Chiefs v Highlanders
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Closer to a first-choice team.
Gallagher Chiefs motivated for first game at home
The Gallagher Chiefs are excited to be home in front of family and fans for the first time this season when they host the Highlanders at FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday in DHL Super Rugby Pacific.
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The team is (Chiefs caps in brackets):
1 Aidan Ross (62)
2 Samisoni Taukei’aho (65)
3 John Ryan (2)
4 Brodie Retallick (117)
5 Tupou Vaa’i (33)
6 Naitoa Ah Kuoi (35)
7 Sam Cane (Co-Captain, 139)
8 Luke Jacobson (51)
9 Brad Weber (Co-Captain, 112)
10 Damian McKenzie (97)
11 Etene Nanai-Seturo (30)
12 Rameka Poihipi (16)
13 Alex Nankivell (60)
14 Emoni Narawa (9)
15 Shaun Stevenson (69)Reserves:
16 Bradley Slater (41)
17 Ollie Norris (30)
18 George Dyer (9)
19 Samipeni Finau (19)
20 Pita Gus Sowakula (55)
21 Cortez Ratima (11)
22 Josh Ioane (9)
23 Daniel Rona (Debut)Players not considered because of injury: Angus Ta’avao (season), Atu Moli, Josh Lord, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown.
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Highlanders team looks shit. Chiefs by 40
Ethan de Groot
Rhys Marshall
Jermaine Ainsley
Pari Pari Parkinson
Josh Dickson
Shannon Frizell
James Lentjes (C)
Hugh Renton
Aaron Smith
Mitch Hunt
Mosese Dawai
Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Josh Timu
Martin Bogado
Freddie Burns
Reserves: 16. Leni Apisai 17. Ayden Johnstone 18. Saula Mau 19. Fabian Holland 20. Sean Withy 21. Kemara Hauiti-Parapara Fetuli Paea 23. Connor Garden-Bachop -
seriously, burns to 15? when we have CGB on the bench make me mad, we thought he was a starting 10 last week...we're going to get another flogging
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Highlanders media release:
Smith, Frizell and de Groot to return for Chiefs clash | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership
Some experience returns for the Highlanders for their third-round match against Chiefs with Head Coach Clarke Dermody welcoming back the Highlanders’ most capped player, Aaron Smith.
Harmon and Folau Fakatava will observe their All Black breaks this week.
Not Available due to injury: Marty Banks (groin), Sam Gilbert (shoulder), Scott Gregory (knee), Vili Koroi (knee), Jonah Lowe (concussion), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (ribs), Jona Nareki (foot), Jeff Thwaites (back), Will Tucker (groin).
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@Kiwiwomble said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
seriously, burns to 15? when we have CGB on the bench make me mad, we thought he was a starting 10 last week...we're going to get another flogging
I would have taken Sean Withy or Lentjes at 8. If one of Hunt or Burns had to play fullback, I would have gone Hunt. CGB should be on the wing in front of the other two.
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@SouthernMann would have been happy with those changes, Hunt had a cracking game in 2021 at 15 against the chiefs
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I thought that Selby-Rickit would be on the bench this week (he hasn't played yet) but now more likely to be involved in the Rebels game as one of Retallick or Vaa'i are rested.
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@FakatavaAllBlack I was just editing my post to add that. I'm surprised that Harmon has to observe All Blacks breaks, as he trained with them, but wasn't a full (playing) squad member. That makes me think that the group of players that has to take ABs breaks is probably wider than the initial 2022 squad.
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@Stargazer assume when they get selected/called up to go on tour they sign a new or amended contract?
But is a bit silly really for some of them to require a rest, when some want/need the time to push thier case further
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@taniwharugby Or there is a standard clause in a player's contract that is activated as soon as they're called into the ABs (but doesn't apply if they aren't)? I have no idea.
I agree that not all players need (or want) an ABs rest break. RTS didn't take his (with permission of NZR) for that reason. I assume there are more players who aren't keen.
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@Bovidae Narawa back at 14, Chiefs' best back 3 unless Punivai can make a big enough impression.
Is Rona any good? why does Wrampling never get a go? He should move to Highlanders or Crusaders who're light on powerful midfield options.
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@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
Is Rona any good?
He impressed in the preseason games and covers the midfield and wing, so an ideal sub for this team.
why does Wrampling never get a go?
He is returning from a serious knee injury but should be available for selection soon.
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Looking at the Highlanders hookers Thompson really should have gone there instead of the Chiefs to get more gametime.
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Not Available for the highlanders due to injury: Marty Banks (groin), Sam Gilbert (shoulder), Scott Gregory (knee), Vili Koroi (knee), Jonah Lowe (concussion), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (ribs), Jona Nareki (foot), Jeff Thwaites (back), Will Tucker (groin).
for me thats 4 starters out
whats up with Gatland?
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This is it! This is the week the Clan clicks and takes it!!
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@Kiwiwomble said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
whats up with Gatland?
What do you mean? Clearly, Gatland isn't going to start at 1st 5 ahead of DMac, and Ioane can play 10, 15 and even 12. He is also the better impact player as seen against the Crusaders.
McMillan has given most fit players a run in the first 3 Rds.
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@Bovidae i guess i expected him to get more game time, he left us even though had a 50/50 chance to start at 10 with Hunt but i guess youre right with DMac...just feels daming he'd rather get the odd game on the bench with the chiefs than start for us....in saying that we dont know, maybe we told him he wasn;t wanted
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@Kiwiwomble said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
@Bovidae i guess i expected him to get more game time, he left us even though had a 50/50 chance to start at 10 with Hunt but i guess youre right with DMac...just feels daming he'd rather get the odd game on the bench with the chiefs than start for us....in saying that we dont know, maybe we told him he wasn;t wanted
Daddy was Chiefs remember.
