Stormers v Chiefs
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<p>Tom Sanders has been handed the No 8 jersey as the Chiefs shuffle their back row to cover the unexpected absence of Liam Messam for their Super Rugby quarter-final against the Stormers in Cape Town this weekend.</p>
<p>Messam was ruled out of the playoffs on a technicality, not having played enough games in this 2016 campaign as he unsuccessfully tried to make the New Zealand Sevens team for the Rio Olympics.</p>
<p>Sanders moves from blindside flanker to the back of the scrum with Taleni Seu stepping up from the bench to claim the No 6 jersey.</p>
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<p>Co-captain and All Black Same Cane retains the openside role for the do-or-die match on Sunday morning (NZ time).</p>
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<p>The shuffle is part of six changes coach Dave Rennie has made to the team that lost their last regular season match to the Highlanders last weekend.</p>
<p>Brad Webber gains the halfback's jersey and veteran Stephen Donald is called in at No 12 with a new midfield required following the loss of outstanding centre Seta Tamanivalu to a knee injury. Anton Lienert-Brown moves out to centre.</p>
<p>Sam Nicol is promoted from the bench to play on the right wing in a potent back three combination with James Lowe and Damian McKenzie.</p>
<p>There are also changes on the bench with Mitchell Graham recovering from a hamstring injury to re-join the playing 23. Tevita Koloamatangi could make his first appearance in 2016 having been sidelined for most of the season with injuries.</p>
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<p>Experienced All Black Tawera Kerr-Barlow is a real threat off the bench alongside Toni Pulu and Shaun Stevenson who complete the back cover.</p>
<p><strong>CHIEFS:</strong> Damian McKenzie, Sam McNicol, Anton Lienart-Brown, Stephen Donald, James Low, Aaron Cruden, Brad Weber, Tom Sanders, Sam Cane, Taleni Seu, Brodie Retallick, Dominic Bird, Atu Moli, Nathan Harris, Kane Harris. Reserves: Reserves: Hika Elliot, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Mitchell Graham, Tevita Koloamatangi, Lachlan Boshier, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Toni Pulu, Shaun Stevenson.</p>
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<p>From Stuff</p>
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<p>Super Stephen Donald starts at 2nd 5! So that's us as good as in the Semis, thank you very much!</p> -
<p>Did Andrew Horrell spit on Rennies cornflakes early this year?</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stockcar86" data-cid="598642" data-time="1469133550">
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<p>Did Andrew Horrell spit on Rennies cornflakes early this year?</p>
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<p>What? If he were fit, do you really think there'd be two bloody wingers on the bench?</p>
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<p>SANZAAR's bullshit over Messam (and Lambie) still fucks me off, now we've got two opensides on the bench, one who's had less fucking gametime than Messam. Idiots.</p>
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<p>Oh well, that's the best 23 they could pull together. Hopefully we get the win and the injury list is a bit shorter next week (anyone know when Leitch is meant to be fit?). Go Beaver.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stockcar86" data-cid="598642" data-time="1469133550">
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<p>Did Andrew Horrell spit on Rennies cornflakes early this year?</p>
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<p>Check out this article. Horrell has been plagued by injuries this season. Now as ploughboy says, Horrell has concussion symptoms so has been unavailable for the last 2 games.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79206643/Chiefs-Mr-Fix-It-Andrew-Horrell-rehabbed-ready-and-returning-for-50th'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79206643/Chiefs-Mr-Fix-It-Andrew-Horrell-rehabbed-ready-and-returning-for-50th</a></p>
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<p>The forward pack is as I expected. Seu will either be subbed or replace Bird at lock in the 2nd half. The Stormers have indicated they will target the Chiefs scrum and will use the lineout drive/maul so the Chiefs will need to counter that - much like vs Crusaders in Suva. Weber needs a big game as he can become too frantic.</p> -
Even if Horrell were fit, I'd start Beaver ahead of him at 2nd 5. <br><br>
The surprise is McNicol ahead of Pulu. Thought Toni was going alright. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="598674" data-time="1469141147"><p>
The forward pack is as I expected. Seu will either be subbed or replace Bird at lock in the 2nd half. The Stormers have indicated they will target the Chiefs scrum and will use the lineout drive/maul so the Chiefs will need to counter that - much like vs Crusaders in Suva. Weber needs a big game as he can become too frantic.</p></blockquote>
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Bird and Retallick are two of the better locks going around that can disrupt a maul. Probably Bird's best asset. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="598679" data-time="1469142608">
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<p>The surprise is McNicol ahead of Pulu. Thought Toni was going alright.</p>
