Chiefs v Waratahs

[Duluth]

Iain Payten  /  Apr 17, 2022  /  Rugby Union

‘Defended like monsters’: The 183 seconds that could help NSW fix their Kiwi problem

Last year the Waratahs conceded mountains of points against New Zealand rivals but ahead of a first trans-Tasman clash this year, the NSW defence is showing signs of life.

[bobily2]

Chiefs: Chase Tiatia, Jonah Lowe, Alex Nankivell, Rameka Poihipi, Quinn Tupaea, Bryn Gatland, Cortez Ratima; Pita Gus Sowakula, Sam Cane (c), Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, Angus Ta’avao, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross.

Reserves: Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Samipeni Finau, Xavier Roe, Rivez Reihana, Inga Finau.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300569624/super-rugby-pacific-teams-chiefs-lose-brad-weber-to-injury-welcome-back-rested-stars

[Chris]

@bobily2 said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

Chiefs: Chase Tiatia, Jonah Lowe, Alex Nankivell, Rameka Poihipi, Quinn Tupaea, Bryn Gatland, Cortez Ratima; Pita Gus Sowakula, Sam Cane (c), Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, Angus Ta’avao, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross.

Reserves: Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Samipeni Finau, Xavier Roe, Rivez Reihana, Inga Finau.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300569624/super-rugby-pacific-teams-chiefs-lose-brad-weber-to-injury-welcome-back-rested-stars

Struggling with outside backs.

[Bovidae]

Based on who is available I would have played Reihana at fullback and moved Tiatia to the wing.

[Bovidae]

Additional players travelling to Australia today:
Kaylum Boshier, Atu Moli, Kaleb Trask, Tyrone Thompson

Unavailable for selection:
Reuben O’Neill, Gideon Wrampling, Simon Parker, Brodie Retallick, Josh Ioane, Sione Mafileo, Laghlan McWhannell, Anton Lienert-Brown, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson, Brad Weber, Etene Nanai-Seturo

[bobily2]

Does anyone know how long ENS is out for?

[Bovidae]

@bobily2 said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

Does anyone know how long ENS is out for?

He was favouring his hamstring, and those can take a while to come right.

I reckon only Tupaea, and maybe Lowe, would be in the strongest backline. That shows you how many injuries there are.

[ARHS]

@Bovidae that is a horrendous injury toll. Will be a tough match to win.

[Grooter]

@Chris nice to see finau get a shot off the bench, I'm sure fellow cantab poihipi has got him up to speed in the environment

[Grooter]

@Bovidae Jesus that's a big ward, was looking forward to see Wrampling in this leg of the comp alas, poor josh ioane moves north but is hampered by injuries

[KiwiMurph]

Given the unavailabilities that's still a pretty useful 23 the Chiefs have put out.

[Bovidae]

I don't remember being that impressed with Inga Finau so I am surprised he is in the 23 when he wasn't part of the initial WTG. I assume it is because he can play on the wing, but I am sure Taniela Filimone could too.

[Yeetyaah]

Ehh man so many injuries, sad to see as the squad depth looked good preseason. Never seen much of Inga Finau.

[Bones]

Is that the kind of injury toll where you have to wonder what the hell is going on with the trainers?

[Chris]

@FakatavaFuture said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

@Chris nice to see finau get a shot off the bench, I'm sure fellow cantab poihipi has got him up to speed in the environment

Finau played pretty well against MP off the bench for the Crusaders last time he got a chance.Good luck to him I hope he goes well.

[Bovidae]

The other thing is that the Chiefs don't have a 3rd halfback in the touring party so we better hope either Ratima or Roe don't get injured in these 2 games.

[kiwi_expat]

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

Ehh man so many injuries, sad to see as the squad depth looked good preseason. Never seen much of Inga Finau.

Seems to have been a consistent trend since we began the interborder stuff, physical toll of consecutive derbies.

The Highlanders & Chiefs unavailability list has been pretty unreal in these last three seasons (2020, 2021, 2022)

[Duluth]

Waratahs

Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Hugh Sinclair, Charlie Gamble, Michael Hooper, Will Harris, Jake Gordon (c), Tane Edmed, Alex Newsome, Jamie Roberts, Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Will Harrison

Reserves: Tom Horton, Tetera Faulkner, Archer Holz, Geoff Cridge, Rahboni Warren-Yosayaco, Jack Grant, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch

[NTA]

@Duluth no Foketi due to a family funeral. Bummer.

[Stargazer]