Drua vs Chiefs
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From what I have read BBBR should finally be back for this game. Apart from the long-term absentees, only Cane and Lord (twisted knee) should be unavailable. After the continual player rotation in recent games McMillan needs to settle on his best XV (and 23) and play the team he intends to use the following week. Hopefully Ioane is back as he needs another game under his belt.
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@Bovidae I've found the constantant changes to team line-ups (from all NZ franchises) more annoying than ever, this year. I know that Covid, injuries, suspensions and mandatory AB rest breaks have had a lot to do with it, but sometimes I get the impression that there's rotation just for the sake of rotation, regardless of whether a player actually needs a rest. I must say that I have no idea who McMillan thinks should be in his best XV/23. Some players are obvious, but others ...
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@Stargazer said in Drua vs Chiefs:
@Bovidae I've found the constantant changes to team line-ups (from all NZ franchises) more annoying than ever, this year. I know that Covid, injuries, suspensions and mandatory AB rest breaks have had a lot to do with it, but sometimes I get the impression that there's rotation just for the sake of rotation, regardless of whether a player actually needs a rest. I must say that I have no idea who McMillan thinks should be in his best XV/23. Some players are obvious, but others ...
NZ rugby is obsessed with rotation, it does my fucking head in
And because someone somewhere more than a decade ago said something about not being able to play 3 games in 3 weeks, people just accept it. You're being paid to play, so fucking play.
If i go to an NRL game (just as physical) or an AFL game (far more running), i can have a pretty high expectation that i will be watching star players no matter what week it is. With a Super rugby game there is absolutely no guarantee.
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For the Chiefs, McMillan has said he wants to keep the entire squad involved, so I can understand giving every squad member an opportunity at some stage. Otherwise, if you need them later in the season they haven't played for a long time. But often there are wholesale changes from week-to-week irrespective of covid. It is hard to build combinations when there is no continuity in selection.
@Stargazer I have no idea who McMillan's best team is either.
This is the team I would like to see playing in this game.
1 Aidan Ross
2 Samisoni Taukei’aho
3 Angus Ta’avao
4 Brodie Retallick
5 Tupou Vaa’i
6 Pita Gus Sowakula
7 Kaylum Boshier
8 Luke Jacobson
9 Brad Weber
10 Josh Ioane
11 Etene Nanai-Seturo
12 Quinn Tupaea
13 Alex Nankivell
14 Jonah Lowe
15 Emoni Narawa16 Bradley Slater (or Tyrone Thompson)
17. Ollie Norris
18 Atu Moli
19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20 Samipeni Finau
21 Cortez Ratima
22 Bryn Gatland
23 Chase Tiatia -
@mariner4life happens from the top down...even NPC rotate squads, and these teams absolutely need thier best foot forward week in week out!
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@Bovidae said in Drua vs Chiefs:
For the Chiefs, McMillan has said he wants to keep the entire squad involved, so I can understand giving every squad member an opportunity at some stage. Otherwise, if you need them later in the season they haven't played for a long time. But often there are wholesale changes from week-to-week irrespective of covid. It is hard to build combinations when there is no continuity in selection.
@Stargazer I have no idea who McMillan's best team is either.
This is the team I would like to see playing in this game.
1 Aidan Ross
2 Samisoni Taukei’aho
3 Angus Ta’avao
4 Brodie Retallick
5 Tupou Vaa’i
6 Pita Gus Sowakula
7 Kaylum Boshier
8 Luke Jacobson
9 Brad Weber
10 Josh Ioane
11 Etene Nanai-Seturo
12 Quinn Tupaea
13 Alex Nankivell
14 Jonah Lowe
15 Emoni Narawa16 Bradley Slater (or Tyrone Thompson)
17. Ollie Norris
18 Atu Moli
19 Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20 Samipeni Finau
21 Cortez Ratima
22 Bryn Gatland
23 Chase TiatiaThat looks to be our strongest 23 as well (once you swap Cane back in).
Pity that McWhannell couldn't catch a break (again) as he looked good early on. Lord could also take Ah Kuoi's place on the bench (or BBBRs starting spot if he isn't up to speed)
Biggest puzzler has been the lack of trust in Reihana. I would have liked to have seen more minutes from him at 15.
Ratima has been the 'find' of the season IMO. Has leapfrogged Roe easily. -
@Crucial said in Drua vs Chiefs:
That looks to be our strongest 23 as well (once you swap Cane back in).
Yes. Stevenson is a possibility too if he is fit.
Biggest puzzler has been the lack of trust in Reihana. I would have liked to have seen more minutes from him at 15.
Last week was the perfect opportunity to play him with all of the unavailabilities. Not even on the bench when Inga Finau was a late inclusion.
Ratima has been the 'find' of the season IMO. Has leapfrogged Roe easily.
They have completely different strengths, but I like Ratima off the bench. That's how they work for Waikato (Roe starts, Ratima finishes).
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@Bovidae said in Drua vs Chiefs:
@Crucial said in Drua vs Chiefs:
That looks to be our strongest 23 as well (once you swap Cane back in).
