad), Laghlan McWhannell (knee), :isati-Milo Harris (shoulder), Michael Allardice (shoulder), Mitchell Karpik (back strain), Nathan Harris (shoulder), Sam Cane (lower back strain), Sam McNicol (ankle).

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/Gallagher-Chiefs-named-for-first-ever-Investec-Super-Rugby-Aotearoa-match

[Bovidae]

Exactly the starting XV I watched in training.

No Alaimalo in the 23 is a big surprise though. I did think O'Neill would be on the bench ahead of Coxon but maybe the coaches consider him more of a TH.

[Bones]

@Dice said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

I thought the Highlanders would put Walden in at 12. That backline just has too many weak defenders in it.

I've come to the conclusion that Mauger can't stand the 12 to be a better 12 than him. So takes people and plays them out of position for a couple of games but swaps them out before they get any good.

Walden was excellent last year and has been the glue in that backline. Mauger is being a fucken moron.

[mariner4life]

@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

@antipodean

The jersey will be worn to acknowledge the thousands of females who play and/or support rugby in the Chiefs region.

Each jersey from the playing twenty-three will be signed and donated to twenty-three different schools within the Chiefs Region to help raise funds for sports equipment, travel or apparel for their female rugby teams.

it's pink. the jersey is pink. talk about gender norms and stereotypes guys.

[mariner4life]

@Bones said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

I've come to the conclusion that Mauger can't stand the 12 to be a better 12 than him.

you would think he would be used to that disappointment by now.

[Smudge]

@antipodean said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

What has the world come to that top tier athletes need a special jersey to acknowledge what we all know?

I haven't seen the jersey yet but I assume it features pictures of large plates of sausage rolls and saveloys, along with some aprons?

I'd be worried about copping abuse from women for such an old-fashioned view of "women in rugby", but luckily we don't have many on here...

[Tim]

Highlanders $2.95
Chiefs $1.36

[Chris]

Highlanders to cause an upset and sneak home by 3

[Bones]

Whet the appetite...

[Yeetyaah]

I wanna say the Chiefs will trash the Landers but I can't see it being a blowout. Landers might take the scrums but I think the midfield will be a big part of the game and I can't see Tomkinson vs ALB going any other way other than ALB schooling him. Landers are at home infront of a huge crowd which is a big factor. Chiefs by 8.

[Bones]

@Yeetyaah if only the Highlanders had a proven 12 who's more than capable at super level.

[African Monkey]

@Duluth Wouldn't have thought he was up to this level at this stage of his career from what I've seen. He's barely played M10 Cup.

[Duluth]

Josh Ioane injured

Hunt to 10
Koroi to 15
Gatland added to bench

[Bones]

@Duluth shitballs.

[Duluth]

The young All Black sustained a groin injury at training on Friday and will be assessed throughout next week, the Highlanders said.

[Bovidae]

Where's the super communicator Michael Collins?

[Snowy]

@Bovidae said in Highlanders v Chiefs:

Where's the super communicator Michael Collins?

Stop talking him up.

[Rapido]

I will delay turning sky back on, by a day, just because of silly jerseys. Not interested in watching that.

The saffa superhero kits were my last straw with super rugby (and there were plenty of straws) , couldn't suspend the disbelief anymore that the competition was worth anything more prestigious than content filler.

[taniwharugby]

@antipodean wait until the Covid-19 commemoration jersey!