Preseason - Blues v Chiefs

[Duluth]

STARS RETURN FOR BLUES IN TAKAPUNA — Blues Rugby

A host of star power will turn out for the Blues this Friday in the team’s final DHL Super Rugby Pacific pre-season hit out against the Chiefs at Takapuna Rugby Football Club, kicking off at 4pm. The match at Onewa Domain will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 1 and streamed on NZR+, giving fans an ea

[Duluth]

Not available for selection: Akira Ioane (calf), Rob Rush (calf) Sam Darry (neck), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (knee), Patrick Tuipulotu (jaw)

[Bovidae]

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/mcmillan-looking-forward-to-blues-challenge

Not considered for selection this week: Emoni Narawa, Josh Lord, Gideon Wrampling, Tyrone Thompson, Samipeni Finau, Simon Parker, and Kaleb Trask.

[Bovidae]

Both 2nd half teams look closer to first-choice.

[Duluth]

Annandale gets a call up and Suafoa is still only being used as a loose forward

[george33]

@Duluth dont read to much into that ,only 1 was patt , rest just taking it easy

[Duluth]

Thompson off. I think it was head knock?

Commentary thinks it’s Annandale but he’s still on

[Duluth]

ALB got the first try, Banks missed the tackle

[Duluth]

Blues almost score from a maul. Funaki scores around the fringes straight after.

YC Chiefs for bring down the maul

[Duluth]

Messy preseason stuff from both sides. Lots of errors

[Duluth]

Nice long pass by Cashmore, Tangitau finishes the try well

Chiefs ahead 17-12

[Dan54]

Had to stop watching , couldn't stand the commentary

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Dan54 LOL, Yeah I lasted nearly 5 mins before watching the rest on mute.
The other thing that annoyed me during that half was that after a slow start the Blues were just warming to the pace and physicality of the game when they swapped out half the team at 20 mins and they got slow and messy again, giving up a couple of tries, while the Chiefs kept mostly the same xv on the field so looked more cohesive. Then the second 20 team just grew into the game again and it was half time already.

[Duluth]

Blues having a crack around the fringes after a Plummer half break. Eklund scores under the posts

Blues 19-17

[Duluth]

@Daffy-Jaffy the breakdown work was messy after those changes

[Duluth]

Switching to a retarded crowd interview as play is live

Wtf is sky doing??

[Yeetyaah]

Dmac having a shocker

[Daffy Jaffy]

The main concern for the Blues might be a Locking crisis. The two listed second half locks Beehre and McWhannel were both on within 20 mins in the first half for Thompson and Annandale and then McWhannel quickly went off and has not returned. Hence the second half Locks have been Beehre and Suafoa who may be the last Locks standing right now?
Edit: I was wrong about McWhannel, he started the second half and left at about 55 mins.

[ploughboy]

chiefs found secong gear and blues third

[KiwiMurph]

Most importantly, both sides survived the hitout without any major injury problems