Yes. Stevenson is a possibility too if he is fit.
Biggest puzzler has been the lack of trust in Reihana. I would have liked to have seen more minutes from him at 15.
Last week was the perfect opportunity to play him with all of the unavailabilities. Not even on the bench when Inga Finau was a late inclusion.
Ratima has been the 'find' of the season IMO. Has leapfrogged Roe easily.
They have completely different strengths, but I like Ratima off the bench. That's how they work for Waikato (Roe starts, Ratima finishes).
I've never seen what the excitement was around Roe tbh. Ratima's speed to the breakdown, pass and decision making all better with the added bonus of being a stronger defender and runner. Roe has a good snipe at times but not the same strength with it.
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@Crucial I've seen plenty of Roe and Ratima up close from their 1st XV days. No doubt Ratima is the more abrasive of the two (TKB mk II), and I've said before that he looks to have the bigger upside. Roe's kicking game is superior but he can be outmuscled at the breakdown if you get in his face.
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@taniwharugby said in Drua vs Chiefs:
@mariner4life happens from the top down...even NPC rotate squads, and these teams absolutely need thier best foot forward week in week out!
Yep taniwha, I think the coaches have to balance having players at top of game and making sure you have players with a bit of game time in case of injury, I sure they don't do it for fun, and we don't have rolling subs in game which makes it tough too, where players can come of for 5-10 minute breather,
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@cgrant said in Drua vs Chiefs:
I'd like a loose forward combo with 6.Finau - 7. L. Jacobson - 8. Sowakula.
If Boshier can't play that should be the starting loose forward trio. If he does, those three finish the game when Finau replaces Boshier.
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@cgrant said in Drua vs Chiefs:
I'd like a loose forward combo with 6.Finau - 7. L. Jacobson - 8. Sowakula.
That could go very well against the Drua. Probably not a combo for other games but I like it.
The other consideration is that BBBR is unlikely to play big minutes (or maybe even start) and with Lord not available (I think) we will be relying on Vaa'i to play 80 unless Finau can shift later in the game. Maybe K.Bosh on the bench allows a back three reshuffle late and some fresh legs for turnovers.
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@Dan54 yes but sometimes, from the outside some of the rotation appears to be for, well, the sake of rotation.
I know they are privy to more info than us, but with the short window (NPC) often the balance seems out...maybe they need to be less cloak and dagger about player performance, recovery time, niggles etc start giving a bit more information to try and engage people more again.
In some ways I think Rugby think they still sit atop this pedestal in NZ psyche, but they need to try and find better ways to engage, stats is another we need more of.
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@taniwharugby said in Drua vs Chiefs:
@Dan54 yes but sometimes, from the outside some of the rotation appears to be for, well, the sake of rotation.
I know they are privy to more info than us, but with the short window (NPC) often the balance seems out...maybe they need to be less cloak and dagger about player performance, recovery time, niggles etc start giving a bit more information to try and engage people more again.
In some ways I think Rugby think they still sit atop this pedestal in NZ psyche, but they need to try and find better ways to engage, stats is another we need more of.
Totally agree on needing better engagement but there is also a privacy line to uphold. Not every medical unavailability and/or prognosis is something that employees should have to have out in public domain and if you state a clear line then dont describe why someone isnt available it raises questions and rumours. I think most teams get the balance OK although some dont even do a 'not available for selection'
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@Crucial said in Drua vs Chiefs:
Not every medical unavailability and/or prognosis is something that employees should have to have out in public domain
although most are, given the games are played live, people see these things play out, so not giving any information is just silly, I doubt many players would say "no, dont tell them I need surgery on my knee and I wont be available for the rest of the season..."
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@taniwharugby said in Drua vs Chiefs:
@Crucial said in Drua vs Chiefs:
Not every medical unavailability and/or prognosis is something that employees should have to have out in public domain
although most are, given the games are played live, people see these things play out, so not giving any information is just silly, I doubt many players would say "no, dont tell them I need surgery on my knee and I wont be available for the rest of the season..."
Missing the point a bit.
A player can be unavailable for a raft of reasons other than an injury that happened in a game. -
@Crucial er ok then...although that would be pretty rare in a physical game like rugby (although Alaimalo)
But again, on him to do it, but ideally you can have him turn into an advocate (like JK) for others out there who are struggling.
Anyway, thats a completely other topic.
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@taniwharugby said in Drua vs Chiefs:
@Crucial er ok then...although that would be pretty rare in a physical game like rugby (although Alaimalo)
But again, on him to do it, but ideally you can have him turn into an advocate (like JK) for others out there who are struggling.
Anyway, thats a completely other topic.
It's not really.
Take an example of a player whose spouse is having mental or physical health issues and they need time to arrange support and not go overseas.
Should the whole world be party to a description of 'family reasons' which winds up a gossip mill or should they be afforded privacy and the lists just state all unavailable players as 'unavailable' with a possible period of unavailability?
