Chiefs 2025

[Trig]

Gibson Popoali'i from counties is now training with the Chiefs, had been with Moana pre xmas

[Bovidae]

Maybe some other niggles in the midfield group. No ALB yet, and there wasn't any cover amongst the WTG and extras.

[Bovidae]

[Bovidae]

Leone Nawai is a former Drua, a halfback. Now with Taranaki.
Ethan Reti is a Taranaki utility back.

[Bovidae]

Apart from the ABs and Shaun Stevenson, there is no Fiti Sa, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (hence two extra halfbacks), Kaleb Trask, Quinn Tupaea (as mentioned), Emoni Narawa and Liam Coombes-Fabling.

The Hurricanes have named 47 players compared to the Chiefs 37.

[DurryMexted]

@Bovidae is Jacomb the only 10 in the whole line up? Not familiar enough with the bench names

[Bovidae]

@DurryMexted Koller would be the backup in this squad. Not too many options at fullback either.

[Bones]

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2025:

@DurryMexted Koller would be the backup in this squad. Not too many options at fullback either.

Poihipi?

[Bovidae]

Yes, he would be the other option at 1st 5 from the starters.

[Bovidae]

Changes to the starting XV and reserves post-training today.

8 Malachi Wrampling -> Kaylum Boshier
34 Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia -> Micah Fale (didn't really need three hookers amongst the reserves)
37 Gibson Popoalii

[Bovidae]

From the Waikato Times:

• Coombes-Fabling had off-season knee surgery, will miss the first few rounds
• Narawa had wrist surgery so will be eased back into play
• Tupaea had his foot stood on at training

McMillan is bemoaning the lack of quality outside backs that aren't already in SR squads or aren't in the NZ sevens programme.

[Bovidae]

ENS is looking good at fullback. I've liked Brown's physicality and support lines at 7.

Both teams have made handling errors, the Hurricanes more often.

[Yeetyaah]

17-0 to the Chiefs at the end of the first third.

[WoodysRFC]

Jacombs clearing kicks are great, forget how important clearing from your 22 really is, something that DMac, Barett, and Mo'unga aren't great at.

[Bovidae]

So Carter went into halfback and Jacomb back to fulback in that third. Subs on after ~45 mins. Sinton is now at halfback.

24-19 Chiefs after 60 mins.

[Bovidae]

Interesting that when he was playing Jacobson was playing 6, Norris at 7 and Parker at no.8.

[Bovidae]

Popoalii scores in the 93rd min as the Chiefs go the length of the field to win 43-40.

Hopefully no injuries for either squad. The last 15-20 mins were WTG and young players in each team.

[ploughboy]

@Bovidae any stand outs?

[WoodysRFC]

@ploughboy said in Chiefs 2025:

@Bovidae any stand outs?

Leroy Carter, looked good both on the wing and at half.

[Bovidae]

In the starting XV I thought that both locks, Brown and Boshier had busy games. Parker was better when he came back at no.8. In the backs Roe and Jacomb controlled the game well with Rona and ENS the other standouts.