Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika
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I'm expecting more changes to the Chiefs team, including the inclusion of a few players returning from long-term injury like Mitch Brown. Hopefully Roe, Vaa'i and Mafileo are also back. Moli probably needs a start if he is to be involved more in the backend of the competition.
I would also look at resting both Taukei’aho and Weber. Weber has been ordinary in recent weeks anyway.
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@bovidae Is Stevenson injured or recovering from covid? Seemed to drop off the radar after his big performance in Christchurch.
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I haven't watched the Chiefs-Blues game on Sky but I think I heard TJ say on my SportsEars at the stadium that Stevenson played NH club rugby earlier in the day.
He hasn't been listed as unavailable. Stevenson should definitely be playing this weekend if fit. This is the perfect game to look at the options for fullback.
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@bovidae said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
I haven't watched the Chiefs-Blues game on Sky but I think I heard TJ say on my SportsEars at the stadium that Stevenson played NH club rugby earlier in the day.
That's right, Sky comms did mention that. Assume he would have played for Silverdale.
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Gallagher Chiefs to face Moana Pasifika
1. Ollie Norris
2. Bradley Slater
3. Angus Ta’avao
4. Josh Lord
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Mitch Brown
7. Kaylum Boshier
8. Luke Jacobson ©
9. Cortez Ratima
10. Bryn Gatland
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Rameka Poihipi
13. Alex Nankivell
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Emoni NarawaReserves:
16. Tyrone Thompson
17. Aidan Ross
18. George Dyer
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Samipeni Finau
21. Brad Weber (cc)
22. Rivez Reihana
23. Chase TiatiaUnavailable for selection:
Reuben O’Neill, Gideon Wrampling, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Brodie Retallick, Josh Ioane, Sione Mafileo, Laghlan McWhannell, Anton Lienert-Brown, Kaleb Trask -
Not too far off what I was expecting.
No Moli, and he isn't listed as being unavailable. Lowe is also not involved. He was subbed early against the Blues but, again, doesn't appear to be injured.
If the Chiefs have a good lead in the 2nd half I'd like to see Reihana spend some time at 1st 5.
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@yeetyaah So weird they don't name Lowe in that unavailable list. His hand was already wrapped in bandages before he started the last game and left the field injured.
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doe anyone know what injury Wrampling had. I was really looking forward to seeing him play.
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@ploughboy said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
doe anyone know what injury Wrampling had. I was really looking forward to seeing him play.
The Chiefs haven't released much information about the long-term absentees, but I seem to remember reading that Wrampling had off-season surgery (no details given).
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Stevenson is not one of my favorite players, but I find it strange that he hasn’t been given a chance at FB (which he prefers I believe). His height, kicking game, and high ball ability are probably all better than Narawa, and on the wing Narawa might be more dangerous.
Without the height, we could probably say the same for ENS who is going OK but is basically turning into a poor man’s Nareki on the left wing, where I guess he’ll stay.
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The selections seem to be heavily restricted by the large number of player unavailabilities - as per usual for the Chiefs. As posters suggest, the lack of information flowing out about availabilities makes it frustrating for followers.
Happy to see Taukeiaho, Tupaea and Cane get a rest. Will be interesting to see how Boshier and Ratima step up in their starting roles and hopefully create the momentum the Chiefs need to regain in recycling the ball.
I would have preferred Stevenson at fullback, to get length into our clearing kicks. Hope to see Wrampling in Australia as I like his quick thinking and directness, which our back 3 are not strong on.
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Looks like Laghlan McWhannell is still out due to concussion. That's a bit of a worry. Potential AB if he can get some consistent game time.
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@yeetyaah said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
Gallagher Chiefs to face Moana Pasifika
1. Ollie Norris
2. Bradley Slater
3. Angus Ta’avao
4. Josh Lord
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Mitch Brown
7. Kaylum Boshier
8. Luke Jacobson ©
9. Cortez Ratima
10. Bryn Gatland
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo
12. Rameka Poihipi
13. Alex Nankivell
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Emoni NarawaReserves:
16. Tyrone Thompson
17. Aidan Ross
18. George Dyer
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
20. Samipeni Finau
21. Brad Weber (cc)
22. Rivez Reihana
23. Chase TiatiaUnavailable for selection:
Reuben O’Neill, Gideon Wrampling, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Brodie Retallick, Josh Ioane, Sione Mafileo, Laghlan McWhannell, Anton Lienert-Brown, Kaleb Trask
They have changed the line-up on the Chiefs website:15 Chase Tiatia
23 Jonah LoweNarawa has been added to the unavailable list.
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Narawa was originally in the starting XV and the unavailable list.
