Crusaders vs Chiefs
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David Havili, Seta Tamanivalu, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Bryn Hall, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd, Pete Samu, Sam Whitelock (captain), Luke Romano, Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett
Reserves: Ben Funnell, Chris King, Oliver Jager, Scott Barrett, Billy Harmon, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Hunt, Manasa Mataele
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Ngatai at fullback for the Chiefs and a surprise at LH prop.
Not the team I would have chosen.
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@duluth said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
David Havili, Seta Tamanivalu, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Bryn Hall, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd, Pete Samu, Sam Whitelock (captain), Luke Romano, Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett
Reserves: Ben Funnell, Chris King, Oliver Jager, Scott Barrett, Billy Marmon, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Hunt, Manasa Mataele
Think that should be Harmon.
EDIT: Wow, Chris King. Nearly 37 years old. Wasn't he always pretty dodgy in the scrum?
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Cheers.. it was a copy and paste from Stuff
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Marty Mckenzie and Sean Wainui on the bench. Yikes.
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So for the Chiefs, Moli will be playing at LH. I can only assume Hames is injured and with Graham also unavailable there was little option within the squad.
Fa'auli has never impressed me and couldn't even make the Taranaki starting XV last year. Time to prove me wrong!
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on paper we look a bit fucked.
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@tim said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Marty Mckenzie and Sean Wainui on the bench. Yikes.
Yikes indeed!
Cooper wants those Naki boys in there. I'll cut him some slack with Ta'avao as Kautai has a foot injury so it's a case of selecting the 4 fit props.
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Shit. I should have picked the Crusaders by more.
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@tim said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Marty Mckenzie and Sean Wainui on the bench. Yikes.
Wait, Wainui is actually in the Chiefs squad? I was only joking when including him in my team.
Oh, FFS, I've just noticed Ngatai at fullback.
The Chiefs are playing out like an episode of the Walking Dead.
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@nepia it was fun being relevant for 6 seasons, but i guess we will be returning to our former position of "also-rans" alternating with "laughing-stock"
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@nepia said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Wait, Wainui is actually in the Chiefs squad? I was only joking when including him in my team.
Not the original squad. Nankivell played (poorly) in the Blues pre-season game so must be fit and no idea about Verney and Aumua. Did they play in the Brumbies game?
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Losing my hopes for the Chiefs. Where did all these Taranaki players come from? Surprising Fin Hoeata not there ahead of Bird. I sure hope that Nanai-Williams, McNicol and Hames return quickly from injury.
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@arhs said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Losing my hopes for the Chiefs. Where did all these Taranaki players come from? Surprising Fin Hoeata not there ahead of Bird. I sure hope that Nanai-Williams, McNicol and Hames return quickly from injury.
god it's worse than i thought if we are crying out for TNW to come back
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@mariner4life said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@arhs said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Losing my hopes for the Chiefs. Where did all these Taranaki players come from? Surprising Fin Hoeata not there ahead of Bird. I sure hope that Nanai-Williams, McNicol and Hames return quickly from injury.
god it's worse than i thought if we are crying out for TNW to come back
I guess we may as well just return to following the Warriors.
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@nepia said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@mariner4life said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@arhs said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Losing my hopes for the Chiefs. Where did all these Taranaki players come from? Surprising Fin Hoeata not there ahead of Bird. I sure hope that Nanai-Williams, McNicol and Hames return quickly from injury.
god it's worse than i thought if we are crying out for TNW to come back
I guess we may as well just return to following the Warriors.
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@mariner4life said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@nepia it was fun being relevant for 6 seasons, but i guess we will be returning to our former position of "also-rans" alternating with "laughing-stock"
To be fair, we were pretty bloody good at ruining other teams' chances at the end of the season... that was always something to look forward to.
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Chiefs look a better team than you blokes are suggesting.
Retallick and Cane have always carried the forward pack to a certain extent, and I'll always worry when you guys role out Mackenzie and Ngatai in the backline.
Still a far better team than the Highlanders and Blues IMO.
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@sammyc said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Still a far better team than the Highlanders and Blues IMO.
With an unproven 10, a 12 who was poor at this level last year, a fullback playing out position, an 8 playing out of position, Taavao on the bench, Wainui who was poor at this level last year on the bench.
Far better? Yeah nah.
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@kiwimurph said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@sammyc said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Still a far better team than the Highlanders and Blues IMO.
With an unproven 10, a 12 who was poor at this level last year, a fullback playing out position, an 8 playing out of position, Taavao on the bench, Wainui who was poor at this level last year on the bench.
Far better? Yeah nah.
All I have to is mention the blues and you're on here within 5 seconds defending them
Unproven 10 - Gatland
8 playing out of position - Ioane
A fullback out of position - CollinsFair call about ta'avao, but I think this starting chiefs tight 5 would destroy the blues at scrum and in the tight.
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@sammyc said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@kiwimurph said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@sammyc said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Still a far better team than the Highlanders and Blues IMO.
