Chiefs squad

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="556469" data-time="1454618874">
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Mitchell Graham, Atu Moli and Fisihoii can all play tighthead, so Hames can still be brought in as a loosehead.
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If Hames was available another team would have chosen him in their original squad. Something strange regarding his non-selection.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="556467" data-time="1454618810">
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Yep, Rennie and co would have been very thorough in their search for a replacement prop. I know nothing about this Japanese prop, if he has in fact signed, but I'm sure they are wanting a potential starting TH prop, not a player that can be developed during the season. Ben T was the exception in that he was thrown into the deep end to start back in 2012. I don't think Moli is at that point in his career.
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Agreed, on all of that. However, as someone who quite likes the Chiefs, and who would quite like to see them win the competition this year, I would personally still rather them bring in a prop who can hold his own somewhat and is NZ eligible.
 
Agreed that Moli isn't a starting tighthead just yet. I do think that there are still somewhat safe options around, that may not even need too much development. Props who may or may not have picked up contracts overseas, yet have played SupeRugby include Jarrod Firth, Kane Hames, Pingi Tala'apitga, Tolu Fahamokioa. Perhaps also Kainga and Sakalia.
 
Obviously Rennie and co would have looked at these other options, and decided Yamashita was a better option, in terms of winning SupeRugby. Yet I would still personally see a prop who is actually hanging around for ITM Cup play. I guess you can't blame the Chiefs for wanting to bring him in, you just have to look at NZ Rugby, and whether they should have pushed for a NZ player to be included instead.
 
I think someone mentioned that the Blues have more players who are not NZ-eligible. However, this is not true. Chiefs have Yamashita and Leitch. Blues have Jack Ram and Sa'u. And at least Ram is still playing ITM Cup here. And we have bugger all first fives outside of SupeRugby anyway.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="556473" data-time="1454619189">
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If Hames was available another team would have chosen him in their original squad. Something strange regarding his non-selection.
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I would have thought so, but usually we would hear something about it. Until I hear that it was due to him being unavailable, I will assume that he was.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="556465" data-time="1454618658">
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But seriously............ Was this bloke one of the regular starting props? Because the Japanese scrum wasn't as good when they brought on the subs.
 
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He was a substitute in the game against SA, and against Scotland and started against Fiji and Japan.

Bovidae

More info. Yamashita hasn't signed yet.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/76600594/japan-prop-hiroshi-yamashita-jets-in-to-show-chiefs-his-wares'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/76600594/japan-prop-hiroshi-yamashita-jets-in-to-show-chiefs-his-wares</a>

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="556475" data-time="1454619849">
<div>I think someone mentioned that the Blues have more players who are not NZ-eligible. However, this is not true. Chiefs have Yamashita and Leitch. Blues have Jack Ram and Sa'u. And at least Ram is still playing ITM Cup here. And we have bugger all first fives outside of SupeRugby anyway.</div>
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Ram, Sa'u and Latimer. Former AB but signed to a Japanese club, so he's considered a foreign player by the NZRU.
 
Anyway, so I guess they'll sign whoever they like best out of him and the local player once they get a look at him.

mikedogz

Jarrod Firth has signed with the Glasgow Warriors so he was not an option.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mikedogz" data-cid="556530" data-time="1454644272">Jarrod Firth has signed with the Glasgow Warriors so he was not an option.</blockquote>
 
Fuck. That's a loss. Good tighthead. Would probably suit NH rugby better though. 
Probably deemed not dynamic enough for Super but can't see why he has been overlooked when we aren't exactly beset with an over supply.

leytonandamanda

Mike kainga is Chiefs option to replace laulala 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bovidae

Samoan halfback Pele Cowley (Counties Manukau) has also been training with the Chiefs to cover for Pulu's absence due to sevens.
 
He wasn't part of Samoa's RWC 2015 squad. Is he any good as a 3rd halfback?

Crucial

I think he missed the RWC squad because he didn't have enough playing time pre selection due to injury. Came on in some ITM cup for CM and looked sharp.

Bovidae

Hiroshi Yamashita has been confirmed as Laulala's replacement. Also Karpik's replacement is C-M openside Sam Henwood.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/170-gallagher-chiefs-squad-bolstered-by-yamashita-and-henwood'>http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/170-gallagher-chiefs-squad-bolstered-by-yamashita-and-henwood</a>

Crucial

Have to like the format of the Hardware Store Cup these days when the likes of CM can get 8 players into the Chiefs (plus the others)
Gone are the days when players had to go to the 5 owner unions to make Super Rugby.

gt12

Yamashita better tackle better than he did against the Blues last week. He's a good scrummager, but he looked lost in the open field with one terrible miss.

Mister G

Where is the prop from the U19 WC?

KiwiPie

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="560150" data-time="1456185927">
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Yamashita better tackle better than he did against the Blues last week. He's a good scrummager, but he looked lost in the open field with one terrible miss.
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He used to have good defence but it is getting shita and shita.
 
Rennie will have to work some magic to keep this Chiefs team near the top of the NZ conference.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mister G" data-cid="560385" data-time="1456254000">
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Where is the prop from the U19 WC?
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Atu Moli? He's in the squad but wouldn't be considered a possible starter at this stage.

gt12

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiPie" data-cid="560387" data-time="1456254168">He used to have good defence but it is getting shita and shita. 
Rennie will have to work some magic to keep this Chiefs team near the top of the NZ conference.</blockquote>
 
It's early days, but Cruden's fitness will be key, because outside him and Ngatai there isn't that much class in the squad. 
The injuries to players brought in, plus no SBW leaves the team looking pretty mid table. Taimanivalu hasn't shown anything at this level yet - if he fires, then we might be able to get better penetration through the midfield working around Cruden. 
Up front, Nepo's injury is a real bitch. I'm going to pick Yamashita as a liability around the field and hope I'm wrong. He looks like a mismatch in waiting. 
Anyway, I'll be stoked if we do well, but I've got low expectations this year.

Tim

Outside of your excellent 9 & 10, the backs really do look a bit weak. A pretty disastrous pre-season combined with SBW's and Messam's absences has your squad looking vulnerable.

Bovidae

Rennie has likened this squad to 2012, as there are so many new players who aren't well known. Looking at the backs from that team, no one knew anything about Tikorotuma and Horrell wasn't exactly a household name either.
 
I agree with gt12 in that Cruden and Ngatai are the key players in the backline. If either of those players are out for an extended period of time we're fucked. I think Rennie will go with the same backline that started against the Blues first-up with Lowe in for McNicol/Fisiiahi. The likes of Tamanivalu needs to take his opportunity and McKenzie needs to fire as well.
 
The Chiefs have got a very tough start to the comp - an away game in Chch, the Lions at home and then a trip to SA (vs Kings) and Argentina for the Jaguares' first home game. A lot of travel. Two wins would be a minimum from the first 4 games.

The Silver Fern

Chiefs squad