Chiefs vs Blues 2022
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Beauden Barrett feared the worst but hoped for the best when he felt the sickening crunch in his neck early in the second half of the Blues’ recent clash against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
But the 30-year-old 101-test All Black has revealed in an interview with Stuff his fears had been allayed and that he had “bounced back” as well as could have been expected from that March 27 incident against the southerners in his first start of the season.
After completing a mandatory 10-day head-knock stand-down that coincided with his prescribed All Blacks rest, Barrett has not only returned to active Blues duty, but is likely to step back into the starting role for the first of two important Super Rugby Pacific road clashes against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.
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So what's the 23 for this week?
Clarke, Barrett, Goodhue, and Robinson might be out. RTS, A Ioane, and Laulala are definitely out.
1 Hodgman
2 Eklund
3 Tu'ungufasi
4 Tucker
5 Goodhue/Romano
6 Robinson/Plumtree/Choat
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu9 Christie
10 BarrettPerofeta
11 Clarke/Telea
12 Evans
13 Ioane
14 Telea/Heem/Lam
15 Perofeta/Sullivan16 Vikena
17 Tu'inukuafe
18 Renata
19 Romano/Darry
20 Choat/Plumtree/Suafua
21 Does Nock get another chance?
22 Heem/Tele'a/Perofeta
23 Sullivan/Perofeta/Lam/Kneepkens/Heem/Tele'a -
@kiwimurph Riccitelli yes, wouldnt be surprised to see Heem move out to the wing with Evans staying at 12 as Clarke will be suspended.
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I am glad BB has bounced back well, but also a little disappointed Perofeta may not get to show us what he can do starting at 10 against quality opposition.
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@crazy-horse said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
I am glad BB has bounced back well, but also a little disappointed Perofeta may not get to show us what he can do starting at 10 against quality opposition.
Flip side is that if Ioane isn't available the 'quality opposition' is Gatland (or worse still, Trask)
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@stargazer said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@crucial You'd pick Tiatia over Stevenson? What about Roe (21)?
I don't think any of our back three options have nailed their spots or wiped away questions about flakiness. All are capable of good things, all can have WTF moments. I truly do not have much of a preference but am hoping that someone grabs an opportunity.
I like the energy that Ratima brings and tbh have never quite got excited about Roe. He's a good player and I'm happy that we have him but I see Ratima as more likely to have late game impact.
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Ta'avao will be in the 23, likely on the bench, ahead of Moli. Mafileo is better as the starter. The rest of the forward pack looks about right.
I expect Stevenson to be one of the wingers. Trask has been injured, and Narawa looked injured so the outside backs might be dependent on who is fit.
I'm picking that Slater is back too.
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@crucial said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@crazy-horse said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
I am glad BB has bounced back well, but also a little disappointed Perofeta may not get to show us what he can do starting at 10 against quality opposition.
Flip side is that if Ioane isn't available the 'quality opposition' is Gatland (or worse still, Trask)
What's wrong with Gatland? He's definitely been quality this season, I'd say he's looked the 2nd best 10 behind Perofeta this year.
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@tj said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@crucial said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@crazy-horse said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
I am glad BB has bounced back well, but also a little disappointed Perofeta may not get to show us what he can do starting at 10 against quality opposition.
Flip side is that if Ioane isn't available the 'quality opposition' is Gatland (or worse still, Trask)
What's wrong with Gatland? He's definitely been quality this season, I'd say he's looked the 2nd best 10 behind Perofeta this year.
In flashes, yes. Overall I'd say our depth at 10 in NZ is poor and he is no where near international quality whereas I think Ioane could step up.
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@crucial said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@tj said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@crucial said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@crazy-horse said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
I am glad BB has bounced back well, but also a little disappointed Perofeta may not get to show us what he can do starting at 10 against quality opposition.
Flip side is that if Ioane isn't available the 'quality opposition' is Gatland (or worse still, Trask)
What's wrong with Gatland? He's definitely been quality this season, I'd say he's looked the 2nd best 10 behind Perofeta this year.
In flashes, yes. Overall I'd say our depth at 10 in NZ is poor and he is no where near international quality whereas I think Ioane could step up.
I don't think he needs to be international quality, but he is a good quality super player. He's also a different style of 10 than pretty much all the others in the country, not the runner that Barrett, Mounga and Ioane are, but can lead the team around and has more control to his game.
When you think we have Barrett and Mounga, then some youngish guys like Ioane and probably McKenzie to come back, I don't think the depth is so bad.
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@african-monkey said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@kiwimurph Riccitelli yes, wouldnt be surprised to see Heem move out to the wing with Evans staying at 12 as Clarke will be suspended.
McDonald is sure to go with Heem again at 12
Lam or JRK to fill the wing spot.
