Chiefs v Rebels
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McMillan has commented that there will be some rotation due to tiredness and to provide opportunities for others.
I am not expecting too many changes as the Rebels look to be a handy team. Obviously Vaa'i is out so they can use this time as part of his AB break. It sounds like BBBR would have been rested but I doubt that happens now. Selby-Rickit is due a game so I think he'll start and McWhannell or Ah Kuoi will be on the bench. Maybe Thompson is back in place of Slater. Boshier to be in the 23?
In the backs, Ioane or Gatland at 1st 5 if Stevenson/Dmac are rested. Malimali hasn't played yet either. We'll see.
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More changes than I expected.
The team is (Chiefs caps in brackets):
1 Aidan Ross (63)
2 Tyrone Thompson (6)
3 John Ryan (3)
4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi (36)
5 Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Debut)
6 Samipeni Finau (20)
7 Luke Jacobson (52) (Captain, 139)
8 Pita Gus Sowakula (56)
9 Cortez Ratima (12)
10 Bryn Gatland (49)
11 Etene Nanai-Seturo (31)
12 Rameka Poihipi (17)
13 Alex Nankivell (61)
14 Emoni Narawa (9)
15 Shaun Stevenson (70)Reserves:
16 Samisoni Taukei’aho (66)
17 Ollie Norris (31)
18 George Dyer (10)
19 Laghlan McWhannell (4)
20 Kaylum Boshier (13)
21 Te Toiroa Tahurioangi (38)
22 Josh Ioane (10)
23 Peniasi Malimali (Debut)Players not considered because of injury: Angus Ta’avao (season), Atu Moli, Josh Lord, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Tupou Vaa’i.
Jacobson to lead Gallagher Chiefs who host first trans-Tasman opponent
In-form All Black Luke Jacobson will lead the Gallagher Chiefs who are focussed on delivering a quality performance in DHL Super Rugby Pacific at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday afternoon.
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@Bovidae Indeed, quite a few changes. Great to see Thompson getting a start! I suppose Taukei'aho is there on the bench as insurance policy; he's not getting his ABs break, this weekend.
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Matt Gibbon, Alex Mafi, Sam Talakai, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Trevor Hosea, Josh Kemeny, Brad Wilkin (c), Richard Hardwick, Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Monty Ioane, Stacey Ili, Reece Hodge, Lachie Anderson, Nick Jooste
Reserves: Anaru Rangi, Cabous Eloff, Pone Fa’amausili, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Angelo Smith, James Tuttle, David Feliuai, Lukas Ripley
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Yikes, the Rebels are a not a bad team, this looks like a banana skin or we'll find out if we have real depth. I'd be pissed to lose this after the games so far.
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@gt12 said in Chiefs v Rebels:
Yikes, the Rebels are a not a bad team, this looks like a banana skin or we'll find out if we have real depth. I'd be pissed to lose this after the games so far.
I can't see the Rebels beating a New Zealand team other than the Highlanders.
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i never like a coaching decision where on the same week you rest 4 high profile players, and move one to the bench, all 5 of which are probably in your top 6 in player of the year voting.
But there are some positives.
Finau and Ah Kuoi have at least been playing, so has Ratima
ST is on the bench to help, as is Ioane who has so far done well.
11-15 are intact -
I am surprised to see all the ABs apart from Taukei’aho sit out this game, rather than rest a few and play a few. He'll probably miss the NSW game next week to be ready for the Blues the following round.
And, yes, it was a very close game in Melbourne last year which required a Norris try on FT to win it.
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SR is a long campaign. Selections like this have to happen and it isn't like there is a B side being rolled out
If we rest our big names together then they get to play together more. Better than one at a time IMO -
would have prefered LJ at 6 or 8 and boshier at 7
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Chiefs have waratahs away next week then the blues. So it was do it this week or split over 2 weeks. And then the full team for the blues
Interesting to see what the canes do. They have Mp away then the force at home. 5 to rest
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I was going to head over for this from cricket, but am gutted that DMac and Webber are not playing, so will not. I wonder if others will feel the same. I expected 2 of the AB forwards, maybe 3, to be rested. But resting these two from outside the AB's group with 6 AB's injured and unavailable and 3 others rested from the 23 is a bit gutting. So, do AB protocols apply to Weber and DMac?
i.e. is this set up around the expected squad this year, or is it based on workload at end of last season?
