Chiefs 2018
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Chiefs coach Colin Cooper has labelled co-captain Sam Cane "unlikely" to return from injury in Saturday night's Super Rugby match against the Crusaders in Hamilton. The All Blacks openside flanker is still struggling with an abdominal injury he picked up early in the month, and is now racing against the clock to be fit for the first test against France in Auckland next Saturday. If the 26-year-old is indeed healed in time for that Eden Park fixture, and he doesn't take the park this weekend, he will go into that opening test with no game-time under his belt since the Chiefs' match against the Reds in Brisbane on April 21. Cane suffered the injury in the leadup to his side's meeting with the Jaguares in Rotorua on May 4, noticing a slight twinge during a gym session, before feeling it pull during a team training. He said it had been diagnosed as an unusual ailment - a strain more often related to a calf or hamstring - and that it didn't altogether cause him too much grief, but just enough to be keeping him out of action, with no timeframe put on a potential return. Currently attending the three-day All Blacks camp in Christchurch, Cane got through some gym work on Monday, but Cooper said his side were preparing to be without him for another game. "Unlikely" was his simple response when asked whether Cane would be ready to face the defending champions, in what is the last round before the international break. It means Mitchell Karpik would be set for another run in the No 7 jersey, having returned from concussion and impressed in the 39-27 win over the Waratahs at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday, in what was just his second match of the season, and first start.The Chiefs didn't pick up any injuries out of the weekend, but their other question mark is over lock/loose forward Tyler Ardron, who is still going through concussion protocols following his knock in Durban in the previous round, while prop Sefo Kautai still needs to get through some live scrummaging to be considered for his first action of the season, having picked up a back strain recently, following a foot injury. -
@stargazer Good. His sole focus should be France, not some beady eyed goat botherers.
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@milk said in Chiefs 2018:
The Chiefs scrum... are we seeing the birth of the next great scrum coach in Nick White?
I just don't understand the dominance we're seeing from our scrum with the cattle available.
It is a surprise of sorts. That said, I think Harris is a good scrummager and Tu’inukuafe was also said to be when he joined. When Ta’avao joined Waratahs the press release said that he'd been recommended by Benn Robinson, the Wallaby LH. It may be his problems at the Blues were down to those around him. In that regard Patty T seems to be hopeless at channeling his undoubted power at scrum time. In contrast, teams with BBBR at 4 seldom take a backward step!
Read somewhere that Hames has been 'coaching, and he certainly knows one end of a scrum from the other.
Unless Nick White is the man!
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@pakman said in Chiefs 2018:
Read somewhere that Hames has been 'coaching, and he certainly knows one end of a scrum from the other.
Interesting point. He comes across as a real student of the scrum. Good point about Ta’avao too, maybe he's got a bad rap.
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Ta'avao was starting way too early in his career. I think he would have better earlier if he was eased into SR and his confidence hadn't taken a beating.
He got exposed and that set his reputation.By the end of his time at the Blues his scrum work was just inconsistent. Mostly ok, then one shocker of a scrum.
The other frustrating thing about him was the errors around the field. His hands were awful and that added to his negative reputation.I remember his error rate really costing him in his two years a the Tahs too. Didn't start much, was exclusively a bench player in his second year and ultimately not wanted
He left the Blues at 25 and is now 28. He's not the first prop to get better later in his 20's. Still relatively young.. hopefully he goes well into his 30's
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@arhs said in Chiefs 2018:
Tyler Ardron ruled out for Canada with concussion. Brodie out 6 weeks. Seu and Brown out for season. Could be a testing time for locks for rest of the season. Will Cooper risk Laghlan McWhannell after U20s finals?
Isn't Harris now crocked too?