With an unproven 10, a 12 who was poor at this level last year, a fullback playing out position, an 8 playing out of position, Taavao on the bench, Wainui who was poor at this level last year on the bench.
Far better? Yeah nah.
All I have to is mention the blues and you're on here within 5 seconds defending them
Unproven 10 - Gatland
8 playing out of position - Ioane
A fullback out of position - CollinsFair call about ta'avao, but I think this starting chiefs tight 5 would destroy the blues at scrum and in the tight.
Haha I've been on the forum all week because i'm pumped for the start of Super Rugby!
Firstly, you mentioned Blues AND Highlanders.
Secondly - Collins is a proper fullback (just not very good!) and Ioane might be a better 6 than 8 but he has played a shitload more 8 than Seu - Akira has probably played more of his first class footy at 8 than 6.
Thirdly - you are pumping up the Chiefs by saying they are FAR better than the currently injury-ravaged Blues? What point are you trying to make?
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@kiwimurph said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@sammyc said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@kiwimurph said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@sammyc said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Still a far better team than the Highlanders and Blues IMO.
With an unproven 10, a 12 who was poor at this level last year, a fullback playing out position, an 8 playing out of position, Taavao on the bench, Wainui who was poor at this level last year on the bench.
Far better? Yeah nah.
All I have to is mention the blues and you're on here within 5 seconds defending them
Unproven 10 - Gatland
8 playing out of position - Ioane
A fullback out of position - CollinsFair call about ta'avao, but I think this starting chiefs tight 5 would destroy the blues at scrum and in the tight.
Thirdly - you are pumping up the Chiefs by saying they are FAR better than the currently injury-ravaged Blues? What point are you trying to make?
Hmmm, I'm not sure what my point was..... maybe that I think the Chiefs are better than the Blues and Highlanders?
Next time I'll try not to be so vague.
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@sammyc So far better than this week's Blues with double figure players missing and you make no comments on how they are far better than the Highlanders? Sweet - strong argument bro.
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Ta'avao is like King for the Crusaders. He is there as an injury replacement (for Graham) and wouldn't be in the 23 if Hames or Kautau were available.
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@kiwimurph said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@sammyc So better than this week's Blues with double figure players missing and you make no comments on how they are better than the Highlanders? Sweet - strong argument bro.
No I think they are a better team than the Blues at full strength.
I think they have the second best pack in the NZ comp (mainly on the back of Retallick and Cane who are the worlds best in crucial positions). Add in Laulala, Harris and Bird and I just can't see the Blues or the Highlanders competing with them up front.
I also think that Ngatai and Mackenzie are 2 of the best backline players at super level, doesnt matter where they play.
Anyway, proof will come later in the season.... Scrummaging powerhouse Ofa T better stand up when he's against Hames and Laulala
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@sammyc said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@kiwimurph said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
@sammyc So better than this week's Blues with double figure players missing and you make no comments on how they are better than the Highlanders? Sweet - strong argument bro.
No I think they are a better team than the Blues at full strength.
I think they have the second best pack in the NZ comp (mainly on the back of Retallick and Cane who are the worlds best in crucial positions). Add in Laulala, Harris and Bird and I just can't see the Blues or the Highlanders competing with them up front.
I also think that Ngatai and Mackenzie are 2 of the best backline players at super level, doesnt matter where they play.
Anyway, proof will come later in the season.... Scrummaging powerhouse Ofa T better stand up when he's against Hames and Laulala
Thanks for expanding. I guess we will see. I expect the Blues to be better up front with a new scrum coach and now without the worst player in NZ Super Rugby the last couple of years - Sam Prattley.
My prediction is for Blues/Highlanders/Chiefs to be very much even in a fight for the 3rd spot in the Kiwi conference behind the Canes/Saders.
Harris and Bird. I'm sure the Blues and Highlanders forwards are shaking in their boots at the sight of those two.
Anyway back to this game - any word on if AMI field is gonna be boggy with the Cyclone effects? Has been known to be boggy in past being a temporary ground and all.
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@kiwimurph said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:
Anyway back to this game - any word on if AMI field is gonna be boggy with the Cyclone effects? Has been known to be boggy in past being a temporary ground and all.
I doubt it, we didn't get as much rain as predicted, and today has been really sunny and warm.
Forecast is for fine weather next 2 days so it should be a dry surface.
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Now that was a soft penalty.
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2 silly plays from Mckenzie to start the game.
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Touching the opposition is now a penalty?
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What a difference from last night, this game is pretty flacid so far. Worst start from the Chiefs, 4 major errors already?
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@nepia Well McKenzie is a huge man.
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Crockett starts his 2018 tally....
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Mitchell Brown off after failing an HIA.
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Lol hospital pass from McKenzie results in try to Crusaders. This will be a long night for the Chiefs.
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Chiefs win first lineout after 3 attempts.
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@chimoaus Harris's throwing has been poor so far. Early days though.
Laulala looking good, and Messam has more energy than last year.
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100% a card there.