I do agree though that it is dumb for him to be a training jersey wearer only at the Chiefs when he could be well used at the Landers.
Need to bring back loan players IMO. Better that these guys play.
Even if Gatland would rather be backup in a good team, you guys could certainly do with a player like Reihana who gets no time at all. -
Weber, Ratima, Roe, TTT.
DMac, Gatland, Ioane, Reihana.
ALB, Tupaea, Nankivell, Poihipi, Wrampling.
Rettalick, Vaaii, McWhannell, Lord, Selby-Ricket, Ah Kuoi.I wonder how Chiefs get away with their blatant stockpiling of halves, midfielders & locks?
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@kiwi_expat crusaders have done if before, blues too...different positions maybe...some times a team just ha sa culture that attracts players i guess
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@kiwi_expat TTT is an injury replacement for Roe. Nobody wanted him in 2023.
The Chiefs have lost plenty of halfbacks and 1st 5s to other teams too. The Crusaders have three of them.
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@Kiwiwomble I was being facetious
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@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
Weber, Ratima, Roe, TTT.
DMac, Gatland, Ioane, Reihana.
ALB, Tupaea, Nankivell, Poihipi, Wrampling.
Rettalick, Vaaii, McWhannell, Lord, Selby-Ricket, Ah Kuoi.I wonder how Chiefs get away with their blatant stockpiling of halves, midfielders & locks?
Stockpiled/top level player in bold. Injured players being carried in italics.
The rest of the depth is their own development which is simply what you do with a squad.I do agree though (and I have commented on the Saders stockpiling in the past) that there should be an avenue for players to go on loan and spread the talent when another franchise is empty.
That would be, for example, Gatland being loaned to the Clan -
@Crucial shelby ricket, Ioane and Gatland "their development"? even Weber headed north very well developed
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@Kiwiwomble Weber never played for another SR franchise.
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@Stargazer no but that was largely just because people like Smith and even cowen were ahead of him in dunners, had turned out for otago and there were lots of us calling for him to turn out for the Highlanders, pretty much straight into starting for the chiefs show to me he was ready
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@Kiwiwomble He didn't start a single game in his first season at the Chiefs.
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my bad, i forgot you can never make a throwaway comment without getting pulled up, not going to check if youre right as i dont think it really matter, he still signed with the chiefs on the back of playing in dunedin which suggests to me he was ready for that next step. Not saying he hasn't got better being up there, just that he was 22-23 when he headed to the chiefs not some teenager
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@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
Weber, Ratima, Roe, TTT.
DMac, Gatland, Ioane, Reihana.
ALB, Tupaea, Nankivell, Poihipi, Wrampling.
Rettalick, Vaaii, McWhannell, Lord, Selby-Ricket, Ah Kuoi.I wonder how Chiefs get away with their blatant stockpiling of halves, midfielders & locks?
The Chiefs have the burden of having 4 feeder npc teams and always lose a bunch of players due to that. But it does leave them with better depth capabity overall than other super sides. If they only had 2 teams they could basically recruit for those two npc teams and for their development teams to plug any holes in either.
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@Kiwiwomble my bad also. Developed wasn’t the right word for all of them.
I think quite a few are just average for this level so can’t really be classified as hoarded -
@Crucial fair, didn't actually think my comment would go anywhere
im also just bitter, felt our squad wasn;t actually THAT bad preseason....have been proved wrong
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@Kiwiwomble said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
@Stargazer no but that was largely just because people like Smith and even cowen were ahead of him in dunners, had turned out for otago and there were lots of us calling for him to turn out for the Highlanders, pretty much straight into starting for the chiefs show to me he was ready
Weber had Josh Renton in front of him at Otago at the time. It baffled a lot of us. Turns out a reason why was because he was seen as a good time party boy who was perceived to prioritise getting on the piss ahead playing and training. He was clearly one of the best players in Dunedin Club Rugby at the time, in a Dunedin team that featured High Blake and Gareth Evans. His talent was clear to see, sadly, I think at the time, Tony Brown as coach liked Renton's work ethic. On reflection a silly move. It would have been interesting to see how he would have gone over the last decade, giving the Highlanders a 1-2 punch of Smith and Weber.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
seriously, burns to 15?
I'm guessing they want his kicking game, and for him to come into first receiver often, but they don't trust his defence in the front line? His misses the previous week were costly
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I'm starting to think ALB may fall into the same category as Goodhue. Too broken, too often. Nothing wrong with his rugby brain but appears that injuries have curtailed his pace and impaired reaction time, making him easier to read for defences. Whilst I'm keen to see more of Poihipi, Chiefs midfield has a temporary look and feel to it with Nankivell heading offshore, whereas TUJ and Timu are progressing nicely complementing each other (and have been bright spots) in an underperforming team.
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@Jailbreak7 unfortunately Timu is now injured, landers backline casualty ward is ever growing Timu, Gilbert, Lowe, Nareki, Gregory
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@FakatavaAllBlack said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
unfortunately Timu is now injured, landers backline casualty ward is ever growing Timu, Gilbert, Lowe, Nareki, Gregory
Fetuli Paea starts, Jake Te Hiwi on the bench
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@Jailbreak7 That ankle injury was a freak injury. If ALB has repeated problems with his shoulder then I would be concerned.
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@Duluth said in Chiefs v Highlanders:
Fetuli Paea starts, Jake Te Hiwi on the bench
Paea who would be the fourth choice centre with Tasman? Being backed up to Te Hiwi who is barely getting his provincial career going. What shithouse options.
