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 -
I'd expect Riccitelli to be 16 and Heem to be 12 (as much as i'd like it to be Vikena and Evans).
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@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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If Beauden plays I would be running plenty of traffic down his channel.
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I'll have a crack at what I'm expecting/hoping for as a Chiefs team
Ross
Taukei'aho
Mafileo
Lord
Vaii
Jacobsen
Cane
PGS
Weber
Ioane
ENS
Tupaea
ALB
Lowe
TiatiaThompson
Moli
Norris
Ah Kuoi
Boshier
Ratima
Gatland
Stevenson -
@crucial You'd pick Tiatia over Stevenson? What about Roe (21)?
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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 blues
15 Sullivan
14talea
13reiko
12 rts or Evans
11 Clarke or heem
10 beauden
9 Finlay
8 hoskins
7 papalii
6 Robinson but like to c suafoa
5 goodhue
4 Luke
3 ofa
2 Kurt
1 Karl t
Bench so many -
@george33 I don't really care who the Blues will start.
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@crucial good on ya then
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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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@tj if one of RM or BB go down at the moment we are scrambling.
Without DMac we are looking at a tier that doesn’t look great. -
@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. -
@nogusta lame
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@nogusta said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@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.Booo!
Upvote for the sauce, but big fucking booo for the selection (I know its not yours)
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@nogusta said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@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.I'd like to see JRK get a chance on the wing. Lam had two chances on the wing last week and didn't really do much.
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Gallagher Chiefs to face the Blues
Gallagher Chiefs named to face the Blues in Hamilton this Saturday | Chiefs Rugby
The Gallagher Chiefs have named their side to run out in front of a home crowd to face the Blues in a much-anticipated rivalry match
1. Aidan Ross
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho
3. Angus Ta’avao
4. Josh Lord
5. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
6. Kaylum Boshier
7. Sam Cane (cc)
8. Pita Gus Sowakula
9. Brad Weber (cc)
10. Bryn Gatland
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Alex Nankivell
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Emoni Narawa
15. Kaleb TraskReserves:
16. Bradley Slater
17. Ollie Norris
18. George Dyer
19. Samipeni Finau
20. Luke Jacobson
21. Cortez Ratima
22. Quinn Tupaea
23. Chase TiatiaUnavailable for selection:
Reuben O’Neill, Gideon Wrampling, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Brodie Retallick, Josh Ioane, Sione Mafileo, Laghlan McWhannell, Tupou Vaa’i -
Trask is certainly McMillan's pet player. I am very surprised that Stevenson and/or Lowe aren't involved.
Nankivell gets to start in his 50th game.
Jacobson might not be ready to play big minutes yet.
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@bovidae yeah Trask should be off the bench. I'm a fan of Nanks starting. Tupaea has a bit of work to do to get back to the starting lineup he's been a bit off this year.
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I'd prefer to see some of the unavailables listed here but I guess you cant control that.
Our front rows (starting and reserve) should be able to cope with what the Blues bring in that regard. Locks are going to have to play big minutes though.
That loose combo went OK and a cameo from Jacobson should be useful.
Gatland needs one of his good games taking the line on to get that backline moving. -
@bovidae I understand Lowe came back to training less than a week ago, so probably too early for him.
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Confirmed Clarke suspended for 3 weeks.Interesting that must now change players leaping to attempt a charge down.
Probably will see it again as it is an instinctive reaction trying to charge down kicks that way,It will make the box kick etc a more potent weapon. -
@chris The end on footage seemed to show Clarke jumping into the running line of the MP winger (rather than straight up) and he lifted his knees up. Box kicks are different in that the kicker is stationary as opposed to this situation where the kicker is running forward after the chip kick.
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@kiwimurph said in Chiefs vs Blues 2022:
@chris The end on footage seemed to show Clarke jumping into the running line of the MP winger (rather than straight up) and he lifted his knees up. Box kicks are different in that the kicker is stationary as opposed to this situation where the kicker is running forward after the chip kick.
They are but still leaping gives a chance for head contact,Well weighted box kicks still bring the defender forward.A risk these days, it might make players hesitant.
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There's a team with a lot of brackets that was posted on the official Aussie rugby page
Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tuungfasi, Luke Romano, Josh Goodhue, Tom Robinson, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Stephen Perofeta, Caleb Clarke/Mark Telea, Bryce Heem, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea/Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, TBC
RESERVES: Ricky Riccitelli, Jordan Lay, Marcel Renata, James Tucker, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Tanieu Tele'a, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens/AJ Lam
Clarke not available, so I presume that means Telea/Lam/JRK back three? Zarn injured? Barrett?
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One thing about the Chiefs team is that Moli must be considered a LH now, as Dyer is preferred ahead of him for the reserve TH.
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@duluth Looking at the bench, there is no 10 cover, so I'm guessing FB is either Sullivan or Beauden?
Might be good for BB to be at fullback for a bit so he doesn't need to do much tackling. Once he's comfortable, move back to 10.
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50TH BLUES CAP FOR CAPTAIN PAPALII FOR CLASH WITH CHIEFS IN HAMILTON — Blues Rugby
Captain Dalton Papalii will earn his 50th cap for the Blues as he leads the team to take on neighbours the Chiefs in DHL Super Rugby Pacific in Hamilton on Saturday. As a testament to his resilience, the 24-year-old will earn his 50th cap midway through just his fifth season for the Blues since hi
Players not considered: Akira Ioane, Nepo Laulala, Harry Plummer, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Caleb Clarke, Zarn Sullivan.
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Conditions look really good for Saturday - you'd think it should be a good crowd as a Saturday game and some big names playing for both sides.
Excellent to see Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens get a start in a big game like this - it must be remembered he's still only 20 years old.
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Two strong sides, really looking forward to this. Could be a defining game for either side.
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Tele'a probably a bit lucky to stay on the bench.
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@crucial eh?
Unavailable for selection:
Reuben O’Neill, Gideon Wrampling, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Brodie Retallick, Josh Ioane, Sione Mafileo, Laghlan McWhannell, Tupou Vaa’i