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@gt12 said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
Without the height, we could probably say the same for ENS who is going OK but is basically turning into a poor man’s Nareki on the left wing, where I guess he’ll stay.
Last week was the first time I saw in ENS what I am guessing got him ear marked as a youngster. I thought he looked pretty bloody sharp. He also looked a bit bigger than I remembered.
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McMillan, however, said he hadn’t specifically eyed up this game to rest his big guns. After all, this is a make-up fixture from the round two one which was cancelled due to Moana’s Covid situation, which in turn meant the Chiefs would play a gruelling 13 games on the trot before the quarterfinals with no bye.
The article also says that Ioane could be available next week, but nothing on the other missing players.
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Lots of chopping and changing in that MP line-up again, which is understandable. I hope that from next weekend on, they're going to be able to have more consistent selections and that they're going to find out what their strongest line-up is, because until now, we have not seen it, yet. They must have capped the highest number of players of all squads.
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Including this weekend's coming match against the Chiefs, they will have called up 50 players this season (including a few guys named in their initial squad who haven't yet featured). The Hurricanes have called up 49 (by the same metric).
In terms of actual players used, MP will be sitting on 47 after the Chiefs match (assuming no changes), with Isi Tuungafasi, Don Lolo and Lote Inisi not yet used this season. For the Hurricanes, that total will sit at 44 after the weekend (Owen Franks, Dom Bird, Tyler Laubscher, Pepesana Patafilo all unused).
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@mr-fish top effort. I thought Canes had already used 46 plus 6 more in warmups and 5 players not used. I had MP at one less unless Kalapu or Macilai have taken the field in Super proper.
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@mr-fish superb thanks. Those identical Asomua twins got me. And I thought I saw Logan Henry and Riley Higgins but the latter was a preseason game only.
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@arhs Haha whoops, yep you're right on both accounts.
One's a typo and one's a product of all the damn last-minute changes that teams have had this year.
Quite amazing that the Canes have called up five halfbacks and eight hookers this year.
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@mr-fish lol it sure is.
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I mentioned in the match thread of Chiefs v Blues the Jacobson was jogging when Beaudie made the crossfield to big red. Watch the clip again and you can see him limping on his strapped knee. I don't think he's ready to return from injury yet but now he's starting.
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Chiefs playing in a style that suits MP. But I guess MP will run out of steam.
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MP set piece is so crap, 0/3 line outs
Try chiefs, all from MP line out
Edit: nope in touch
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Well 4 line outs lost, leads to scrum push over try. Not sure if I'm going too watch much more
7-0
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ENS looks bigger this year
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Was just going to say how awesome that tackle and then try from Tuitavuki were and then he drops the ball stone cold.
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How is that knock down not a yellow?
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@yeetyaah Have you watched any other matches the last few years? It hasn't been a yellow anymore for ages.
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That looked like a genuine intercept attempt, both hands? No Replay so maybe I was mistaken
17-5
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@yeetyaah said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
How is that knock down not a yellow?
Looked like genuine attempt to me. Gatland's option taking is pretty average so far.
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@yeetyaah said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
How is that knock down not a yellow?
Glad it's not. I hate that it's a penalty let alone potential card.
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@crazy-horse IMO it should be a penalty if it's obvious that it's deliberate and there was no chance whatsover that the player could catch the ball.
There should be a clear deterrent to prevent players from cynically slapping away the ball to prevent the opposition from attacking/scoring. In those cases, I don't mind a yellow.
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@stargazer said in Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika:
@crazy-horse IMO it should be a penalty if it's obvious that it's deliberate and there was no chance whatsover that the player could catch the ball.
Agree, but we are not always seeing it reffed that way unfortunately. 50/50s are being penalised.
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Gatland is fucking awful.
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Christ this is shit from the Chiefs.
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Lucky try, Vai pass was toss!