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Found on Cambridge HS FB page:
Chiefs U18 2018
8th July – 14th July 2018 St Paul’s Collegiate, HamiltonSelection
Prop
Corrigan Miller (New Plymouth BHS, Taranaki) Leuatea Alo Tema (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) Zac Ririnui (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) Vincent Green (Hamilton BHS, Waikato) Connor Brunton (Hamilton BHS, Waikato) Pou Sorenson (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) Nirai Ririnui (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) Tutarangi Anderson (New Plymouth BHS, Taranaki)Hooker
Bernie Hati (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) Keelan Holten McMullen (Hamilton BHS, Waikato) Taane Beech (Wesley College, Counties) Mairenga Laapo (Francis Douglas Memorial College, Taranaki)Lock
Josh Lord (Hamilton BHS, Waikato) Tom Martin (Hamilton BHS, Waikato) Alex McRobbie (Counties) Daniel Johnson (St Paul’s Collegiate, Waikato) AJ Lagalaga Slade (Manurewa HS, Counties) Hemopo Cunningham (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty)Loose Forward
Simon Parker (St Peter’s School, Waikato) Te Aparua Tata (Te Wharekura o Mauao, Bay Of Plenty) Jake Russ (Hamilton BHS, Waikato) Gabrielle Wilson (Pukekohe HS, Counties) Taituha Woller (Te Wharekura o Mauao, Bay Of Plenty)
Thor Manase (Wesley College, Counties) Tuki Simpkins (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) Simione Ofa (Wesley College, Counties) Shie Jie Yong (Tauranga BC, Bay Of Plenty) Te Rama Reuben (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty)Halfback
Cortez Lee Ratima (Hamilton BHS, Waikato) Manu Paea (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) Kristian Standen (New Plymouth BHS, Taranaki) Tepaea Cook Savage (St Paul’s Collegiate, Waikato)First Five
Rivez Reihana (Waikato) Larenz Tupaea (Wesley College, Counties)Midfield
Jacob Kneepkins (Francis Douglas Memorial College, Taranaki) Daniel Rona (New Plymouth BHS, Taranaki) Jon Taumateine (Wesley College, Counties) Cassius Misa (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) William Guthrie (New Plymouth BHS, Taranaki) Lucas Hall (Taranaki) Paula Mahe (St Peter’s School, Waikato) Gideon Wrampling (St Paul’s Collegiate, Waikato)Wing
Manu Akauola (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) Valynce Te Whare Crosby (St Paul’s Collegiate, Waikato) Nicholas Nasila (Wesley College, Counties) Kahi Borrell (Te Wharekura o Mauao, Bay Of Plenty)Fullback
Selestino Ravutaumada (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) Liam Wilson (Hamilton BHS, Waikato) Tama Te Aute (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty) Jermahl Hapi (New Plymouth BHS, Taranaki)Standby Players
Tauhuroa Ngataki (Wesley College, Counties), Zion Lui (St Peter’s School, Waikato), Shannon Wiki (Tokoroa HS, Waikato), Reece Gray (New Plymouth BHS, Taranaki), Havila Molia (St Paul’s Collegiate, Waikato), Stuart Leech (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty), TeAhurei Eparara (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty), Lachie Deveraux (Tauranga BC, Bay Of Plenty), Vaiolini Ekuasi (St Peter’s School, Waikato), Liam Allen (St Paul’s Collegiate, Waikato), Malupo Ma’afu (Rotorua BHS, Bay Of Plenty), Thomas Murray Edwards (New Plymouth BHS, Taranaki), Brigham Moeakiola (St Paul’s Collegiate, Waikato), Cam Roigard (St Peter’s School, Waikato), Louis Grindrod (Tauranga BC, Bay Of Plenty), Bailey Gordon (Western Heights HS, Bay Of Plenty), Adam Smith (New Plymouth BHS, Taranaki), Josh Calvert (Hamilton BHS, Waikato), Teaabo Teaabo (Pukekohe HS, Counties), Lewini Mocevakaca (Hamilton BHS, Waikato), Mercedes Hodge (St Paul’s Collegiate, Waikato)Unavailable due to Injury or other commitments
Taharoa Mita (Tauranga BC, Bay Of Plenty) Blair Murray (New Plymouth BHS, Taranaki) -
Courtesy of the Chiefs. Team list for the friendly v Hurricanes last week:
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Sam Prattley
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Liam Polwart
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Angus Ta’avao
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Michael Allardice
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Sam Caird
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Luke Jacobson
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Mitchell Karpik (blank jersey)
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Pita Gus Sowakula
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Brad Weber
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Marty McKenzie
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Shaun Stevenson
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Charlie Ngatai (c)
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Sean Wainui
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Toni Pulu
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Solomon Alaimalo
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Samisoni Taukei’aho
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Ayden Johnstone
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Jeff Thwaites
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Jack Jordan
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Liam Messam
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Jonathan Taumateine
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Luteru Laulala
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Johnny Faauli
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Nigel Ah Wong
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Ciahahn Matoe
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Matt Matich
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Daniel Waite (blank jersey)
The very new names are Jack Jordan and Daniel Waite. Matoe and Johnstone have been playing Waikato club rugby and Ah Wong has Super rugby experience.
The significant point is the continued absence of several players: Falcon, Verney, Aumua, McNicol, Ardron, Boshier, Seu, Laulala, Kautai. But Ardron and Boshier might be back this weekend. Not much luck on the injury front, while Highlanders seem to have a full squad to choose from.
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