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<p>I'm not sure Pulu is 100% fit. When I watched the Chiefs train last week neither Pulu or Lowe (flu) were involved. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="598673" data-time="1469140846">
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<p>What? If he were fit, do you really think there'd be two bloody wingers on the bench?</p>
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<p>SANZAAR's bullshit over Messam (and Lambie) still fucks me off, now we've got two opensides on the bench, one who's had less fucking gametime than Messam. Idiots.</p>
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<p>WHO Notification: Rugby Dyslexia Outbreak, Waikato, New Zealand</p>
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<p>World Health Organization Director General Claude Bord has issued a formal warning of a rare form of rugby dyslexia which has broken out in the Waikato. Symptoms include being unable to distinguish between loosehead and tighthead props, blindside and openside flankers, wings and fullbacks - and particularly a failure to comprehend that players may be able to play more than one position (have utility value). The initial symptoms are relatively harmless and may be mistaken for mere foolishness, though the side effects of being left "furious" are somewhat concerning.</p>
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<p>Previous outbreaks have been confined to South Africa and have been limited to the H7N6 virus relating to flankers.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="598701" data-time="1469148236">
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<p> the side effects of being left "furious" are somewhat concerning.</p>
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<p>I think you mean "bloody angry" Chris :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="598705" data-time="1469149119">
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<p>I think you mean "bloody angry" Chris :)</p>
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<p>It's not me, it's Claude, but he's probably read the same news articles as me. :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="598705" data-time="1469149119">
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<p>I think you mean "bloody angry" Chris :)</p>
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<p>Phil Cropper ....</p>
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<p>The Chiefs have just reached back into the Canterbury grab bag of tricks.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="598701" data-time="1469148236">
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<p>WHO Notification: Rugby Dyslexia Outbreak, Waikato, New Zealand</p>
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<p>World Health Organization Director General Claude Bord has issued a formal warning of a rare form of rugby dyslexia which has broken out in the Waikato. Symptoms include being unable to distinguish between loosehead and tighthead props, blindside and openside flankers, wings and fullbacks - and particularly a failure to comprehend that players may be able to play more than one position (have utility value). The initial symptoms are relatively harmless and may be mistaken for mere foolishness, though the side effects of being left "furious" are somewhat concerning.</p>
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<p>Previous outbreaks have been confined to South Africa and have been limited to the H7N6 virus relating to flankers.</p>
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<p>Yeah, sure, let's conveniently ignore the part where he's never played a single minute at 6 or 8 at Super level and Rennie specifically said he's a 7. Instead, let's masturbate on about our ITM Cup teams as if they're of the same standard as the Super franchises.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="598721" data-time="1469153167">
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<p>Yeah, sure, let's conveniently ignore the facts and whinge on about how hard done by we are.</p>
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<p>Fucking SANZAR, following their fucking rules, I'm furious too! :)</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="598725" data-time="1469154144">
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<p>Given how Messam has played since his return to Super Rugby from 7s (and understandably so given the switch back to 15s and his age etc), I don't know what the fuss is about, they aren't going to miss him much.</p>
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<p>Excellent point. I think we've gone as far as we are going to go, whether we win this game or not. Based on last week, we don't look lie competition winners anyway, so any result from here on out is a bonus. Messam or no Messam won't make the difference right now, he doesn't seem quite ready. Ngatai and Taimanivalu being out is bigger (plus of course, Leitch and others). </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="598730" data-time="1469157433">
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<p>Good on SANZA sticking to their guns. Messam shouldn't have signed with the Japanese club if he didn't want this to happen.</p>
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<p>My guess is, there was probably a high expectation form him (and others at NZRU) that he'd make Rio...</p>
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<p>But that Lambie fella shouldn't have got himself injured either I expect!</p>
