Chiefs 2020

Bovidae

A better look at the jersey.

Duluth

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/117975101/super-rugby-how-warren-gatland-will-manage-chiefs-and-lions-job-juggle

Crucial

I can't see how this will work other than him being in more of an overall 'manager coach' role. If he hasn't selected the players it would be crazy to then try and impose a style that may or may not suit them.

Bovidae

Barnes said at the team announcement that Gatland will give the assistant coaches plenty of responsibility to do their jobs but he expects accountability.

In his interview yesterday Gatland does say there will be some minor changes based on the feedback from the coaches.

"They've felt, in the last couple of years, they've tried to play too much rugby, and they haven't had the balance of playing territory and putting pressure on other teams."

I will be interested to see if the rush defence is employed. I remember it took Waikato a season to get that working back in 2005.

Nepia

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2020:

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"They've felt, in the last couple of years, they've tried to play too much rugby, and they haven't had the balance of playing territory and putting pressure on other teams."

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Uh oh, all I hear from that is welcome to 10 man rugby at the Chiefs.

But in all seriousness, there have been times in the past couple of years I wished they'd kicked the shit out of the ball ... which was easier when they had Ngatai and Lowe.

Bovidae

@Nepia You will enjoy the full interview then.

Stuff

Yeetyaah

Ollie Norris training with the Chiefs.

Bovidae

@Yeetyaah Have you been ~~stalking~~ investigating?

The newest article on the Chiefs website does have a picture with Geldenhuys in it. They even get personalised gear.

Yeetyaah

@Bovidae Instagram stories mate

Yeetyaah

Tupou Vaa'i and Donald Maka are also training with the Chiefs.

Jailbreak7

Just looking and the transfers in and out of all SR teams, can't belive the Chiefs passed up on the chance to nab new talent McClutchie from under the Canes noses. Instead we have plumped for broken ~~war~~horse Cruden, who spent most of last season in France on the sidellines, injured.

Stargazer

@Jailbreak7 UK? I agree he's often broken but Cruden played for Montpellier in France.

The advantage of having Cruden in the team is that he can help with the development of the young 10s. Especially Falcon - who has been in the squad for a few years now (although injured) - must get enough game time though, preferably with several starts. If they don't focus on the development of the young first fives, they won't be any further the following season (2021), when Cruden is off to Japan.

You're right that a NZ franchise (preferably the Canes) should have picked up McClutchie. Instead, he'll get his first start this weekend for Docomo Red Hurricanes in a preseason game in Japan. I'm still really annoyed about that.

Jailbreak7

@Stargazer Hmm yes - guess there are always injuries, but I would really rather a NZ franchise selected him first hand (especially since his running mate Fakatava has been picked up) so we could get a better look at him. Cross fingers an Aus franchise doesn't come knocking.

Bovidae

Some of the newbies are in this photo.

Yeetyaah

Rivez Reihana is training with the Chiefs. Good to have him in the system.

Machpants

Chiefs version

Super Rugby Teams of the Decade: The Chiefs players that built a legacy

There's no question that the decade spanning from 2010 to 2019 has been the most successful period in the Chiefs' short history, with two titles and eight consecutive finals appearances to their name. Who, then, have been their best performers since 2010?