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@ARHS I assume they were either going to rest them for this game or the next (away to NSW) so everyone is available for the Blues game. The bye is the following week in Rd 7. Weber and Retallick have been back in the Hawke's Bay. So was Thompson, who is starting.
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Ah Kuoi to lock, so MSR for me becomes target for 90% which he will handle with ease if thrown straight.
Not too concerned about the resting or line up and quite confident actually about this game
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@bayimports said in Chiefs v Rebels:
Ah Kuoi to lock, so MSR for me becomes target for 90% which he will handle with ease if thrown straight.
Not too concerned about the resting or line up and quite confident actually about this game
Ah Kuoi is a good lineout operator. Hope the Rebels think they way you do and mark up on MSR
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Finau is good in the lineout, so is Jacobson at the front (less likely now he is playing 7).
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@Crucial said in Chiefs v Rebels:
@bayimports said in Chiefs v Rebels:
Ah Kuoi to lock, so MSR for me becomes target for 90% which he will handle with ease if thrown straight.
Not too concerned about the resting or line up and quite confident actually about this game
Ah Kuoi is a good lineout operator. Hope the Rebels think they way you do and mark up on MSR
wooo.. lol .. I honestly think MSR is better than a lot rate him, mark him up bro, I don't think it will make a difference. He might fail peoples favourite person criteria but as a lock it will take a lot to stop him. I am going to assume he is fit it will be Laghlan McWhannell and him to finish which is going to be a very strong combo. (probably a starting line up elsewhere).
Not saying that Finau or Ah Kuoi aren't options just believe if he is intended target and throw is straight he will nail it. Famous last words obviously ..
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The Chiefs options at lock are ridiculous : BBBR, Vai'i, MSR, McWhannell, Lord (when back from injury), Finau, Ah Kuoi. They could have given a few to the Blues ...
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@cgrant said in Chiefs v Rebels:
The Chiefs options at lock are ridiculous : BBBR, Vai'i, MSR, McWhannell, Lord (when back from injury), Finau, Ah Kuoi. They could have given a few to the Blues ...
Yep give them James Tucker for pete's sake.
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Late change
DMac in for Ioane on the bench
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@KiwiMurph There goes Dmac's ABs rest break (assuming he has to have them). Will need to take it another game.
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@cgrant said in Chiefs v Rebels:
The Chiefs options at lock are ridiculous : BBBR, Vai'i, MSR, McWhannell, Lord (when back from injury), Finau, Ah Kuoi. They could have given a few to the Blues ...
Blackwell says hi.
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I actually quite like the Rebels away pink. Makes a nice change from bland white.
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Ili is in great form
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Rebels appear well drilled early. Chiefs giving away a few penalties which is hurting them.
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Rebels score early 8-0 with kick to come.
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Rebels 9 is tiny.
Rebels do look handy
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Superb from the Rebels just what this game needed as a contest
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Nice, that makes the game more interesting for a neutral. Solid Rebels lead early
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How the flying fuck is that not obstruction?
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@antipodean said in Chiefs v Rebels:
How the flying fuck is that not obstruction?
Rebels using the Irish playbook by the looks. Lots of players in motion causing confusion.
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@chimoaus said in Chiefs v Rebels:
@antipodean said in Chiefs v Rebels:
How the flying fuck is that not obstruction?
Rebels using the Irish playbook by the looks. Lots of players in motion causing confusion.
Both players in front took out the defenders which created the hole.
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Carter Gordon will be making Eddie Jones take note
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Chiefs are their own worst enemy so far. Poor tackles, poor ball security and a lot of looking at each other like "I'll leave that for you".
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@antipodean said in Chiefs v Rebels:
@chimoaus said in Chiefs v Rebels:
@antipodean said in Chiefs v Rebels:
How the flying fuck is that not obstruction?
Rebels using the Irish playbook by the looks. Lots of players in motion causing confusion.
Both players in front took out the defenders which created the hole.
Trust me it pisses me off also but most teams use this tactic on purpose. If the refs won't do anything it's up to defensive coaches to combat it.
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Christ this sucks so far. Chiefs been drinking from the same piss pond as the Highlanders.
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@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs v Rebels:
Christ this sucks so far. Chiefs been drinking from the same piss pond as the Highlanders.
Rebels are playing well. There's an opposition as well.
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@KiwiMurph yeah Rebels playing well, but Chiefs not helping themselves, no cohesion
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Jacobsen just goes from poor to worse.
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